Seoul, en.SERU.co.id — South Korean police have concluded that key evidence used to accuse actor Kim Soo-hyun of dating the late Kim Sae-ron as a minor was manipulated — and in some cases, created with AI.
The police revealed their findings on Thursday (21/5/2026), in documents supporting an arrest warrant request against YouTuber Kim Se-ui of the Garo Sero Research Institute.
Investigators determined that several KakaoTalk screenshots, presented as proof of the relationship, had been edited. Kim Se-ui reportedly received 11 original images from Kim Sae-ron’s family, then altered at least seven of them — including changing the contact’s name to Kim Soo-hyun.
The most damaging piece of “evidence” was an audio clip supposedly featuring Kim Sae-ron’s voice. In the recording played during a press conference last year, she appeared to claim she had been in a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun since middle school.
The Korea Times quoted police documents:
“The suspect held a press conference on May 7 last year and played an audio file of the deceased’s voice, which was fake and made by AI.”
Authorities believe Kim Se-ui knowingly used the AI-generated recording to strengthen the allegations.
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Authorities believe Kim Se-ui knowingly used the fabricated materials to boost his channel’s views and donations. Prosecutors have now requested an arrest warrant for him on defamation charges, with a custody review hearing scheduled for May 26.
Kim Soo-hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist, have long described the situation as a planned smear campaign using fabricated evidence. In his tearful press conference last March, the actor vowed to prove his innocence.
The legal fallout continues, including lawsuits from brands that dropped him during the scandal.
*(Sources: The Korea Times, Korea Herald, BBC News, JoongAng Ilbo)
