An official from the late actress Kim Sae-ron's manager has denied providing a recording to YouTuber Lee Jin-ho, who is facing claims of defamation from Kim's bereaved family. The recording, which claims that Kim was married while alive, was released by Lee Jin-ho and has sparked significant controversy.
The unnamed official, referred to as Person A, stated via Star News, "I never provided Lee Jin-ho with the recording nor gave consent for its release." The official further expressed frustration over being implicated in the situation, stating that they had contacted Lee Jin-ho, demanding clarification: "Are you going to kill me to live?"
Lee Jin-ho had previously revealed on his YouTube channel that Kim Sae-ron was married during her lifetime, citing a recorded conversation with a woman he claimed was Kim. The conversation took place shortly before Kim posted a photo on social media with the caption "Marry." In the recording, the woman reportedly confirms her marriage and mentions having an abortion.
On March 20, Lee Jin-ho released additional recordings of conversations involving Person A and another close friend of Kim Ron to substantiate his claims. He argued that the bereaved family misrepresented Kim's past relationships and insisted that she enjoyed her life as a newlywed.
In stark contrast to the response of his fellow broadcast workers, Lee Jin-ho has faced criticism for muddying the waters of Kim's death and crossing ethical boundaries. Others have even accused Person A of leaking the recording to Lee Jin-ho, but Person A has completely denied it.
Under South Korean law, disclosing recorded conversations without consent from all parties involved is illegal and could result in criminal charges.
On March 17, the bereaved family filed a defamation lawsuit against Lee Jin-ho, claiming he caused significant emotional distress to Kim Sae-ron before her death. In 2022, following Kim's death in a car accident, Lee Jin-ho released several videos about her and her previous romances.
In a statement on his YouTube channel, Lee Jin-ho claimed he had met with Kim Sae-ron's managers in February 2024 to discuss her potential return to the entertainment industry. He maintained that he acted out of concern for her well-being rather than malicious intent.
After Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her home in Seongdong-gu on February 16, Lee Jin-ho made his videos private, stating it was a gesture of respect for the deceased. But the attorney for the family of the deceased has called this an act of destroying evidence and is demanding a police investigation into the same.
The family also continues to seek accountability for Kim Sae-ron, saying that while the the aforementioned law does not appear to allow them to pursue murder alongside the alleged drunk driving, they want the law to fight for "the value of [Kim's] life as an actress." They urge for reforms in media practices to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
