This conclusion was confirmed in the investigation result announcement issued by the Gangnam Police Department, with the assessment that the case was "unquestionable" according to South Korean criminal procedure standards.
Kim Se Eui - head and representative face of the Garo Sero Research Institute (also known as Hoverlab) - a YouTube channel specializing in reporting, commenting and investigating issues related to the Korean entertainment and politics. Kim Se Eui regularly appears in live broadcasts and press conferences of the channel, and is also the person directly in charge of many controversial complaints and legal disputes in the past.
According to information from Kim Soo Hyun's fan club, the incident originated in May last year. At that time, the fan club organized a truck protest in front of the press conference venue organized by the Garo Sero Research Institute. On the trucks, fans displayed many messages questioning the authenticity of the announcements of this YouTube channel, as well as some statements related to the family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron.
In response, Kim Se Eui and Garo Sero Research Institute filed a criminal complaint against Kim Soo Hyun's fan group. The plaintiff argued that the messages on the protest truck spread false information, especially accusing the YouTube channel of refusing to conduct forensic analysis of Kim Sae Ron's mobile phones, laptops and tablets. In addition, the lawsuit also argued that the implication that Garo Sero Research Institute had acts of intimidation and manipulation of public opinion against Kim Soo Hyun had exceeded the limits of freedom of expression and constituted a blasphemous act.
However, after a period of investigation, the police concluded that the above statements and messages did not meet the threshold of "fake information" or "illegal acts" under South Korea's criminal defamation law. On that basis, functional agencies decided not to continue pursuing the case and did not transfer the file to the procuracy.
In an official statement, Kim Soo Hyun's fan club emphasized that this is the first case that the investigating agency has issued a ruling related to issues arising around the incident. They consider this decision to be an initial confirmation from the law that the suspicions raised by the fan club and Kim Soo Hyun cannot be considered lies that could be criminally punished.
