Kim Se-woo, the head of the Garosero Research Institute, has requested bail after being indicted on charges of defamation and violations of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act against actor Kim Soo-hyun. His legal team cited health concerns and the need to ensure his right to defense as reasons for his release, while prosecutors expressed strong opposition, citing risks of reoffending and spreading false information.
The Seoul Central District Court's 26th Criminal Division, presided over by Judge Lee Hyun-kyung, held a second pre-trial hearing for Kim on the 15th to discuss the bail request.
Dressed in a light green prison uniform, Kim stated, "I have no reason to flee because I am confident in my innocence."
His attorney argued that Kim's mental health has deteriorated due to solitary confinement and that he is unable to obtain necessary medication due to the seizure of his funds. The defense emphasized that Kim has a stable residence and poses no threat to the victim, asserting that these conditions warrant his release on bail. The attorney also mentioned that the National Forensic Service had deemed a voice recording as "indeterminate" regarding AI manipulation.
Kim himself dismissed concerns about flight risk, referencing the seizure of his apartment valued at 10 billion won and the postponement of his elderly mother's surgery.
In contrast, prosecutors contended that Kim has been continuing his broadcasts from jail by sending letters and has leaked court documents to the outside. They reiterated their opposition to bail, arguing that if released, he could distort the bail decision as a declaration of innocence and potentially engage in secondary harm against the victim.
Regarding the withdrawal of some evidence, including the voice recording analysis, prosecutors explained that it was due to concerns about its misuse in Kim's broadcasts and clarified that this did not negate the reasons for his detention.
Kim was arrested and indicted in June for spreading false information through YouTube broadcasts, claiming that the late Kim Sae-ron had been in a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun since her minor years and that pressure from Kim's side regarding debt repayment was the cause of her death. He also faces charges related to the use of generative AI for voice manipulation and extortion based on private information.
The court has scheduled the next pre-trial hearing for the 28th.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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