Experts Question Kim Soo Hyun’s KakaoTalk Verification “Lacks Scientific Credibility”
Actor Kim Soo Hyun, currently under fire over allegations of having dated the late Kim Sae Ron while she was a minor, attempted to refute the claims in his March 31 press conference. One of his key rebuttals? A so-called forensic analysis of the KakaoTalk messages a move that’s now being met with serious skepticism from experts.
During the tearful 40-minute statement, Kim Soo Hyun claimed the KakaoTalk conversations released by Kim Sae Ron’s family were either fabricated or involved someone impersonating him. He then presented a “message analysis report” allegedly proving that he was not the sender of the messages from 2016 and 2018.
However, professional profilers and legal scholars are unconvinced.
“Meaningless Report From a Non-Government Agency”
Bae Sang-hoon, a former police profiler, addressed Kim Soo Hyun’s press conference on his YouTube channel, describing the actor’s speech as incoherent and unconvincing.
“He seemed emotionally immature. It came off as a series of self-serving arguments. I wish he had been more honest,” Bae said.
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Most critically, Bae dismissed the credibility of the message analysis report.
“It was conducted by a private statement analysis center, not a government forensic institution. That alone makes it meaningless,” he said, noting that such centers often appear in TV shows like Unanswered Questions — and that many so-called “experts” featured in those programs lack rigor.
He further noted that the report’s claim — based on stylistic and linguistic differences — that Kim Soo Hyun didn’t send the 2016 messages has no objective weight.
“Four analysts can claim one thing, and four others could say the opposite. The analysis is not conclusive by any legal or scientific standard.”
Legal Experts Echo the Concerns
Professor Lee Woong-hyuk of Konkuk University’s Department of Police Science echoed the doubts during a segment on MBN’s News Wide on April 1.
“Kim Soo Hyun cried for 40 minutes, but didn’t even take questions. That says a lot. His press conference emphasized his personal distress while failing to address the public’s core concerns.”
Professor Lee was particularly critical of Kim Soo Hyun’s justification for previously lying about the relationship, citing his status as a “celebrity”.
“That doesn’t sit well with public sentiment. Even during his emotional breakdown, he was presenting structured rebuttals — it didn’t come across as natural.”
On the forensic analysis, Lee questioned its legal standing.
“They used a linguistic analysis method that claimed stylistic differences between messages. But whether that constitutes legal evidence is a completely different matter. At best, it’s supplementary material — not something with binding legal power.”
“Get a Polygraph Test”
Professor Oh Yoon-sung of Soonchunhyang University went even further in an interview with KBS, calling the analysis “subjective” and “not formulaic like a math equation.”
“If he truly wants to resolve doubts, he should consider undergoing a polygraph test and having it evaluated by independent experts,” he said.
A Rebuttal That Backfired?
While Kim Soo Hyun’s press conference was aimed at clearing his name, it may have inadvertently opened new avenues of criticism. From lack of legal credibility in his analysis to emotional overreach without factual depth, his strategy is now being scrutinized just as intensely as the original allegations.
As the controversy continues, many are calling for independent, verifiable investigations rather than self-produced reports — especially in a case involving public trust, legal implications, and the tragic loss of a young actress.