"Kim Soohyun Is a 'Child Sex Offender'... Director Lee Jeongseop Referred to Prosecution on Defamation Charges

Allegations Over Spread of Remarks Targeting Kim Soohyun
Police Investigation Follows Complaint Filed by Fandom

Lee Jungseop, who had been directing the early stages of the film "Real" but stepped down during production, has reportedly been referred to prosecutors on charges of defaming actor Kim Suhyun.

Lee Jungseop, who had been directing the early stages of the film 'Real' but stepped down during production, has reportedly been referred to prosecutors on charges of defaming actor Kim Suhyun.

According to the entertainment industry on the 6th, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul recently referred Director Lee to the prosecution as a suspect on charges of defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act. The case is said to have begun when a coalition of Kim Suhyun’s fandom raised the issue and initiated legal action.

The complainants have claimed that Director Lee severely damaged the actor’s reputation by repeatedly posting expressions on social media (SNS) and other platforms that effectively labeled Kim Suhyun a "child sex offender," or by sharing posts containing similar allegations. After examining the related posts and how they were distributed, the police reportedly determined that there was sufficient basis to recognize the alleged offense and therefore handed the case over to the prosecution.

However, referral to the prosecution does not mean that criminal liability has been established, and whether he will be indicted will be decided based on the outcome of the subsequent investigation.

Since last year, Director Lee Jungseop has continuously expressed his position on social media regarding the production controversy surrounding "Real" and the suspicions involving Kim Suhyun. He has posted strongly critical comments about the various controversies surrounding Kim Suhyun and has shared other people’s posts containing contentious allegations, placing himself at the center of public debate.

"Real," released in 2017, is a film that tells the story of two men set against the backdrop of Asia’s largest casino. Although Kim Suhyun’s leading role drew significant attention, the film’s production process also sparked major controversy. Director Lee Jungseop completed most of the filming, but at the post-production stage, the director was replaced by Lee Sarang (real name Lee Robe), the head of the production company and a family member of Kim Suhyun. At the time, disagreements with the production company over the direction of the editing were reported as the reason for his departure.