Kim's lawyer: "We have filed a complaint against the family of the deceased and Hoverlab operators while filing…
They filed the criminal complaint previously (March 20th), after the nudie pic was displayed on Garosero's YouTube livestream (twice). This is the first mention (I've seen) of the amount they are requesting for damages.
KSH's lawyer's statement suggests that Gold Medalist has included KSR's family in their criminal complaint which previously named the Garosero YouTuber and KSR's auntie for streaming the partially-nude photo of KSH twice. They are seeking 12 Billion KRW in damages.
"Firstly, I am sorry. Because of me, I think so many people are suffering. And also I feel sorry that the late actor [Kim Sae-ron] isn't able to rest in peace.
I consider myself a coward. I have always been too preoccupied with holding on to what I have. I couldn’t even trust the goodwill that came my way, always fearing loss, harm and running away, denying everything. That’s why it took me so long to stand here today.
So I thought about what it would have been like if I had just said everything. If I had done so, my fans and my agency who have done so much to make this press conference would suffer less. Every time something about me and [Kim Sae-ron] was exposed, [I thought to myself] let's reveal everything. I kept thinking about speaking directly and ending this hell-like situation.
I hesitated every time. Thinking about the impact my decisions would have on others. Whether [my decisions] would push everybody including me into trouble.
It was the same situation when [Kim Sae-ron] posted a picture of her and me when "Queen of Tears" was airing. I was together with her for about a year, about 4 years before the drama aired.
But at that time, I denied our relationship. I fully understand that criticizing my choice is justified.
I understand that people don't trust what I say about what happened between me and [Kim Sae-ron]. But because I only have one chance [to explain this], I would really appreciate it if you would listen to what I have to say.
After i became an actor, I received so much love. I was a person didn't start with much, but I became a person who had so much to protect.
Whenever there was a situation and the choice for Kim Soo-hyun as a human being and Kim Soo-hyun as a celebrity came up, I think I always chose in favor of the celebrity.
When "Queen of Tears" was airing, I had so much to protect as its lead actor. What would have happened if I had admitted to a yearlong relationship. What would happen to the actors, the staff who were working overnight and the production team who had all everything staked on that project. What would happen to our agency's employees.
Could I really make that decision just for my peace of mind? The more I thought of it, the more I thought that shouldn't be what I do. [Kim Soo-hyun was crying during the last comment]
I thought that it was my reponsibility as a person who lives the life of Kim Soo-hyun. I am willing to receive any criticism that say I am selfish and cowardly. [Kim Soo-hyun just stood up and apologized again and then sat back down]
I have a lot of worries, even at this momet. I am anxious
How would my words return to me. But since I am that kind of a person, I thought I should be saying it [Kim is crying]
There were some people giving me advice. "Just let it be. Just accept things if you are willing to manage the risk. Then you will be out of people's minds, and then you can prepare for a comeback later."
If i had listened, maybe a situation where the late actor's and my private lives were disclosed would not have happened
I would not have to be threatened everyday about uploading certain photos tomorrow and revealing something. And there wouldn't have been a situation where [Kim Sae-ron] was defamed by being revealed her private life through photos
But I couldn't let it be. I couldn't accept (them) coercing me to take what's fake as the truth. [Kim's voice got louder during these remarks]
Except for the fact that both of us were actors, our relationship was just like that of any other ordinary couple
We dated with good feelings and after some time, we broke up. After that, we weren't able to contact each other like we used to. Just like any other couple, contacting a lover after breaking up is a very cautious thing.
We were both actors well known to the public by face and when we were together in the agency we knew each other. I also couldn't contact her easily when she had the DUI incident.
From YouTube, I heard that the former CEO of the agency was having a hard time because of me when the drunk driving incident happened. But I was aware that the late actor was in a relationship with someone else. So I was very careful about contacting her.
We were already living our own lives and I didn't know what to say. This may just sound like an excuse. I did think I might as well just listen to whatever people say and stay silent. I always received overwhelming love and that was often followed by a lot of misunderstandings as well. Sometimes rumors just circulate as if they are facts. I thought that was my burden to carry.
But the family of the late actor, just because i am the ex-boyfriend of the late actor, is asserting that I pushed her to death. They are demanding me to confess to something that I didn't do. [They said] you played with her even from when she was a minor. You threatened her with money. So you are a murderer" [Kim is crying a lot]
[end of part one. He plays audio of a phone call between GM and KSR from a year ago, then continues…]
The family of the deceased revealed testimony from the agency's CEO on YouTube after exposing me and (Saeron's) relationship. With a recorded phonecall, they made it sound like (the agency) pressured her by sending her a second letter demanding debt repayment. But a phone call recorded a year ago shows there was a different conversation with my agency's CEO.
[KSH speech Part 2, continued]
[Kim played audio he says is from a phone call between the CEO of Goldmedalist and a representative of Kim Sae-ron.]
Regarding the second debt payment, the controversy is this. I can't tell if it is a complete lie but I can't say that I did something that I did not do. The voice recording disclosed by the late actor's family is something that's newly recorded. And the same goes fot eh KakaoTalk chat that the late family initially revealed.
Discussing a message reportedly from Kim Sae-ron. This KakaoTalk message has so many things wrong to think that [Kim Sae-ron] wrote it. It was a photo taken in 2019.
If it was really [Kim Sae-ron] she couldn't have got me and her age difference wrong. And it is not possible for her to get the agency name and the contracted period wrong. And she was only contracted as an actor at our agency. She was not involved in casting or visual directing.
These fake testimonials and evidence are piling up just because we dated.
The late actor's family disclosed KakaoTalk conversation through a press conference. On that YouTube channel, they are framing me as paedophile, accusing me of gromming based on KakaoTalk chats we had in 2016.
The person who is having the conversation with the late actor is different for the KakaoTalk chats made in 2016 and 2018. In order to prove this, I have requested analysis into the KakaoTalk chat revealed by the late actor's family in 2016, 2018 and this year.
The agency showed that the chat made in 2016 and 2018 were made by different people. There is evidence of photos and videos and KakaoTalk chat that's not original but that have been cleverly manipulated.
I will take whatever criticism about my choices. But that does not mean everything becomes fact. I will take action to thoroughly investigate the evidence that the family of the deceased are bringing as if they have verified it all.
If all the evidence the family holds is true, I hope they can be verified legally after a thorough investigation. I have people that I am responsible for, those who are looking to me. I am seeing them in pain and agony everyday. I am scared what they will reveal today and distort to make me a killer."
But if I surrender to such pressure and say that something that's false is true, I would be betraying not only myself but all of the people that have sent belief and love to me. I would be leaving them with a lifetime of pain, telling them they were deceived by Kim Soo-hyun, whom they considered a good person. No matter how much I live wearing a mask as a celebrity, I cannot do that.
I have done what I have done. I will take any criticism for that. But the things I haven't done, I haven't done. I want to clear my name. I will not ask for trust. I will prove it. Thank you. "
[KSH has finished speaking]
[KSH's lawyer makes a brief statement]
"Kim has addressed the issue directly. And standing by his will, Kim Soo-hyun and Goldmedalist have requested the law firm to explore both criminal and civil litigation to get the facts straight.
We have filed a complaint against the family of the deceased and Hoverlab operators while filing a complaint on damages worth 12 billion won to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office."
Here you go https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-03-31/national/socialAffairs/LIVE-Kim-Soohyun-to-address-Kim-Saeron-relationship-for-first-time/2274258
"I consider myself a coward. I've always been too preoccupied with holding on to what I have. I couldn't even trust the goodwill that came my way, always fearing loss, harm, and running away, denying everything. That's why it took me so long to stand here today.
"I hesitated every time. Thinking about the impact my decisions would have on others. Whether my decisions would push everybody including me into trouble."
"CBS No Cut News reported that the court recognized Lee Jin Ho’s actions as a stalking crime and issued a provisional…
The family requested this provisional order as part of their defamation lawsuit. The court approved their request. This is not the end of that lawsuit (or the other one they also just filed.) It keeps the YouTuber from discussing Sae Ron while the court proceeds with the case.
So his only punishment is that he cannot broadcast anything about KSR for 3 mos? What's wrong with SK's laws?…
That's not his punishment, per se. His punishment—if any—will occur at the end of the trial.
This is just an interim order while the court proceeds with the family's defamation lawsuit against him. The court also added an additional defamation charge to the criminal complaint, which would increase his penalty if found guilty.
If you hear bad things about someone, be careful to believe them. News and gossip often have no basis at all,…
Like the time that agency informed the world their client never dated that underage actress and we all believed them until a naked photo of their client in her apartment surfaced. That was embarrassing! And to think we may never know who it was that forced him into that situation in the first place!
"I consider myself a coward." — Kim Soo Hyun
https://www.koreaboo.com/news/gold-medalist-new-statement/
https://www.koreaboo.com/news/kim-soo-hyun-files-12-billion-krw-lawsuit-bereaved-family-garosero/
"Firstly, I am sorry. Because of me, I think so many people are suffering. And also I feel sorry that the late actor [Kim Sae-ron] isn't able to rest in peace.
I consider myself a coward. I have always been too preoccupied with holding on to what I have. I couldn’t even trust the goodwill that came my way, always fearing loss, harm and running away, denying everything. That’s why it took me so long to stand here today.
So I thought about what it would have been like if I had just said everything. If I had done so, my fans and my agency who have done so much to make this press conference would suffer less. Every time something about me and [Kim Sae-ron] was exposed, [I thought to myself] let's reveal everything. I kept thinking about speaking directly and ending this hell-like situation.
I hesitated every time. Thinking about the impact my decisions would have on others. Whether [my decisions] would push everybody including me into trouble.
It was the same situation when [Kim Sae-ron] posted a picture of her and me when "Queen of Tears" was airing. I was together with her for about a year, about 4 years before the drama aired.
But at that time, I denied our relationship. I fully understand that criticizing my choice is justified.
I understand that people don't trust what I say about what happened between me and [Kim Sae-ron]. But because I only have one chance [to explain this], I would really appreciate it if you would listen to what I have to say.
After i became an actor, I received so much love. I was a person didn't start with much, but I became a person who had so much to protect.
Whenever there was a situation and the choice for Kim Soo-hyun as a human being and Kim Soo-hyun as a celebrity came up, I think I always chose in favor of the celebrity.
When "Queen of Tears" was airing, I had so much to protect as its lead actor. What would have happened if I had admitted to a yearlong relationship. What would happen to the actors, the staff who were working overnight and the production team who had all everything staked on that project. What would happen to our agency's employees.
Could I really make that decision just for my peace of mind? The more I thought of it, the more I thought that shouldn't be what I do.
[Kim Soo-hyun was crying during the last comment]
I thought that it was my reponsibility as a person who lives the life of Kim Soo-hyun. I am willing to receive any criticism that say I am selfish and cowardly.
[Kim Soo-hyun just stood up and apologized again and then sat back down]
I have a lot of worries, even at this momet. I am anxious
How would my words return to me. But since I am that kind of a person, I thought I should be saying it
[Kim is crying]
There were some people giving me advice. "Just let it be. Just accept things if you are willing to manage the risk. Then you will be out of people's minds, and then you can prepare for a comeback later."
If i had listened, maybe a situation where the late actor's and my private lives were disclosed would not have happened
I would not have to be threatened everyday about uploading certain photos tomorrow and revealing something. And there wouldn't have been a situation where [Kim Sae-ron] was defamed by being revealed her private life through photos
But I couldn't let it be. I couldn't accept (them) coercing me to take what's fake as the truth.
[Kim's voice got louder during these remarks]
Except for the fact that both of us were actors, our relationship was just like that of any other ordinary couple
We dated with good feelings and after some time, we broke up. After that, we weren't able to contact each other like we used to. Just like any other couple, contacting a lover after breaking up is a very cautious thing.
We were both actors well known to the public by face and when we were together in the agency we knew each other. I also couldn't contact her easily when she had the DUI incident.
From YouTube, I heard that the former CEO of the agency was having a hard time because of me when the drunk driving incident happened. But I was aware that the late actor was in a relationship with someone else. So I was very careful about contacting her.
We were already living our own lives and I didn't know what to say. This may just sound like an excuse. I did think I might as well just listen to whatever people say and stay silent. I always received overwhelming love and that was often followed by a lot of misunderstandings as well. Sometimes rumors just circulate as if they are facts. I thought that was my burden to carry.
But the family of the late actor, just because i am the ex-boyfriend of the late actor, is asserting that I pushed her to death. They are demanding me to confess to something that I didn't do. [They said] you played with her even from when she was a minor. You threatened her with money. So you are a murderer"
[Kim is crying a lot]
[end of part one. He plays audio of a phone call between GM and KSR from a year ago, then continues…]
The family of the deceased revealed testimony from the agency's CEO on YouTube after exposing me and (Saeron's) relationship. With a recorded phonecall, they made it sound like (the agency) pressured her by sending her a second letter demanding debt repayment. But a phone call recorded a year ago shows there was a different conversation with my agency's CEO.
[KSH speech Part 2, continued]
[Kim played audio he says is from a phone call between the CEO of Goldmedalist and a representative of Kim Sae-ron.]
Regarding the second debt payment, the controversy is this. I can't tell if it is a complete lie but I can't say that I did something that I did not do. The voice recording disclosed by the late actor's family is something that's newly recorded. And the same goes fot eh KakaoTalk chat that the late family initially revealed.
Discussing a message reportedly from Kim Sae-ron. This KakaoTalk message has so many things wrong to think that [Kim Sae-ron] wrote it. It was a photo taken in 2019.
If it was really [Kim Sae-ron] she couldn't have got me and her age difference wrong. And it is not possible for her to get the agency name and the contracted period wrong. And she was only contracted as an actor at our agency. She was not involved in casting or visual directing.
These fake testimonials and evidence are piling up just because we dated.
The late actor's family disclosed KakaoTalk conversation through a press conference. On that YouTube channel, they are framing me as paedophile, accusing me of gromming based on KakaoTalk chats we had in 2016.
The person who is having the conversation with the late actor is different for the KakaoTalk chats made in 2016 and 2018. In order to prove this, I have requested analysis into the KakaoTalk chat revealed by the late actor's family in 2016, 2018 and this year.
The agency showed that the chat made in 2016 and 2018 were made by different people. There is evidence of photos and videos and KakaoTalk chat that's not original but that have been cleverly manipulated.
I will take whatever criticism about my choices. But that does not mean everything becomes fact. I will take action to thoroughly investigate the evidence that the family of the deceased are bringing as if they have verified it all.
If all the evidence the family holds is true, I hope they can be verified legally after a thorough investigation. I have people that I am responsible for, those who are looking to me. I am seeing them in pain and agony everyday. I am scared what they will reveal today and distort to make me a killer."
But if I surrender to such pressure and say that something that's false is true, I would be betraying not only myself but all of the people that have sent belief and love to me. I would be leaving them with a lifetime of pain, telling them they were deceived by Kim Soo-hyun, whom they considered a good person. No matter how much I live wearing a mask as a celebrity, I cannot do that.
I have done what I have done. I will take any criticism for that. But the things I haven't done, I haven't done. I want to clear my name. I will not ask for trust. I will prove it. Thank you. "
[KSH has finished speaking]
[KSH's lawyer makes a brief statement]
"Kim has addressed the issue directly. And standing by his will, Kim Soo-hyun and Goldmedalist have requested the law firm to explore both criminal and civil litigation to get the facts straight.
We have filed a complaint against the family of the deceased and Hoverlab operators while filing a complaint on damages worth 12 billion won to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office."
[End of lawyer's statement]
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-03-31/national/socialAffairs/LIVE-Kim-Soohyun-to-address-Kim-Saeron-relationship-for-first-time/2274258
"I hesitated every time. Thinking about the impact my decisions would have on others. Whether my decisions would push everybody including me into trouble."
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-03-31/national/socialAffairs/LIVE-Kim-Soohyun-to-address-Kim-Saeron-relationship-for-first-time/2274258
This is just an interim order while the court proceeds with the family's defamation lawsuit against him. The court also added an additional defamation charge to the criminal complaint, which would increase his penalty if found guilty.
https://www.koreaboo.com/news/youtuber-lee-jin-ho-kim-sae-ron-stalking-charges/