South Korean YouTuber Kim Se-ui, director of the Garosero Research Institute, was arrested for spreading false information and defaming actor Kim Soo-hyun. The case is related to the late actress Kim Sae-ron.
After the death of the interpreter in February 2025, Kim Se-ui assured that the two had a relationship when she was 15 years old and he was 27. The police discovered that the evidence was manipulated.
Manipulation with artificial intelligence
Authorities noted that the content creator fabricated AI audio recordings to support his allegations. He also altered screenshots of conversations, using Kim Soo-hyun’s name to simulate fake messages.
On Tuesday, a Seoul court issued an arrest warrant on charges of defamation, intimidation and attempted coercion. According to media such as Korean Times, the order was justified by the risk of escape and possible destruction of evidence.
Kim Se-ui declared to the press: “I do not recognize any of the charges. It is an absurd order that does not even clarify the basic facts.” In addition, he announced that he will file complaints against the police and prosecutors.
Impact on the actor’s career
The accusations severely damaged Kim Soo-hyun’s reputation. Luxury, financial and cosmetic brands broke contracts, and other campaigns were put on hold. The actor denied everything and described the allegations as “false and defamatory.”
He even faced lawsuits from companies that accused him of affecting their image. According to New Daily, the companies were demanding millions of won in compensation.
Kim Soo-hyun and her agency, Gold Medalist, maintain that they never pressured Kim Sae-ron to pay a debt, a version that the YouTuber falsely spread.




