Police Seek Arrest Warrant for Kim Se Ui Over Alleged Fabrication of Evidence and Defamation Against Actor Kim Soo Hyun

The Seoul Gangnam Police Station has formally submitted an application for an arrest warrant against Kim Se Ui, the head of the controversial YouTube outlet Garosero Institute, marking a significant escalation in a high-profile defamation case involving actor Kim Soo Hyun. According to a report by JoongAng Ilbo on the 21st, the investigative authorities have determined that Kim Se Ui deliberately disseminated false information regarding the actor’s personal life to generate financial gain through YouTube advertising revenue and donations. The police findings suggest a calculated effort to manipulate public perception by fabricating digital evidence and utilizing advanced technology to create deceptive audio-visual content.

The warrant application details a systematic campaign of misinformation that the police believe was conducted with full knowledge of its inaccuracy. Central to the investigation is the allegation that Kim Se Ui distributed falsehoods suggesting that Kim Soo Hyun had been in a romantic relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron since her years as a minor. The police noted that the suspect was well aware that these claims were baseless but proceeded to publish them with the specific intent to defame the actor and profit from the resulting public scandal.

Investigative Findings and the Fabrication of Evidence

The core of the police’s case rests on the discovery that the evidence presented by the Garosero Institute was meticulously manipulated. In March, Kim Se Ui presented a series of messenger conversations as definitive proof of a romantic entanglement between the two parties. However, forensic analysis by the police revealed that these records were entirely fabricated. The investigation found that last year, Kim received 11 screenshots of messages allegedly exchanged between the late actress and an unidentified individual in 2016 from her bereaved family.

Upon receiving these materials, Kim Se Ui reportedly altered seven distinct sections of the logs. Most notably, the police found that the name of the interlocutor was changed to "Kim Soo Hyun" to create the illusion of a direct conversation with the actor. Despite the police’s assertion that the identity of the original sender in the messages was unconfirmed, the suspect allegedly posted the manipulated materials to make it appear as though the two had engaged in a private dialogue.

Furthermore, the technological sophistication of the alleged defamation extended beyond static images. The police have stated their belief that voice recordings released by the Garosero Institute in May of last year were not authentic. Investigative experts concluded that these files were likely manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to mimic the voice of the late actress. This use of "deepfake" audio represents a growing concern for law enforcement and the legal system in South Korea, as it complicates the verification of digital evidence in defamation cases.

The Role of Legal Representatives and Organized Complicity

The scope of the investigation has expanded to include the legal representative of the bereaved family. According to investigative authorities, the family’s lawyer has been registered as a suspect alongside Kim Se Ui. The police have judged that the lawyer acted as a primary supplier of incriminating materials to the Garosero Institute. More significantly, the authorities believe the lawyer did not merely provide information but participated in a "systematically expanded and reproduced" campaign of falsehoods that was both organized and premeditated.

Ko Sang Rok, the legal representative for Kim Soo Hyun, addressed this development on his social media on the 20th. He clarified that Kim Soo Hyun’s legal team did not initially file a separate complaint against the family’s lawyer. Instead, the investigative agencies independently identified the lawyer as an accomplice based on the evidence gathered during the probe. Lawyer Ko noted that it is an "extremely rare case" for a suspect’s or a related party’s legal counsel to be recognized as an accomplice and subsequently converted into a suspect in a criminal investigation. This development underscores the perceived severity of the organized effort to damage Kim Soo Hyun’s reputation.

Chronology of the Controversy

The timeline of the dispute illustrates a prolonged period of legal and social conflict:

• 2016: The original messages, which the police later identified as the basis for the fabrication, were allegedly exchanged between the late actress and an unknown individual.
• Late 2023: The bereaved family’s lawyer reportedly provides 11 screenshots of these messages to Kim Se Ui.
• March 2024: Kim Se Ui and the Garosero Institute release seven altered screenshots, claiming they prove a relationship between Kim Soo Hyun and the actress.
• May 2024: The Garosero Institute releases audio files, which the police now believe were AI-generated, to further support their claims.
• Mid-2024: Kim Soo Hyun’s legal team files complaints for defamation and obstruction of business, leading to a comprehensive forensic investigation by the Gangnam Police.
• September 20th: Lawyer Ko Sang Rok confirms that the family’s lawyer has been named as a suspect.
• September 21st: News breaks of the police applying for an arrest warrant for Kim Se Ui on charges of spreading false information for financial gain.

Impact on Kim Soo Hyun’s Personal and Professional Life

The police have emphasized the devastating real-world consequences of the misinformation campaign. In the warrant application, authorities stated that the controversy led to the "collapse of actor Kim Soo Hyun’s social foundation." As one of South Korea’s most prominent Hallyu stars, Kim’s career relies heavily on his public image and commercial viability. The police noted that the spread of these rumors effectively halted his economic activities and undermined his professional livelihood, causing significant financial damage through lost endorsements and potential project cancellations.

Beyond the economic impact, the psychological toll on the actor has been severe. The police revealed that Kim Soo Hyun is currently receiving psychiatric treatment to cope with the stress and trauma caused by the ongoing controversy. The warrant application argues that if the suspect is allowed to continue spreading false information, it could cause "serious, irreparable harm" to the actor’s mental health and future career prospects. This focus on the "professional livelihood" of a celebrity highlights a shift in how South Korean authorities view the impact of digital defamation on public figures.

Defense and Claims of Political Obstruction

In response to the arrest warrant application, Kim Se Ui has denied the allegations of fabrication, characterizing the police and prosecution’s actions as a targeted plot to silence his investigative work. During a live broadcast following the news of the warrant, Kim asserted that the legal pressure was an attempt to hinder his reporting on a separate, unrelated matter.

Kim claimed he had been preparing to further investigate a sexual crime case involving a high-ranking politician in Hanoi, Vietnam. He argued that the timing of the arrest warrant was suspicious and intended to obstruct his ability to release findings on that case. By framing the defamation investigation as a "plot," Kim Se Ui continues to maintain his stance as a whistleblower, a narrative frequently utilized by the Garosero Institute in the face of numerous legal challenges.

Broader Implications for the Media and Legal Landscape

This case is being closely watched by the South Korean entertainment industry and legal experts due to its implications for "cyber wreckers"—content creators who profit from sensationalist and often unverified claims about celebrities. The use of AI-manipulated audio and the systematic alteration of private messenger logs represent a new frontier in digital crime.

If the arrest warrant is granted and the case proceeds to trial, it may set a significant precedent regarding:

1. Liability of Legal Counsel: The inclusion of a lawyer as a suspect for allegedly facilitating the spread of false information could change how legal professionals interact with media outlets.
2. AI in Defamation: This case marks one of the most high-profile instances where AI-generated content is being treated as a primary tool for criminal defamation in the entertainment sector.
3. Financial Motive as an Aggravating Factor: The police’s explicit mention of YouTube earnings as a motive for the crime aligns with recent efforts by the South Korean government to crack down on "malicious profit-making" through the spread of fake news.

The South Korean legal system has been under increasing pressure to modernize its approach to the Information and Communications Network Act. While freedom of the press is protected, the "intent to defame" and the "fabrication of evidence" are clear boundaries that the police believe Kim Se Ui has crossed. As Kim Soo Hyun continues his recovery and legal battle, the outcome of this warrant application will likely influence the future conduct of online media outlets and the protections afforded to public figures against organized misinformation.