Kim Se-yi, head of the Garoseoro Research Institute, was indicted on charges including defamation against actor Kim Soo-hyun. He applied for a citizen participation trial but the court rejected his request. The prosecution and Kim Soo-hyun's side opposed the citizen participation trial, expressing concerns that it could be used as an emotional public opinion battleground. Kim Se-yi denies all charges, arguing that his remarks regarding the cause of Kim Sae-ron's death were expressions of opinion and that the AI-manipulated audio was not intended for defamation. He is accused of spreading distorted information about Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron's relationship and the cause of Kim Sae-ron's death, and violating Kim Soo-hyun's privacy.
