Kim Soo-hyun has taken legal action against Kim Sae-ron’s family and Garo Sero Research Institute, claiming defamation and demanding 200 billion KRW in damages. Legal experts warn that while Kim Soo-hyun faces no legal repercussions regarding past rumors, Kim Sae-ron’s family could face severe criminal charges and financial liabilities.
Legal Actions and Allegations
Kim Soo-hyun’s legal team, led by attorney Kim Jong-bok, held a press conference to announce the filing of criminal complaints and civil lawsuits. They filed a criminal complaint for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act and a separate civil lawsuit seeking 11 billion KRW in damages. This follows a previous case where Kim’s team accused the same parties of violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, alleging the distribution of sexually humiliating images.
According to the law, publishing false or invasive sexual images can result in up to seven years in prison or 50 million KRW in fines.
Legal Experts Weigh In
Legal experts clarify that Kim Soo-hyun cannot be prosecuted for an alleged relationship with Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. At the time of the rumored relationship in 2015, the legal age for statutory rape was 13 in Korea. The Youth Sexual Protection Act, which criminalizes sexual conversations between adults and minors under 16, was enacted in 2021 and does not apply retroactively.
Attorney Lee Eun-yi stated, “Even if Kim’s actions are up for moral debate, releasing nude or misleading photos is undeniably criminal.” She discussed a manipulated image, saying, “If he was actually wearing shorts and the image was manipulated, it’s defamation. If the photo was real, it’s illegal distribution of sexual content. Either way, it’s a crime.”
Attorney No Jong-eon added that if Kim Sae-ron’s family and Garo Sero use alleged explicit images to pressure Kim Soo-hyun, it could be considered criminal intimidation. Threatening someone with sexually explicit content carries a minimum one-year prison sentence in Korea. If the photos do not exist, they could face prosecution for false accusations and defamation.
Financial Repercussions
Kim Soo-hyun is seeking compensation for financial damages. Attorney No explained that if Kim is cleared of wrongdoing, Kim Sae-ron’s family could be liable for penalties from canceled ad contracts, estimated between 20 to 200 billion KRW.
In civil court, joint tort liability could mean the family shares this financial burden with Garo Sero. No concluded, “The family’s actions, from distributing images to making baseless allegations, clearly crossed the legal line.”
The ongoing legal battle could have serious consequences for Kim Sae-ron’s family and Garo Sero if the courts rule in favor of Kim Soo-hyun.
