Kim Soo-hyun is at the centre of renewed controversy in South Korea after reports emerged that prosecutors are moving against YouTuber Kim Se-ui, head of the Garo Sero Institute, over alleged defamation tied to AI-manipulated evidence and viral claims involving the actor.
According to multiple Korean and international reports, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office has requested an arrest warrant for Kim Se-ui in connection with allegations linked to defamation and the spread of disputed material involving Kim Soo-hyun.
The allegations against him reportedly include that he committed defamation, distributed illegally obtained or manipulated materials, usedfabricated AI-generated evidence, circulated alleged fake KakaoTalk screenshots, and disseminated AI-generated voice recordings.
A court hearing regarding the warrant is reportedly scheduled for 26 May 2026.
One of the most significant developments in the case is the claim that artificial intelligence may have been used to fabricate or alter key pieces of evidence circulated online.
Authoritiesreportedly found that voice recordings may have been synthesised using AI, while KakaoTalk screenshots may have been digitally altered, and that some evidence presented publicly may not be authentic.
The allegations had previously gone viral online, contributing to widespread backlash against Kim Soo-hyun and intense public scrutiny across social media platforms.
Kim Soo-hyun has previously denied allegations that he was involved in a relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron while she was underage.
During a press conference held in March 2025, the actor reportedly said: 'I can't admit to something I didn't do'.
His agency also rejected claims that any relationship began when Kim Sae-ron was 15, maintaining that the allegations were false.
Source: International Business Times UK
