The controversy surrounding actor Kim Soo Hyun and the late actress Kim Sae Ron continues to unfold, with recent developments casting doubt on the authenticity of alleged leaked chats between the two. The allegations, which initially surfaced in early 2025, suggested a past relationship between Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron, even claiming it began when the actress was a minor. These claims were fueled by leaked photos and purported text messages, leading to significant public backlash against Kim Soo Hyun.
However, the narrative has shifted following revelations that key pieces of evidence may have been fabricated. A forensic analysis of the alleged KakaoTalk messages exchanged between Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron in 2016, 2018 and 2025, which were revealed by Garo Sero Research Institute, suggests a high probability that the texts are not authentic. According to Korean media reports, the Truebaum Institute performed a linguistic analysis, employing "author identification," a technique assessing whether different messages were written by the same person across various years.
The analysis compared texts from 2016, 2018, and 2025 with a known acquaintance's messages. The findings indicated that while the messages from 2018 and 2025 appeared to be from the same person, the 2016 messages leaked by Garo Sero Institute showed stylistic and linguistic deviations. The report concluded that there was only an 8% probability that the 2016 messages were written by Kim Soo Hyun, suggesting a high likelihood of manipulation.
Adding another layer to the controversy, a key whistleblower, identified as Mr. A, admitted to fabricating an audio clip that allegedly featured Kim Sae Ron confessing to a past relationship with Kim Soo Hyun when she was underage. The whistleblower confessed to using AI technology to create the audio file. Journalist and YouTuber Lee Jin Ho conducted a forensic analysis that revealed the voice in the recording was artificially created, with Mr. A allegedly inserting his own voice and background noise to simulate a real conversation.
Kim Soo Hyun's legal team has vehemently denied all allegations, asserting that the presented evidence is either falsified or misleading. They have accused Garo Sero Research Institute (also known as Hoverlab) of defamation, stalking, digital sexual violence, and evidence tampering, vowing to pursue legal action. The agency has also addressed photos circulating online, claiming they were either edited, taken out of context, or misrepresented to create a false narrative.
The unfolding saga has had a significant impact on Kim Soo Hyun's career and public image. In the wake of the initial allegations, some brands began removing advertisements featuring the actor or terminating endorsement contracts. The controversy also sparked a heated debate about the treatment of celebrities in crisis and the spread of misinformation online.
As the investigation continues, the focus has shifted to the authenticity of the evidence presented against Kim Soo Hyun. With forensic analysis casting doubt on the leaked chats and the AI fabrication of the audio clip, the narrative surrounding the alleged relationship between Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron has become increasingly complex.
