Kim Soo-hyun Case Centers on Two Key Issues: “Relationship with a Minor” and “₩700 Million Demand”
On the March 31 broadcast of KBS News “News Line W“, attorney Lee Go-eun appeared to summarize the key legal points of the case and outlined both sides’ arguments, providing insight into its potential direction.
At a press conference held the same day, Kim Soo-hyun firmly denied all allegations, “I never had a relationship with the deceased (Kim Sae-ron) when she was a minor.” Specifically, regarding the 2016 and 2018 KakaoTalk messages released by the bereaved family, he claimed “Those messages appear to be fabricated“, asserting that a linguistic pattern analysis proved he was not the individual in the messages. He emphasized, “Compared with my recent chats with acquaintances, the person in the messages submitted by the bereaved family is not me.”
However, whether the linguistic pattern analysis presented by Kim Soo-hyun’s side can be accepted as legally binding evidence remains uncertain. Attorney Lee Go-eun explained, “The ‘testimony analysis’ used by investigative agencies typically assesses the credibility of a victim’s testimony. Simply comparing speech patterns in KakaoTalk conversations is unlikely to be seen as strong evidence in itself.”
Regarding this, the bereaved family rebutted, “The KakaoTalk messages are original and completely unaltered. The originals are still preserved.” This suggests the dispute over the authenticity of the messages may be handed over to forensic investigation.
Another central point of controversy is the ₩700 million in damages related to Kim Sae-ron’s 2022 DUI accident. The bereaved family has claimed that pressure to repay this debt contributed to the late actress’s tragic decision, while Kim Soo-hyun countered by releasing a recorded call between agencies, arguing that “it was a formal notice only, with no pressure involved”.
The recording featured a conversation between representatives from Kim Soo-hyun’s and Kim Sae-ron’s agencies, in which one said “The documents had to be sent due to ‘breach of duty’ concerns. Please respond by the deadline”, which some interpret as weakening the bereaved family’s claim.
Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun has filed a ₩12 billion damage suit and a criminal complaint against the bereaved family and the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute. In response, the bereaved family strongly asserted, “The KakaoTalk messages were never forged. No false claims were made.”
With both sides locked in a fierce standoff, the ultimate truth will likely be determined by scientific investigation and the court’s judgment. But as they continue along parallel tracks, many are watching closely to see when or if the clash will end, and whose side the public will ultimately take.