Which celebrity sent the 'I want to hold you' KakaoTalk message to the late Kim Sae-ron? — Ripples spread — Kim Soo-hyun cleared of false accusations

The KakaoTalk conversation, which had been cited as a core piece of evidence regarding the allegations of a relationship with a minor involving actor Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron, has entered a new phase. This comes as reports emerge stating that the person who sent messages to Kim Sae-ron in 2016 was not Kim Soo-hyun, but another celebrity, "A." As the results of the police investigation regarding the sender of the conversation, which had been at the center of the controversy, the timing of the contact between the two, and the timing of the photo shoots are released, changes to the existing claims surrounding the suspicions are expected to be inevitable.

On the 13th, a media outlet reported that as a result of a full investigation of the KakaoTalk capture data preserved by Kim Sae-ron during her lifetime, the police identified the sender of the 2016 conversation as celebrity A. According to the report, the police confirmed the real name of A in the original conversation and compared and analyzed the speech style and spelling of the conversation where the real name appeared against the conversation displayed as 'Unknown' because the contact information was not saved. As a result, they determined that the sender of the message in question was different from Kim Soo-hyun.

As the problematic conversation was known to contain intimate expressions toward the recipient, it had been used as material to support suspicions surrounding the relationship between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron. In particular, the question of who sent the message containing an expression to the effect of 'I want to hold you' was a crucial issue in interpreting the meaning of the conversation. If this report is true, the claims made on the premise that Kim Soo-hyun sent the message must be re-examined starting from the sender. However, it is necessary to distinguish and verify the specific context of the conversation, the original data, and the official explanation from investigative agencies.

The timing of when Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron actually exchanged contact information also drew attention. The report stated that the two exchanged contact information in October 2017, and the number of calls between 2017 and 2018 was three times. It also included the content that the caller of these calls was identified as Kim Sae-ron. This is data related to determining when the two actually began communicating, separate from the issue of the sender of the 2016 KakaoTalk conversation. However, the entire relationship between the two cannot be concluded based solely on the number of calls, and contact records and other evidence must be examined comprehensively.

The timing of the photos, which the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute presented as material supporting the relationship between the two, has also emerged as an issue. According to the report, it was confirmed that the photos were taken in 2019–2020, the period known as when the two admitted to dating. If this is true, it becomes difficult to support the claim that Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron since her childhood. Distinguishing between the time the photos were taken and the period when the relationship between the two was formed is expected to be an important criterion for judging this controversy.

The suspicion of Kim Soo-hyun's relationship with a minor began in earnest last year when Garo Sero Institute raised related claims. Kim Soo-hyun's side held a press conference to deny the suspicions, and as the controversy spread, he suspended his activities. The dispute over his private life expanded beyond the explanations and rebuttals of the parties involved to debates over the authenticity of various photos and messages, as well as the source and interpretation of the data. It is pointed out that for cases where public attention is concentrated, the process of examining in what context individual data was obtained and what it actually proves is important.

It was reported that Kim Soo-hyun received a decision of non-transfer due to lack of suspicion from the Seongdong Police Station regarding charges such as violation of the Child Welfare Act last July. Since then, he has been showing movements to resume activities by appearing in overseas broadcasts. However, since the decision of non-transfer is a judgment regarding the specific charges under investigation, it should not be interpreted broadly as a comprehensive conclusion for all related suspicions. The investigation results regarding the KakaoTalk sender reported this time also need to be verified through official announcements from investigative agencies and specific data.

Kim Se-ui, the representative of Garo Sero Institute who raised the controversy, is currently indicted and detained on charges such as defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, violation of the Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, and violation of the Stalking Punishment Act. The prosecution believes that Representative Kim spread false facts about Kim Soo-hyun 25 times from March to May last year and earned approximately 169.4 million won in revenue from related content. Kim denies the charges, and the second trial preparation date is scheduled to be held on the 15th. These charges are matters currently being handled in the trial process, and guilt has not been finalized.

This report highlighted once again how important basic facts, such as the sender of the message and the timing of the photo shoots, are in the debate surrounding the relationship between Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron. Suspicions surrounding the private lives of celebrities spread quickly, but if data with unclear sources or omitted context is accepted as fact, it can cause irreparable damage to the parties involved. Conversely, one must also be wary of concluding that all questions have been resolved just because new investigation results are reported, without verification procedures. Ultimately, the direction of this matter is expected to be determined through objectively verified data and official investigation and trial procedures rather than provocative interpretations or online public opinion.

Amidst various circumstances, public curiosity is amplifying regarding who celebrity A, who sent the KakaoTalk message, actually is. If the identity is revealed, it is expected that they will not be able to avoid indiscriminate criticism regarding moral hazard.

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