Family of Late Actress Kim Sae-ron Files Defamation Charges Against YouTuber Lee Jin-ho
On March 17, 2025, the family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron, who passed away last month, filed a defamation complaint against entertainment YouTuber Lee Jin-ho. Attorney Bu Ji-seok, representing the family, held a press conference in front of the Seoul Police Agency's Civil Service Office, announcing the submission of the complaint.
In the statement, Attorney Bu explained that Kim Sae-ron posted a photo with actor Kim Soo-hyun in March 2024 after receiving a debt collection notice from her agency. She reached out to Kim Soo-hyun but received no response, leading her to briefly share the photo in hopes of getting in touch. Bu accused Lee Jin-ho of spreading false information that denied their romantic relationship and portrayed Kim in a negative light, causing her severe mental distress that contributed to her tragic decision.
Lee Jin-ho had previously uploaded several videos discussing Kim Sae-ron, including titles such as "The Real Reason Actress Kim Sae-ron Went Off the Rails" and "Kim Sae-ron's Tearful Cafe Job... Why Her Sincerity is Questioned." Following Kim's death, these videos were made private.
In his videos, Lee suggested that Kim's decision to post the photo stemmed from impulsiveness and instability, noting that she deleted the photo shortly after posting it. He claimed that she expressed regret about her actions through a friend, and that even her acquaintances found her behavior difficult to understand. Attorney Bu stated that Lee's deletion of past videos after Kim's death constitutes evidence tampering, urging for a search and seizure and an arrest investigation.
Bu also mentioned that they plan to file complaints against Kim Soo-hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist, for various charges, including threats and defamation. He revealed that after Kim sent a message to Kim Soo-hyun expressing her distress, the agency responded with a second notice instructing her not to post about the situation on social media and warning of potential legal action if it affected Kim Soo-hyun's drama, "Queen of Tears." This second notice was discovered by the family while sorting through Kim's belongings after her passing.
Kwon Young-chan, head of the Korean Entertainment Suicide Prevention Association, who attended the press conference, stated that seven family members approached him for help after Kim's death, and that there is a letter indicating Kim had been in a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun since 2015. He added that they also plan to file complaints against other journalists involved in the case.
In the full statement from the family’s legal representative, it was noted that while they would prefer to pursue murder charges, defamation is the only applicable charge under current legal precedents. They hope that the connection between Lee Jin-ho's false claims and Kim's death will be taken into account during sentencing.
The family expressed their distress over the mental anguish Kim experienced from the notices she received and questioned why Kim Soo-hyun's side is only now seeking to publicly address the family’s concerns. They are currently considering legal actions against Kim Soo-hyun's side as well.
