Authorities in South Korea are seeking an arrest warrant for a YouTuber accused of fabricating evidence that tarnished the reputation of actor Kim Soo-hyun and contributed to a scandal that derailed his career.
The police allege that the YouTuber, Kim Se-ui, manipulated text message screenshots and utilized AI-generated audio to suggest that Kim Soo-hyun had a romantic relationship with actress Kim Sae-ron while she was still a minor.
These allegations emerged last year, shortly after the tragic death of Kim Sae-ron at the age of 24.
The scandal sent shockwaves through the nation and severely impacted the career of Kim Soo-hyun, a prominent figure in South Korean entertainment.
The actor has consistently refuted the claims against him.
In response to the accusations, Kim Se-ui posted a video asserting that the authorities’ allegations were a “subterfuge meant to disrupt his investigation.”
Months following Kim Sae-ron’s passing, the YouTuber released an audio recording in which the actress purportedly stated she had been in a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun since middle school.
However, authorities have now determined that this voice recording was artificially generated.
Additionally, investigators claim that Kim Se-ui altered screenshots of messages sent from the actress’s phone to create the false impression of communication between her and Kim Soo-hyun.
Authorities contend that the YouTuber knowingly disseminated these falsehoods for financial gain.
According to a police report cited by news outlet JoongAng Ilbo, his actions “collapsed Kim Soo-hyun’s social base and economic activities across the board, destroying the foundation for his professional survival.”
Reports indicate that Kim Soo-hyun is currently undergoing psychiatric treatment as a result of the ordeal.
In South Korea, public figures are held to exceptionally high standards and face intense scrutiny.
Celebrities have faced severe backlash not only for serious allegations of misconduct but also for issues like past bullying or wearing counterfeit designer items.
Kim Sae-ron had herself been subjected to online harassment following a 2022 drink-driving incident, which tarnished her image despite her previous status as a rising star in the industry.
Following her death, rumors circulated online claiming that Kim Soo-hyun had dated her when she was just 15 years old.
These rumors gained traction after the YouTuber shared alleged texts and audio recordings, with the actress’s family lending support to his claims.
Initially, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency denied any romantic involvement between the two. However, the actor later acknowledged that he had indeed dated Kim Sae-ron for a year, but only after she reached adulthood.
At an emotional press conference in March 2025, he firmly stated that they never dated while she was underage.
”I can’t admit to something I didn’t do,” he asserted.
That month, he filed criminal complaints and lawsuits against both the YouTuber and the actress’s family for their false accusations.
Since then, Kim Soo-hyun, who once starred in numerous successful television shows and advertisements, has refrained from making any official public appearances.
The release of “Knock-Off,” a Disney+ series he was working on when the scandal erupted, has been indefinitely postponed.
As of now, neither Kim Soo-hyun nor his agency has commented on the authorities’ request for an arrest warrant for the YouTuber.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong