Kim Sae-ron’s Family to Sue YouTuber Lee Jin-ho for Defamation Over Columbarium Incident
According to a report by Hankyung.com on the 16th, attorney Bu Ji-seok, the head of the law firm Buyu and the legal representative of the late Kim Sae-ron’s family, will formally submit a lawsuit against YouTuber Lee Jin-ho on March 17 on charges of defamation.
Attorney Bu Ji-seok stated, “It is true that Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun were in a relationship. The issue being debated is whether they started dating in 2015, when Kim Sae-ron was still a minor. Lee dismissed this as a ‘fabrication,’ which is a clear falsehood.” Ahead of submitting the lawsuit, attorney Bu is expected to hold a briefing where he will outline the specific reasons for taking legal action on behalf of Kim Sae-ron’s bereaved family.
The controversy surrounding Lee Jin-ho intensified after it was revealed that he had produced four videos about Kim Sae-ron over the past three years. However, upon learning of her passing, he made all related videos private. The late actress’s family further disclosed a shocking detail: on January 8, the very day Lee uploaded his video, Kim Sae-ron attempted to take extreme measures more than six times. They believe that the stress caused by Lee’s videos and allegations may have been a contributing factor to her distress.
In addition, the family made further accusations against Lee Jin-ho, stating, “While we were in the midst of the funeral proceedings, and even after the burial, Lee went to the columbarium and called us, saying he couldn’t find the location. He may claim it was for fact-checking, but to us, it felt like mockery, and we were extremely upset.” The family expressed deep resentment and frustration, demanding that Lee issue a formal apology.
Kwon Young-chan, the head of the Korea Association for Celebrity Suicide Prevention, also weighed in on the matter, emphasizing the significance of the lawsuit. “The family has gathered the courage to file this lawsuit. We hope this process will not only hold cyber ‘reckless commentators’ accountable but also help restore the late Kim Sae-ron’s honor.”
Meanwhile, on March 13, Lee Jin-ho released a video titled “Ordered by Kim Soo-hyun? A Battle to the End with Kim Se-ui”, where he denied accusations that he had colluded with actor Kim Soo-hyun to harass Kim Sae-ron. He firmly stated that such claims were “completely untrue.”
However, the YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute alleged that Kim Sae-ron had suffered immense emotional distress due to Lee Jin-ho’s content. They further accused Lee of repeatedly contacting the actress while she was alive and even mocking her after she changed her phone number, questioning whether it was “an act of self-reflection”. According to Garo Sero, Lee’s actions pushed Kim Sae-ron to the brink.
In response to these allegations, Lee Jin-ho defended himself, saying, “I only called Kim Sae-ron once, on January 8. On February 20, the day after her funeral, I wanted to contact the family to offer a moral apology. I simply wanted to bow my head to the grieving family.” He continued, “If they were angry, I was willing to listen. Since I couldn’t attend the funeral, I wanted to express my condolences.”
As the legal battle unfolds, Lee Jin-ho maintained that he would fully cooperate with the investigation, concluding, “It may take time, but I will clarify everything through an official investigation. I will cooperate fully with the authorities and take full responsibility for any incorrect statements I may have made. I will not evade any accountability.”
The lawsuit is expected to draw significant public attention, as it raises critical questions about cyberbullying, media ethics, and the responsibility of content creators in reporting on public figures’ private lives.