SEOUL — The agency of South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun said Wednesday that legal proceedings and an ongoing investigation are confirming the facts surrounding allegations that he dated the late actress Kim Sae-ron when she was underage.
In a statement released after the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for YouTuber Kim Se-ui, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, said the court’s decision showed that allegations and evidence presented against the actor were false.
Kim Se-ui, who operates the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute through HoverLab, faces charges including defamation for allegedly spreading false claims that Kim Soo-hyun had a relationship with Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor. He is also accused of using artificial intelligence to manipulate Kim Sae-ron’s voice in content intended to damage the actor’s reputation.
The court approved the arrest warrant, citing concerns that Kim Se-ui could destroy evidence or flee.
The controversy began after Kim Sae-ron’s death in February 2025, when allegations about her past relationship with Kim Soo-hyun circulated online.
Kim Soo-hyun held a press conference in March 2025 acknowledging that he and Kim Sae-ron had dated in the past, but denied claims that she was underage during the relationship.
At the press conference, the actor said he would prove the allegations false. On Wednesday, his agency said he had spent the past year attempting to fulfill that promise and thanked supporters who continued to support him.
Kim Soo-hyun later filed criminal complaints against Kim Se-ui and members of Kim Sae-ron’s bereaved family on charges including defamation and spreading false information.