https://m.entertain.naver.com/now/article/477/0000571718
Kim Soohyun's side clarified that his picture with the late Kim Saeron, which she had posted on social media last year but then quickly deleted, was not taken in 2016, but in 2020.
On the 30th, Kim Soohyun's legal representative, attorney Ko Sangrok, addressed the controversial picture while refuting allegations that Kim Soohyun dated a minor.
Attorney Ko stated, "In the process of revealing the truth, there is a risk of unintentionally burdening related parties, and that applies to the late Kim Saeron as well. This is exactly the specific difficulty of this case." He added, "The root of the problem was a draft of statement found in a Kakaotalk conversation that she sent to an acquaintance on 25 March 2024, which contained false claims."
Attorney Ko continued, "At the time when the drama 'Queen of Tears' was very popular, the late Kim Saeron posted a photo of her and Kim Soohyun on social media before immediately deleting it. Upon reconfirming the facts, the photo was taken in late 2020, when the late Kim Saeron was entering her 2nd year in university. However, in the draft statement, which appears to have been prepared by someone's help, there was a false statement claiming that the picture was taken in 2016, when she was only in her 1st year of high school. The photo was cited in the same document as the sole basis for the false claim that 'the late Kim Saeron dated Kim Soohyun from the 3rd grade of middle school through her 3rd year of university."
In March 2024, while preparing for a comeback after her DUI accident in 2022, the late Kim Saeron posted a photo on her social media showing her posing cheek-to-cheek with Kim Soohyun, only to delete it 3 minutes later. This sparked dating rumors, which Kim Soohyun's agency firmly denied at the time, stating, "The dating rumor is groundless. We have no idea what the intention behind Kim Saeron's actions was."
Attorney Ko stated, "Anyone is capable of making statements that are not true. There might have been motives or reasons for her or those who helped her at the time. However, not everyone makes such statements, and especially if the content could cause serious harm to another person, one must be especially cautious. Nevertheless, this false statement was left behind and later became the beginning of a serious cybercrime. Based on my review as an attorney, there is a reasonable explanation regarding how this happened. However, I ask for understanding that I can't disclose details, as discussing them in depth could damage the feelings of mourning for the late Kim Saeron."
Attorney Ko concluded, "Fake news is a crime, not a content. Society as a while must now directly confront and firmly control cyber-organized violence. This case is not just a simple dispute, but a crime causing serious harm to our society. It also contains an important issue regarding how human rights are treated. Therefore, we shouldn't grow weary in the process of finding the truth. We ask you all to continue paying attention to this case until the damage suffered by Kim Soohyun is fully recovered."
-Please just leave Saeron alone.
-He's still doing this, huh?
-I feel sorry for Saeron.
-Ugh... He can't make a comeback. Just cut it out. I don't want to see him ever again.
-Ugh, Ahjussi... You're disgusting.
-How can you trust him when he keeps changing his words all the time?
-This is exactly why he hired a lawyer.
-Looks like he's preparing to make a comeback...
-You're finished already. Don't try to change your image.
-Why is he going this far? At this point, it seems like he's just spitting out words without thinking. I wish he'd think a little bit...
-Just retire from the industry.
-I really wish he'd just stop... Does no one around him realize that this will not get better no matter what he does?
-He already made a lot of money... Wouldn't it better for him to just start a business and live a new life?
-Just leave. Retire from the industry. Even just seeing his name is already exhausting for me.
