Kim Soo-hyun's Agency: "Redistribution of Falsehoods is Illegal"... Warns of Post Deletion and Legal Action

GOLDMEDALIST, the agency of actor Kim Soo-hyun, has warned against the redistribution of related false information, mentioning the decision not to transfer charges regarding Kim Soo-hyun's alleged violation of the Child Welfare Act and the fact that Garo Sero Institute operator Kim Se-ui has been indicted under detention. On the 14th, the agency released an official statement requesting those who have written or shared posts, videos, or comments containing false claims or defamatory content about Kim Soo-hyun to delete them voluntarily. They stated that re-posting, sharing, or redistributing related content even after the investigation results and the fact of Kim Se-ui's indictment under detention have been made known could constitute additional illegal acts, and they are proceeding with criminal procedures against identified violators.

GOLDMEDALIST stated that legal action includes not only simple sharing of related posts but also the posting, editing, and redistribution of broadcast screens, thumbnails, photos, and captured images. They plan to pursue both criminal complaints and civil claims for damages against indirect defamation using initial consonants or nicknames, as well as insults, personal attacks, and obstruction of business. The agency explained that they are collecting and preserving posts and comments, and depending on the case, they plan to file complaints without settlement and then file separate civil lawsuits for business losses.

Child Welfare Act Charges Not Transferred... Agency: "No Objective Basis"

In the statement, GOLDMEDALIST stated, "The allegations of violation of the Child Welfare Act against Kim Soo-hyun have been decided not to be transferred as 'no suspicion'." It explained that the investigative agency investigated relevant materials and facts regarding the claim that Kim Soo-hyun had a relationship with the deceased during their minority and the Child Welfare Act violation claims based on that premise, and judged that the suspicion could not be recognized. Accordingly, the agency said it was confirmed that the series of claims made against Kim Soo-hyun have no factual or objective basis. This is an explanation of the investigation results stated in the agency's official statement.

The related suspicions surfaced in March last year. According to a reference article, at that time, Garo Sero Institute and the bereaved family of Kim Sae-ron made claims such as Kim Soo-hyun having a relationship with the deceased since their minority, and Kim Soo-hyun's side denied this and took legal action. Kim Soo-hyun's side has been questioning the credibility of the materials released during the process of raising suspicions and has been proceeding with criminal complaints and claims for damages. The case of Child Welfare Act violation and false accusation filed by the bereaved family against Kim Soo-hyun was decided not to be transferred by the police in July due to no suspicion. In this statement, the agency repeatedly informed of the investigative agency's judgment and requested not to repeat those claims as if they were facts.

Warning Against Redistribution While Mentioning Kim Se-ui's Indictment Under Detention

The agency identified Kim Se-ui as the person who first raised the false claims and continuously distributed them. GOLDMEDALIST stated that Kim Se-ui received an arrest warrant from the court on charges such as defamation by stating false facts under the Information and Communications Network Act and has been sent to trial while currently under detention. In relation to this, the agency said, "The act of continuing to quote the contents claimed by Kim Se-ui or re-posting, sharing, or redistributing them as if they were facts is an additional illegal act that defends the criminal acts of Kim Se-ui, who was indicted under detention, and continues and expands the criminal damage caused by them."

The agency stated that they would also take issue with acts of creating new content or re-distributing existing posts, videos, or comments after the investigation results and the fact of the initial distributor's indictment under detention have been officially confirmed. In particular, they included the acts of posting, sharing, re-posting, or redistributing broadcast screens, thumbnails, photos, captured images, and other audiovisual materials used or released in Garo Sero Institute broadcasts as targets for response. They explained that this also applies to cases where parts of the materials are extracted, processed, or edited and then spread again. The agency's position is that even if images are posted without separate text or if the source is indicated, or if the format of moving someone else's post is taken, one cannot avoid responsibility.

GOLDMEDALIST stated that the intentionality, malice, repetition, and spreadability of such acts may be reflected unfavorably in the sentencing of criminal cases and may also be considered when determining the amount of civil damages. They also said they would inform the investigative agency and the court that the distribution occurred after the investigation results were made public and that the act is intended to cause additional criminal damage. Through this, they plan to take all legal measures so that more severe punishment and responsibility can be imposed. This possibility of punishment is the legal response plan and explanation presented by the agency in the statement.

Posts, Images, and Indirect Defamation are Also Targets for Response

The scope of the agency's response is not limited to the distribution of false facts. GOLDMEDALIST stated that insulting expressions, personal attacks, malicious ridicule/defamation, posts that skillfully distort facts, and videos and images that intentionally extract and edit only parts of the content are also targets for response. This includes indirect defamation that avoids direct expression by using initial consonants, hints, slang, or nicknames. The agency explained that they plan to proceed with criminal complaints and civil claims for damages together, stating that such acts damage social evaluation and personality.

Legal review regarding obstruction of business is also underway. The agency stated that acts of spreading false facts without objective basis, thereby infringing on the artist's legitimate activities and interfering with the company's normal management and business operations, may constitute obstruction of business under Article 314 of the Criminal Act. They said they are currently classifying and selecting cases with high intentionality, repetition, and spreadability based on collected data and reported materials, and are reviewing whether the crime of obstruction of business is established and the scope of civil damage claims through legal representatives.

Once the targets for substantial legal action are finalized, the agency plans to proceed with criminal complaints without settlement and, based on the trial results, file separate civil lawsuits for business losses. They stated that they are continuously collecting and preserving related posts, videos, images, and comments. They stated that if a post is voluntarily deleted, it may be considered in future sentencing or the calculation of damage amounts, but deleting it does not eliminate the criminal and civil responsibility for the illegal acts that have already occurred. Accordingly, they requested those who wrote, shared, re-posted, or redistributed posts or comments to delete them immediately.

Announcement of Sequential Lawsuits... Kim Soo-hyun's Activity History Also Revealed

GOLDMEDALIST stated, "We are proceeding with sequential criminal punishment procedures against identified violators for all acts that infringe upon the rights and interests of our affiliated artists and interfere with our company's normal business and work activities." The company particularly mentioned the amended Information and Communications Network Act implemented from July 7, 2026, claiming that criminal and civil liability for the distribution of false facts has been significantly strengthened. They added a warning not to receive judicial disadvantages such as criminal punishment or damage claims by sympathizing with the claims of the person indicted under detention.

Kim Soo-hyun attended official schedules abroad and domestically after a period of suspending activities following the raising of suspicions. According to a reference article, he began filming an advertisement for the Philippine clothing brand BENCH last July, and on August 23, he appeared as a special guest on the 37th anniversary special live broadcast of the Indonesian private broadcaster RCTI and sang 'Dreaming', an OST for 'Dream High'. At the 2026 TMA held at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium last month, he appeared in a domestic official setting as a presenter for the Popularity Award.

GOLDMEDALIST plans to select violators based on the currently collected data to proceed with sequential criminal procedures and, depending on the case, hold them civilly liable.

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