YouTuber and former journalist Lee Jin Ho, known for covering the private lives of celebrities, has addressed the defamation lawsuit filed against him by the family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron. In a recent video, Lee Jin Ho expressed his frustration with the legal action and firmly stated his intention to reveal what he believes to be the truth.
Lee Jin Ho’s Statement on the Lawsuit
On March 17, Lee Jin Ho uploaded a video to his YouTube channel titled “My Statement on the Lawsuit… I Will Reveal the Truth Until the End.” In the video, he acknowledged the lawsuit filed against him on March 16 by Kim Sae Ron’s family and shared his perspective on the matter.
While stating, “I fully respect the bereaved family’s position, as they have lost a loved one,” Lee Jin Ho also asserted, “However, there are too many factual discrepancies, and I want to correct them.”
Lee Jin Ho emphasized that he never claimed the relationship between Kim Sae Ron and actor Kim Soo Hyun was fabricated.
He explained, “I have never claimed that Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun’s relationship was false. If I had called it a fabrication, I wouldn’t have even needed to cover this topic. The statements made by the family and their legal representative are contradictory.” He clarified that the four videos he posted about Kim Sae Ron were simply part of his ongoing reporting on the issue.
Furthermore, Lee Jin Ho questioned why the family had only pursued legal action against him when other media outlets had published similar reports concerning Kim Sae Ron.
He stated, “My stance of feeling sorry toward the family remains unchanged. However, I hope people refrain from using sensational wording, such as ‘confirming the location of the columbarium.’ On February 21, I visited Kim Sae Ron’s burial site out of basic respect. However, a columbarium staff member informed me that the family had relocated her remains, so I had no choice but to contact her father. I simply wanted to pay my final respects.”
Lee Jin Ho specifically denied accusations that he sought out the location of Kim Sae Ron’s burial for reporting purposes.
He said, “There is a misleading narrative being spread, claiming that I ‘called the bereaved family to confirm the location of the columbarium’ or that I ‘called during their mourning period.’ That is false.”
He continued, “Throughout this controversy, I have consistently addressed the suspicions and criticisms raised against me through my videos and community posts. However, my rebuttals have largely been ignored. If only unilateral claims from HOVERLAB (Garo Sero Research Institute) continue to spread, I will have no choice but to take legal action.”
Lee Jin Ho also maintained that he possesses evidence but chooses not to reveal it in a way that encourages negativity.
He stated, “I am not withholding evidence because I don’t have any. Unlike HOVERLAB, I simply refuse to encourage ridicule and hatred. Despite facing heavy criticism, I have remained silent out of respect for the deceased.”
The Defamation Lawsuit
Meanwhile, Bu Ji Seok, the legal representative from Buyou Law Firm, announced on March 17 the filing of a defamation lawsuit against Lee Jin Ho on behalf of Kim Sae Ron’s family.
Lee Jin Ho had been creating videos related to Kim Sae Ron since 2022. The bereaved family contends that these videos contained false information. Specifically, they argue that his portrayal of Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun’s relationship as a “fabrication” is a clear falsehood and serves as the primary basis for their legal action.
