Kim Soo Hyun cleared of claims he dated Kim Sae Ron as a minor as police cite AI-fabricated evidence
The controversy has remained one of South Korea’s most widely discussed entertainment disputes over the past year
South Korean police have reportedly concluded that allegations claiming actor Kim Soo Hyun dated late actress Kim Sae Ron while she was a minor were false, according to documents linked to an arrest warrant request filed by Gangnam Police Station in Seoul.
Reports stated that investigators accused YouTuber Kim Se-ui of spreading false information for financial gain, including revenue generated through YouTube broadcasts and related online content.
Police reportedly wrote in the warrant request that the suspect “clearly knew Kim Soo-hyun did not date the deceased actress while she was underage” but continued distributing claims intended to damage the actor’s reputation.
Authorities also concluded that KakaoTalk messages previously released as alleged evidence had been manipulated.
According to the investigation, screenshots from conversations involving Kim Sae-ron and an unidentified account from 2016 were altered, including changing the account name to “Kim Soo-hyun”.
Police further alleged that edited materials were uploaded despite the inability to confirm the identity of the original participant in the conversations. An audio recording said to feature Kim Sae-ron, previously released by Garo Sero Institute, was also reportedly determined to be AI-generated and fabricated.
The investigation additionally led to a lawyer representing Kim Sae-ron’s bereaved family being booked by authorities. Police alleged the lawyer assisted in supplying and distributing materials connected to the accusations.
Kim Se-ui denied wrongdoing and argued that the arrest warrant request was intended to suppress his journalistic activities. A court hearing reviewing the warrant request is scheduled for May 26 at the Seoul Central District Court.
