South Korean authorities are moving to arrest a prominent YouTuber accused of orchestrating a sophisticated defamation campaign that effectively destroyed the career of actor Kim Soo-hyun. Police allege that the content creator fabricated evidence, including AI-generated audio recordings and manipulated text messages, to falsely implicate the actor in a relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor. These claims, which surfaced following the tragic death of Kim Sae-ron at age 24, triggered a massive public scandal that forced the actor into professional exile.

The investigation reveals that the YouTuber, Kim Se-ui, allegedly utilized artificial intelligence to mimic the actress’s voice, creating a recording that suggested a long-term relationship dating back to her middle school years. Furthermore, authorities claim that screenshots of private messages were doctored to provide visual ‘proof’ of the illicit affair. Police filings indicate that these actions were motivated by financial gain, resulting in the total collapse of Kim Soo-hyun’s social standing and the indefinite postponement of his upcoming projects, including the Disney+ series ‘Knock-Off’.

Kim Soo-hyun has consistently maintained his innocence, asserting that while he did date the actress, the relationship only occurred after she reached adulthood. In March 2025, the actor held a press conference to vehemently deny the allegations and subsequently filed criminal complaints against both the YouTuber and the actress’s family for spreading malicious falsehoods. Currently, the actor is reportedly undergoing psychiatric treatment due to the intense public scrutiny and the professional fallout caused by the fabricated scandal.

This case has reignited a national conversation regarding the extreme pressures faced by South Korean celebrities, who are often subject to intense public judgment and rapid career destruction based on unverified online claims. While the YouTuber has publicly dismissed the police investigation as a retaliatory effort to hinder his work, authorities remain firm in their pursuit of an arrest warrant. Neither Kim Soo-hyun nor his management agency have issued a formal statement regarding the latest developments in the legal proceedings.