Kim Soo-hyun Files Lawsuit Over Defamation Claims

South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has filed an 8.2 million US dollar lawsuit against the family of late actress Kim Sae-ron and the operators of YouTube channel Hoverlab, citing defamation and violation of the information protection act. The lawsuit follows allegations that Soo-hyun was involved in an underage relationship with Sae-ron, accusations he fervently denies, insisting their relationship began when she was of legal age. Forensic analysis presented by Soo-hyun's team claims that KakaoTalk messages allegedly exchanged with Sae-ron in 2016 and 2018 were fabricated. During a press conference, Soo-hyun expressed remorse for the pain caused by the scandal and denied any connection between his actions and Sae-ron's tragic suicide. The YouTube channel Hoverlab had previously released videos suggesting an earlier relationship, further fueling the controversy. The case is expected to be heard by a three-judge civil panel due to its high-profile nature.