table of content table of content
- “The essence of crime is the manipulation of evidence”.”
- Kim Sae-ron's audio recordings at the heart of the investigation
- “An inconclusive result does not mean that the audio is authentic”.”
- KakaoTalk conversations have been modified
- Lawyer Bu Ji-seok now also a suspect in the case
- “A planned social crime”
- Damage estimated at nearly 30 billion won
A few days after the validation of Kim Se-ui's arrest warrant, In an interview with Kim Soo-hyun's lawyer Kho Sang Rock, a representative of the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute (GaroSero), new evidence has emerged to shed light on the extremely serious accusations levelled against the YouTuber.
The interview, broadcast on MBC in Korea, details for the first time how investigators allegedly concluded that evidence had been manipulated, particularly concerning the famous KakaoTalk captures and audio recordings attributed to Kim Sae-ron.
Above all, the tone used by Kim Soo-hyun's lawyers shows that the case is now seen as much more than just a media scandal.
“The essence of crime is the manipulation of evidence”.”
Asked about the reasons behind Kim Se-ui's arrest, Kim Soo-hyun's lawyer explained that the seriousness of the case was not based solely on defamation.
In his view, the main focus is on alleged tampering with evidence. “The most important condition for pre-trial detention is the risk of tampering with evidence. In this case, it's not just a risk: the essence of the crime is the manipulation of evidence.”
The lawyer also added that the investigators feared possible collusion between several people involved in disseminating the content. This justification is directly in line with that of the Seoul court, which cited a “risk of destroying evidence and absconding” to validate the arrest warrant.
Kim Sae-ron's audio recordings at the heart of the investigation
One of the most detailed passages in the interview concerns the famous audio files attributed to Kim Sae-ron. For several months, these recordings had been used to support accusations that Kim Soo-hyun had had a relationship with the actress when she was a minor.
But according to the actor's legal team, investigators have identified numerous inconsistencies.
In particular, the lawyer claims that the person who provided the audiotapes (presented as an informant close to the case) also made statements that were not considered very credible, in particular claiming that Kim Soo-hyun had hired someone to assault him. “This is an individual known as ‘Caleb Park’, who has made these kinds of absurd claims. The recording therefore comes from an unreliable source.”
Another troubling element, according to the legal team, is that several different versions of the audio files have been circulated. “When you listen to each version, the flow of the conversation and its content are inconsistent. The differences appear as early as the initial greetings.”
The lawyer also asserts that the original audio file was never handed over to the investigators, and is nowhere to be found. In his view, it was all these elements that led the authorities to conclude that the file had been manipulated.
“An inconclusive result does not mean that the audio is authentic”.”
Kim Se-ui recently told the media that the National Forensic Service (NFS) had not concluded that artificial intelligence had been used.
A statement now directly challenged by Kim Soo-hyun's lawyers.
According to them, no complete official expertise has been made public. “The claim that the NFS result was ‘inconclusive’ comes from an old press article. No official report has been made public or officially confirmed.”
The lawyer also stresses an important point: the investigators would not be basing themselves solely on technical analyses. “Investigators also take into account how the recording was obtained, the credibility of its content, statements by the people involved and other objective evidence.”
Before concluding: “An ‘inconclusive’ technical conclusion does not mean that the registration is genuine.”
KakaoTalk conversations have been modified
Another important revelation from this interview: the KakaoTalk conversations shown publicly by GaroSero were, according to the investigation, altered to make it appear as if they involved Kim Soo-hyun.
The lawyer explains that the original conversations would have been exchanged with another person, before being altered. “They changed the other person's profile picture and name to Kim Soo-hyun's.”
These captures were later released at a joint press conference between Kim Se-ui and lawyer Bu Ji-seok.
According to Kim Soo-hyun's legal team, the visual impact of these images would have played a major role in public opinion. “Everyone naturally thought that the person Kim Sae-ron was talking to was Kim Soo-hyun.”
The lawyer also criticizes the Korean media's lack of verification at the time. “No journalist asked what they were basing their assertion that the caller was really Kim Soo-hyun.”
Lawyer Bu Ji-seok now also a suspect in the case
One of the points that surprised the Korean media was the appearance of lawyer Bu Ji-seok's name among those targeted in the proceedings.
According to Kim Soo-hyun's team, this could be explained by a greater-than-expected involvement in the dissemination of controversial content.
In particular, the lawyers point out that Bu Ji-seok was present at the press conferences and would have publicly validated the authenticity of the elements broadcast. “People thought, ‘Surely a lawyer wouldn't lie.’”
However, the legal team says it is awaiting the final conclusions of the investigation before going any further publicly.
“A planned social crime”
Perhaps the most powerful part of the interview is how the lawyers now describe the case. According to them, this is no longer simply a rumor campaign targeting a celebrity.
“This case represents an unprecedented case of manipulation of vital evidence such as KakaoTalk conversations and voice recordings.”
The lawyer even mentions a “coordinated, premeditated social crime”.” : “This was a planned social crime aimed at completely destroying the reputation and life of an innocent world star using fabricated evidence.”
The legal team also stresses the global impact of the scandal, pointing out that Kim Soo-hyun remains one of Korea's best-known international actors.
Damage estimated at nearly 30 billion won
Finally, the legal team confirmed that the damages suffered by Kim Soo-hyun could be much higher than the 12 billion won initially claimed. “The losses actually calculated (even taking only economic losses into account) are much higher.”
According to documents passed on to investigators, losses are now estimated at around 30 billion won (nearly 20 million euros). Lawyers also confirmed thatthey were considering extending the prosecution to other people involved in the case after the full results of the survey.
Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun's agency is reportedly currently working to arrange the actor's gradual return. “Our goal is to help her return to a normal daily life after she's been shattered by this case, and to enable her to come back to the public through her work.”
The full interview translated into French on the Kim Soo Hyun France page:
