Kim Se-ui Seeks Bail Citing Mental Health; Prosecutor: "He'll Broadcast if Released"

Defamation Trial Involving Kim Soo-hyun, Tzuyang, and Others
Kim: "I've Been Demonized by My Detention... No Risk of Fleeing"

Kim Se-ui, head of the Garosero Research Institute, who was indicted and detained on charges including defaming actor Kim Soo-hyun, requested bail, saying there was no risk he would flee or destroy evidence.

Kim Se-ui, head of Garo Sero Research Institute, attends a pre-arrest suspect questioning hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu on the 26th. Yonhap News Agency.

On October 15, Presiding Judge Lee Hyun-kyung of the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Agreement Division 26 held the second preparatory hearing in the case against Kim, who has been charged with defamation, violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (distributing footage taken using cameras or other devices), and violating the Stalking Punishment Act.

Kim was indicted and detained in June 2026 on charges including uploading YouTube videos from March to December 2025 that made it appear he had been in a relationship with Kim Sae-ron, even though he had not dated her for six years starting when she was 15 and a minor, by using arbitrarily edited KakaoTalk chat screenshots and fabricated audio recordings.

The court reviewed the parties’ positions on the evidence submitted by prosecutors and their evidence requests, and held a bail hearing requested by Kim’s side on October 8. Bail is a system under which a detained defendant is released by suspending the execution of detention, subject to conditions such as payment of a specified security deposit.

Kim’s side argued, “The arrest warrant states that he ‘knew the alleged facts were false and that the audio file had been manipulated using AI to imitate the deceased’s voice.’ But this part was removed from the indictment, so the grounds for detention no longer exist.”

They also argued that continued detention was unjust under the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence, given that Kim was being held in solitary confinement while currently facing threats of terrorism, putting his physical and mental health at risk. They further said they had filed an interlocutory appeal with the Seoul Central District Court, alleging that the forensic examination of Kim’s mobile phone was unlawful because it was conducted without ensuring his right to be present.

Appearing in court in a green prison uniform, Kim said, “I have already been demonized because of my detention. I have been branded as someone who generated AI interviews and fabricated KakaoTalk messages containing things that never happened.”

He added, “I am confident that I can stand trial with my head held high and be found not guilty, so there is absolutely no risk that I will flee or destroy evidence.”

The prosecutor countered, “Even while in detention, Kim has been broadcasting by sending out letters, and in the process he has leaked court documents related to an ongoing case for purposes unrelated to the trial.” The prosecutor added that there was a significant risk Kim would broadcast on YouTube, reoffend, and harm the victims if released.

The prosecutor continued, “If released from detention, he would be unlikely to cooperate with the trial, and if granted bail, there is a high likelihood that he would spread distorted claims as though he had been acquitted.” The prosecutor asked the court to impose restrictions on his residence and include a ban on YouTube broadcasts, including through the use of personal information, among the bail conditions if bail were granted upon expiration of his detention period.

The court concluded the hearing that day and decided to resume the preparatory hearing on the morning of October 28. It also finalized its decision to exclude a jury trial, which Kim’s side had requested.

Meanwhile, a separate trial is scheduled to proceed that afternoon on charges that Kim defamed popular mukbang YouTuber Tzuyang (real name Park Jeong-won), Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Ko Min-jung, and the late Pyo Ye-rim, and disclosed letters related to perpetrators of the Miryang sexual assault case.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.