Actor Kim Soo Hyun is preparing for a return to the spotlight after enduring months of controversy fueled by what authorities say are fabricated claims and doctored evidence. As public attention shifts towards his return, fans have continued to flood his dormant social media account with messages of support and anticipation.
On May 26, Kim Se Ui, head of the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, was arrested on charges related to spreading false information about Kim Soo Hyun.
The Seoul Central District Court approved the arrest warrant after a detention hearing, citing concerns about potential destruction of evidence and the risk of flight. Kim Se Ui faces multiple charges, including defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, violations of laws relating to sex crimes involving the distribution of recorded material, intimidation and attempted coercion.
Despite the court’s decision, Kim Se Ui would continue to deny all charges against him after the hearing.
Prosecutors accuse Kim Se Ui of spreading claims that Kim Soo Hyun had dated the late actress Kim Sae Ron while she was still a minor and that pressure from Kim Soo Hyun regarding debt repayment was directly linked to her death. He is also accused of distributing fabricated recordings and manipulated materials, including AI-generated audio purporting to be the voice of the late actress, in an attempt to damage Kim Soo Hyun’s reputation.
Investigators reportedly concluded that KakaoTalk messages presented during a press conference as evidence of an affair between Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron had been altered and did not involve Kim Soo Hyun. Authorities also determined that the audio materials were circulating as evidence artificially generated using AI technology.
One day after Kim Se Ui’s arrest, Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, Medaglia d’Oro, released an official statement outlining the outcome of the investigation.
The agency said that ongoing investigations into several criminal complaints and reports filed against Kim Se Ui confirmed that the allegations and evidence filed against Kim Soo Hyun were false. According to the statement, the KakaoTalk conversations released during the press conferences were manipulated conversations involving third parties rather than Kim Soo Hyun, while the audio files attributed to Kim Sae Ron were confirmed to be AI-generated fabrications.
The agency further explained that the seriousness of the alleged crimes, including defamation by false information, stalking-related violations, intimidation and illegal distribution of recorded material, contributed to the court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant. The gold medalist expressed gratitude to investigators for establishing the facts through what he described as a thorough and objective investigation.
The company also referenced Kim Soo Hyun’s remarks at a press conference a year earlier, when he said: “I won’t just ask you to believe me. I’ll prove it.” According to the agency, the actor has spent the last year focused on keeping that promise and has now been able to prove the truth through the legal process.
Gold Medal concluded by thanking the fans who have continued to trust and support Kim Soo Hyun throughout the controversy, signaling that the actor is ready to move forward.
Attention is now turning to Kim Soo Hyun’s potential comeback project, Eliminationan upcoming Disney+ series produced with a budget of around KRW 60 billion. The series follows the journey of an ordinary office worker who becomes a prominent figure in the market for counterfeit luxury goods. Although the series was originally scheduled for release in 2025, its launch was postponed due to the controversy surrounding the actor.
Disney+ maintained its previous stance on the project, saying there were no updates to its decision to delay the release and that the platform’s position remains unchanged.
Meanwhile, support for Kim Soo Hyun continues to grow online. His personal social media account has remained inactive since February 2025, yet fans continue to leave thousands of messages expressing their desire to see him return.
With supporters repeatedly posting messages saying they miss her and are waiting for her next project, many are now watching closely to see if Kim Soo Hyun will make her long-awaited return to the screen soon.
Sources: Daum
