South Korean police are seeking an arrest warrant for a YouTuber accused of using artificial intelligence and edited content to fabricate evidence in a defamation case involving actor Kim Soo-hyun.
Authorities say the YouTuber manipulated screenshots of text messages and circulated an AI-generated audio recording. The material falsely suggested that Kim Soo-hyun dated actress Kim Sae-ron when she was still a minor.
Police say the allegations spread widely online and triggered a major scandal that severely damaged the actor’s reputation and career.
The controversy began after actress Kim Sae-ron died at the age of 24 last year. Soon after her death, online rumours surfaced claiming she had dated Kim Soo-hyun when she was 15. These claims gained traction after the YouTuber published the disputed messages and audio files.
Police now say the voice recording was not real.
Authorities confirmed that the audio was generated using AI technology to imitate the actress’s voice. They also say the text message screenshots were altered to make it appear as though messages had been exchanged between the two actors.
The YouTuber, Kim Se-ui, who has nearly one million subscribers, is accused of knowingly spreading the material for financial gain.
Kim Se-ui has rejected the allegations. He claims the investigation is unfair and politically motivated.
He described the police findings as “a subterfuge meant to disrupt his investigation.” He also maintains that the evidence he shared is legitimate.
Police say the false allegations caused severe damage to Kim Soo-hyun’s public and professional life.
A police filing reported by South Korean media outlet JoongAng Ilbo stated that the material “collapsed Kim Soo-hyun’s social base and his economic activities across the board, and destroyed the basis for his professional survival.”
Authorities also say the actor is currently receiving psychiatric treatment due to the emotional impact of the scandal.
Kim Soo-hyun, one of South Korea’s most recognised actors, has not made any public appearances since the scandal escalated.
Kim Soo-hyun has consistently denied claims that he dated Kim Sae-ron while she was underage.
However, after the controversy intensified, he later admitted that he had been in a relationship with her for about one year, but only when she was an adult.
At a press conference in March 2025, he said “I can’t admit to something I didn’t do.”
Following the press conference, he filed criminal complaints and civil lawsuits against both the YouTuber and members of Kim Sae-ron’s family for defamation.
Police say the YouTuber faces charges related to defamation and the spread of false information. They are now seeking an arrest warrant as investigations continue.
Authorities also allege that the YouTuber distributed the content for financial benefit through his channel.
The case escalated after Kim Sae-ron’s death, when online speculation intensified. Her family later publicly supported claims made by the YouTuber, further amplifying the controversy.
Kim Sae-ron herself had previously faced intense public backlash after a 2022 drink-driving incident, which damaged her career. Before her death, she was considered one of South Korea’s most promising young actresses.
The scandal has once again highlighted the intense pressure faced by celebrities in South Korea, where public scrutiny is extreme.
Celebrities in the country have previously faced career-ending backlash over issues such as alleged bullying, relationship rumours, or even fashion controversies.
Kim Soo-hyun’s agency has not yet issued a statement on the latest police request for an arrest warrant.
The release of Knock-Off, a Disney+ project he was working on, has been indefinitely postponed.
The investigation into the YouTuber remains ongoing.
