Kim Soo-Hyun and his 'inappropriate' relationship with late actress Kim Sae-Ron has been one of the major headlines in South Korea since her death. After many trials, tribulations and online scrutiny, an arrest has been made in the case and it is not Soo-Hyun. After the arrest of controversial South Korean YouTuber Kim Se-Ui, the case has taken a new turn. The actor’s legal representative has now publicly addressed the ongoing case, strongly denying allegations linking Kim Soo-Hyun to an alleged underage relationship with Kim Sae-Ron and accusing certain individuals of fabricating evidence. The case has become complicated after authorities arrested Kim Se-Ui over claims involving manipulated content, false allegations and defamation linked to the actor.
Kim Soo-Hyun's lawyer speaks up
Kim Soo-Hyun’s lawyer, attorney Ko Sang-Rok, spoke publicly about the matter during an appearance on
MBC News Today on May 28. During the interview, the attorney outlined the actor’s official position regarding the allegations that have circulated online for months. According to Ko Sang-Rok, the core accusations against Kim Soo-Hyun involved claims that the actor had allegedly been in a long-term romantic relationship with Kim Sae-Ron since her minor years. The attorney also addressed allegations suggesting that pressure from Kim Soo-Hyun’s agency over debt repayment had supposedly contributed to the actress’ death.
However, the legal representative firmly denied the accusations and claimed that manipulated evidence had been created to support what he described as fabricated allegations. Ko alleged that altered KakaoTalk conversations and edited audio recordings purportedly featuring the late actress were used as part of the claims against Kim Soo-Hyun. He argued that the controversy went far beyond ordinary celebrity gossip because, according to the legal team, false evidence was allegedly manufactured intentionally.Addressing public reactions questioning why an arrest would be made in what some considered a defamation-related matter, the attorney stated that the seriousness of the alleged crimes and the scale of damages were key factors in the court’s decision. He also stressed concerns regarding possible evidence tampering. According to Ko, investigators likely considered the issue especially severe because the legal team believes the case itself centered around fabricated material.
"The crime involved creating false evidence to support fabricated claims," Ko said during the interview. He further suggested that the involvement of multiple related parties may have increased concerns regarding coordinated testimonies and organised efforts. According to the lawyer, the current controversy represents an unprecedented situation in the Korean entertainment industry. He claimed that not only were distorted narratives and unverified allegations circulated online, but key materials including KakaoTalk chats and voice recordings were allegedly manipulated as well.
Why was Kim Se-Ui arrested?
The developments come shortly after Kim Se-Ui, who runs the controversial Garosero Research Institute YouTube channel, was arrested by South Korean authorities. On May 26, the Seoul Central District Court reportedly approved an arrest warrant against the YouTuber over allegations of spreading false claims against Kim Soo-Hyun using fabricated or AI-generated content. Investigators allegedly detained Kim Se-Ui over concerns that he could tamper with evidence, interfere with the ongoing investigation or potentially flee during the probe.The controversy started after Kim Sae-Ron was found dead at her Seoul residence in February 2025 at the age of 24 on the same day as Kim Soo-Hyun's birthday. Following her tragic death, online speculation surrounding her alleged relationship with Kim Soo-Hyun intensified significantly, and reports claimed he has groomed the actress when she was still a minor.
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