Kim Se-ui, CEO of Gaseoro Research Institute, who is accused of spreading false information by claiming that the cause of death of the late actress Kim Sae-ron was due to pressure from actor Kim Soo-hyun's debt, is attending a suspect interrogation prior to arrest (warrant examination) held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu on the 26th. [Photo=Yonhap News]

The warrant examination for Kim Se-ui, CEO of Gaseoro Research Institute, who is accused of spreading false information by claiming that the cause of death of the late actress Kim Sae-ron was due to pressure from actor Kim Soo-hyun's debt, concluded after about 4 hours.

Judge Boo Dong-sik, presiding over warrant examinations at the Seoul Central District Court, conducted a suspect interrogation prior to arrest (warrant examination) from 10:30 AM on the 26th, regarding Kim's alleged violations of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes (filming and distribution using cameras, etc.) and defamation.

Earlier, CEO Kim Se-ui stated, "There are many factual inaccuracies in the current arrest warrant request," and added, "I will fully explain the related facts in court and reveal the truth."

CEO Kim explained, "The police claim that Kim Sae-ron's voice file was AI manipulated, but the National Forensic Service ruled it 'impossible to determine manipulation' around November 2025. Despite this, the Gangnam Police Station is denying the NFI's findings and has applied for an arrest warrant based on false information of AI manipulation."

Furthermore, he emphasized, "I have diligently responded to multiple summons requests from the Gangnam Police Station and actively submitted the requested documents. The last police investigation I attended was on January 23, 2026. The claim that I did not cooperate with the police investigation now, a full four months later, makes no sense."

He even added, "It is absurd that the police cited the fact that the late actress Kim Sae-ron's father did not submit the mobile phone that she used until just before her death as a basis for my failure to submit evidence. My submission of evidence is being discussed alongside the matter of Kim Sae-ron's father."

Additionally, regarding the warrant's claim that Kim Se-ui made statements implying suicidal ideation from November 2025 to March 2026, necessitating his detention, he explained, "The actual timing of those statements was January 7, 2024, which is significantly different from actress Kim Sae-ron's death on February 16, 2025, and the intent of the statements was entirely different. The warrant request was made without even verifying basic facts."

Moreover, CEO Kim Se-ui stated, "The warrant claims that Gaseoro has continuously spread false information, citing the case of Hong Seo-beom and Jo Gap-kyung's family as an example of allegations. However, the issue initially raised by Gaseoro was subsequently admitted and apologized for by the parties involved."

He continued, "Gaseoro recently had to suspend its investigation into allegations of sex services at SK Telecom involving Woo Sang-ho and Song Young-gil in Vietnam and return to Korea due to this warrant procedure. This has caused significant restrictions and substantial damage to our journalistic activities and investigations."

CEO Kim Se-ui declared, "I will attend the warrant examination with confidence and will correct the facts in court. I will file a lawsuit against Inspector Goo Jae-chul and Prosecutor Lee Gyeong-ah of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office for judicial distortion, spreading false information, and abuse of authority and confinement."

Reporter Im Yo-hee