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The case involving Kim Soo-hyun, deceased actress Kim Sae-ron and YouTube media outlet Garo Sero Institute is undergoing a major new judicial development in South Korea, a long-awaited twist for fans of the actor. According to information obtained by the Korean media New Daily, On May 19, the Seoul Central Public Prosecutor's Office ruled that «the grounds put forward by the police for requesting an arrest warrant for Kim Se-ui are sufficiently well-founded», in a case involving the Sex Crimes Act (illegal distribution of filmed images) and defamation.
The Seoul Central Court will hold a hearing on May 26 to decide whether he should be remanded in custody.
Accusations linked to videos posted on YouTube
Kim Se-ui is accused of having repeatedly broadcast, between March and May 2025, claims that Kim Soo-hyun had a relationship with Kim Sae-ron when she was still a minor.
Investigators also accused him of publishing private photos, personal conversations and audio recordings linked to the two actors via YouTube and several press conferences.
Among the charges are
- defamation via communication networks,
- illegal distribution of filmed images,
- damage to reputation,
- alleged threats.
One of the most controversial items concerns the release of a photo showing part of Kim Soo-hyun's body. The actor's agency, Gold Medalist, at the time denounced «a photo that could provoke sexual humiliation» and claimed that it «should never have been made public».
What the police report says
«In particular, the police claim that Kim Se-ui repeatedly disseminated via YouTube and at press conferences «false information» that Kim Soo-hyun had a relationship and had sex with Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor, and that financial pressure from the actor regarding debt repayment contributed to the actress's death.
Investigators also accused Kim Se-ui of manipulating certain screenshots of KakaoTalk conversations. According to the police, the name of the «unknown» contact was changed to that of Kim Soo-hyun, with the addition of a profile photo of the actor, in order to make it appear that these were genuine exchanges between him and Kim Sae-ron.
The police also claim that Kim Se-ui broadcast an «artificial intelligence» audio file at a press conference, in which a voice presented as that of Kim Sae-ron claimed to have had a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun when she was a schoolgirl.
According to the authorities, Kim Se-ui also released several private photos of Kim Soo-hyun, including a scene of the actor washing dishes at Kim Sae-ron's home. Investigators also accuse him of exerting psychological pressure by threatening to publish more private content if the actor did not publicly apologize.
The police believe that there are «sufficient grounds for suspicion» of defamation, dissemination of false information and violations of the law on communication networks.
One passage in the police report has attracted particular attention in South Korea: the investigators mention a «risk of extreme action» concerning Kim Se-ui. In particular, they recall that former journalist Kim Yong-ho, formerly associated with Garo Sero Institute, committed suicide a few days before a similar judicial hearing.
Police believe that the psychological pressure surrounding the various legal proceedings and controversies could be an additional risk factor.»
A controversy surrounding AI-generated audio recordings
The investigation also includes suspicions of audio manipulation via artificial intelligence.
Kim Se-ui is accused of using generative AI to create or modify recordings attributed to Kim Sae-ron to support his accusations against Kim Soo-hyun.
Last year, Garo Sero Institute organized a press conference with Kim Sae-ron's family, during which an audio recording presented as evidence was broadcast. Kim Soo-hyun's team immediately claimed that it was a file manipulated by artificial intelligence, and filed a complaint for defamation.
The authorities then asked South Korea's National Forensic Service to conduct a forensic examination. However, the experts concluded last November that it was «impossible to determine» whether the file had been generated or modified by AI.
Decisive hearing scheduled for May 26
The Gangnam police had requested an arrest warrant on May 14, before the public prosecutor's office officially forwarded the request to the court.
According to the Korean media, the investigators justified this request by the seriousness of the facts, the risk of recidivism, the possibility of destroying evidence, as well as fears concerning possible pressure on witnesses or people involved in the case.
The decisive hearing concerning Kim Se-ui's pre-trial detention will take place on May 26 at Seoul Central Court.
Meanwhile, the artistic director of the actor's agency, Gold Medalist released this statement on Instagram: «Police said: «After receiving screenshots of KakaoTalk conversations between the deceased and an «Unknown» user from the grieving family, the suspect inserted the complainant's photo into the «Unknown» KakaoTalk profile section and replaced the name of the «Unknown» caller with the complainant's name, making it appear as though the content of the conversation matched a real conversation between the complainant and the deceased. » »
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