Kim Soo Hyun appeared as a witness behind closed doors at the first hearing in the criminal trial of YouTuber Kim Se Eui, who faces charges of defamation and violations of sexual violence laws.
The Seoul Central District Court held the hearing on November 11th, with Kim Soo Hyun arriving around 1:40 PM through a separate underground entrance to avoid reporters. His legal team reportedly requested witness protection measures.
Kim Se Ui, head of the controversial YouTube channel HoverLab, pleaded not guilty to all charges. His attorney, Lee Seung Hyung, maintained that the allegations involving Kim Soo Hyun and the late actress Kim Sae Ron were not false, insisting that the two had dated while Kim Sae Ron was a minor.
Kim Se Ui also challenged allegations that an audio recording purportedly featuring Kim Sae Ron had been manipulated using artificial intelligence. He claimed to have submitted a forensic analysis from a Korea University professor on October 15th supporting the recording’s authenticity.
He argued that the file was created on February 10th, 2025, before Kim Sae Ron’s death and before he began broadcasting allegations against Kim Soo Hyun on March 10th. The judge repeatedly warned him to lower his voice and confine his remarks to the charges.
Kim Se Ui also requested bail, arguing that his detention prevented him from adequately preparing his defense.
“I want to face world-famous actor Kim Soo Hyun in court with my right to defend myself fully protected,” he said, adding that he wanted to seek justice for Kim Sae Ron and her family.
When the court ordered Kim Soo Hyun’s testimony to be conducted behind closed doors, Kim Se Ui protested and demanded the opportunity to question the actor directly.
“I want to question him myself,” he argued.
The court rejected his request, explaining that questions could be submitted through his attorney. Kim Se Ui was instead placed in a separate room during the testimony, where he could listen to the proceedings and prepare written questions. The two reportedly did not meet face-to-face.
Kim Se Ui was indicted while in custody in June over allegations that he spread false information about Kim Soo Hyun through 25 YouTube broadcasts between March and December 2025.
Separately, Kim Soo Hyun filed a preliminary injunction in September seeking the removal of 45 videos from HoverLab’s YouTube channel, arguing that the content damaged his reputation and violated his personal rights.
>>Kim Soo Hyun’s Agency Reveals Police Referral of Late Kim Sae Ron’s Mother and Others to Prosecutors
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