"Kim Soo Hyun's life has been ruined."

VTV.vn - Kim Soo Hyun's side has hinted at a $19 million lawsuit, saying the actor's life has been "ruined" after the year-long scandal.

(Photo: Xsportsnews)

The legal team of South Korean S-list TV star Kim Soo Hyun has given its first major interview following the arrest of YouTuber Kim Se-ui earlier this week. Kim Se-ui was arrested on charges of orchestrating a campaign based on fabricated evidence to "completely destroy" Kim Soo Hyun's reputation and life.

Ko Sang-rok, the actor's legal representative, appeared on MBC's "News Today" program this Thursday (May 28, local time) and outlined the allegations against Kim Se-ui, the head of the YouTube channel HoverLab, also known as Garo Sero Institute.

Attorney Ko stated that the charges include defamation, disseminating false information, extortion, unauthorized distribution of recorded material, and violations of South Korea's anti-harassment laws. He said that Kim Se-ui spread false claims that Kim Soo Hyun had dated the late actress Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor and that the actor's management company pressured her to repay debts – a reason allegedly leading to her death.

Lawyer Ko further alleged that the documents, including KakaoTalk messages and audio recordings allegedly of Kim Sae Ron, were manipulated to bolster claims made by Kim Se-ui.

Kim Se-ui was recently arrested on charges related to fabricating evidence and spreading false information concerning Kim Soo Hyun. The court issued an arrest warrant, citing concerns about evidence destruction and the risk of fleeing.

In an interview, lawyer Ko stated, "This case is not simply about the possibility of destroying evidence. The essence of the crime is the falsification of evidence."

Mr. Ko also added that many individuals are allegedly involved, raising concerns about coordination between parties in this matter. Kim Soo Hyun's lawyer mentioned one of the hottest points of the scandal related to the alleged recording of the late actress. Mr. Ko argued that there are "many details" suggesting the recording was manipulated, both in terms of its origin and content. Kim Soo Hyun's lawyer described the person who provided the recording as an individual known as "Kali Park," whom he deemed unreliable with "outlandish claims," ​​including allegations related to hired assassins.

Mr. Ko also questioned the authenticity of the recordings themselves, arguing that the conversation and content between the separate files did not match. He added that the original files were never submitted and that the originals had disappeared.

Addressing online speculation regarding the National Forensic Service, lawyer Ko stated that previous media reports claiming the recordings were deemed "inconclusive" had circulated widely online, but no official forensic report had been publicly released or verified.

"The inability to technically verify authenticity does not mean the document is genuine," he said.

Mr. Ko also accused Kim Se-ui's side of manipulating KakaoTalk screenshots by changing profile pictures and names to make conversations between Kim Sae Ron and another person look like they were being exchanged with Kim Soo Hyun.

"That night, hundreds of articles were published," Mr. Ko said. "The plan to manipulate public opinion through forged documents was successful."

According to the lawyer, Kim Se-ui's alleged motive was to continuously exaggerate sensational allegations to attract views, influence, and financial profit through donations and sponsorship revenue. Lawyer Ko described the case as an "unprecedented incident involving the falsification of even core materials such as KakaoTalk conversations and recordings." He also added that it was "an organized and planned social crime aimed at destroying the reputation and life of an innocent victim and a globally beloved actor."

In the interview, Kim Soo Hyun's lawyer also revealed the potential scale of the actor's civil compensation claim. Lawyer Ko said that initially, the star of "Queen of Tears" filed a lawsuit demanding 12 billion won (approximately $8.7 million USD) immediately after the scandal broke, but this amount could increase after a reassessment of the damages the actor suffered over the past year.

According to documents provided to investigators, lawyer Ko stated that Kim Soo Hyun's side currently estimates the damages at around 30 billion won, increasing the likelihood of a very large compensation claim.

Concluding the interview, lawyer Ko stated that the legal team would continue to assist the actor in restoring his normal life and returning to the public through future projects.

Source: https://vtv.vn/cuoc-life-of-kim-soo-hyun-has-been-ruined-100260529121209422.htm