Police arrest YouTuber who used AI to defame South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun

South Korean authorities arrested Kim Se-ui, administrator of the YouTube channel Hover Lab, accused of producing false accusations against actor Kim Soo-hyun. Seul’s Tribunal Distrital Central issued a warrant for the YouTuber’s arrest on Tuesday. Police and prosecutors allege that he manipulated evidence, including generating audio with artificial intelligence, to claim that Kim Soo-hyun dated an actress when she was underage.

The accusations against Kim Soo-hyun arose after the suicide of actress Kim Sae-ron in 2024. Meses later, the channel Hover Lab — with almost 1 million subscribers — published a voice recording where the actress allegedly confessed to dating the actor since childhood. Police identified the audio as AI-generated.

Manipulação of evidence and career scandal

Investigators point out that the YouTuber also manipulated screenshots of text messages to simulate a conversation between Kim Soo-hyun and the actress. The warrant was issued citing concerns that Kim Se-ui might destroy evidence or flee. The YouTuber denied the allegations to the press and stated that the warrant “did not even properly organize the basic facts.” Ele said he would file complaints against the police and prosecutors.

Professional Impacto and investigations confirm unfounded

Segundo police report released by the JoongAng portal Ilbo, the accusations “destroyed Kim Soo-hyun’s social base and economic activities in all aspects, in addition to ending the foundations for his professional survival.” Police reported that the actor is still receiving psychiatric treatment. The investigation confirmed that all suspicions and evidence presented by Hover Lab against Kim Soo-hyun were unfounded, according to a statement from the actor’s agency released on Wednesday.

Principais consequences and timeline of the case:

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• AI-generated voice Audição identified as fake by police
• Capturas screen messages were manipulated to simulate dialogue between the actor and actress
• Kim Soo-hyun filed criminal complaint and court case in March 2025
• Ator has not made official public appearances since emotional press conference a year ago
• Canal Hover Lab has approximately 1 million subscribers on the platform

Actor’s Defesa and proof promise

Kim Soo-hyun is the star of several hit TV shows and appears in commercials across the country. The actor denies all accusations and stated, in March 2025, that he dated Kim Sae-ron for a year only when she was an adult. At his press conference he declared, “I can’t admit to something I didn’t do.” The statement released on Wednesday revived the promise made then: “I will not ask you to believe in me. I will certainly prove my worth.”

The actor’s agency highlighted that the previous year was “dedicated exclusively to fulfilling this promise”. The court issued the arrest warrant for the YouTuber on Tuesday, and authorities are continuing investigations. The case exposed vulnerabilities in the handling of artificial intelligence-generated content and its potential to damage reputations on a large scale.

Hover Lab is considered a controversial channel in Sul’s Coreia that frequently posts commentary on politics and entertainment as well as being popular for celebrity gossip. Kim Se-ui’s arrest marks a turning point in the case that has rocked the South Korean entertainment industry.