While netizens are expressing fatigue over the ongoing Kim Sae-ron controversy, now stretching into its third month, many are also calling for the truth to be clearly revealed. The photo is from a past interview for the film Snowy Road.
The controversy surrounding the late Kim Sae-ron continues to ripple through public discourse. It’s been nearly two months since the family aligned with the controversial channel Garo Sero Institute to reveal alleged ties to actor Kim Soo-hyun, including claims of underage dating. With nearly three months having passed since her death, the issue remains unresolved, leading to public fatigue and increasing calls for the truth to be uncovered.
Garo Sero initially began revealing photos, text messages, and videos it claimed showed Kim Sae-ron during her underage years. These were shared almost daily for a month. However, during a recent press conference, Kim Soo-hyun’s team rebutted these claims, stating that all shared materials were taken after Kim Sae-ron became an adult in 2019.
Shocking Claims: From Killers to FBI Investigations
Garo Sero’s recent explosive claims allege that Kim Soo-hyun’s side offered billions of Korean won to a whistleblower for audio files, and after refusal, sent two hitmen to assassinate the whistleblower. They also claim that Korean and Chinese assassins entered the country via JFK Airport, and that the FBI, not local police, is leading the investigation.
However, these allegations quickly lost credibility after involved parties denied all claims within hours. The FBI investigation and claims of assassination attempts have been met with widespread skepticism.
From Alleged AI Voice Manipulation to Hitmen: Truth Doubted from the Start
Adding to the confusion, questions about whether Kim Sae-ron’s voice was manipulated by AI deepfake technology have emerged.
Attorney Go Sang-rok stated, “Kim Se-ui and Bu Ji-seok knowingly spread false information despite being aware of its potential falsity. As a former journalist and lawyer, they had a professional duty to verify facts but intentionally ignored it, portraying the complainant as a serious criminal.”
He announced plans to file criminal defamation charges against Kim Se-ui, attorney Bu Ji-seok, and the whistleblower for disseminating false information. Notably, Go Sang-rok himself had been named in Garo Sero’s press conference, accused of pressuring the whistleblower by filing a large compensation suit against his own daughter, allegedly threatening through intermediaries, and being involved in an attempted hitman attack.
Legal Action and Celebrity Denials: “AI Manipulated My Voice”
SBS reporter Kang Kyung-yoon also took legal action by filing a complaint against Kim Se-ui of Garo Sero the day after the press conference. On her blog, she wrote, “I’ve seen stories about deep learning and deepfake threats in the media, but I never imagined I’d become a victim. I’ve pleaded with authorities to expedite the investigation.”
She firmly refuted Garo Sero’s claims, stating, “Anyone can tell that the voice they claimed was Kim Sae-ron’s was manipulated using AI to suit their narrative.” Regarding the U.S.-based whistleblower, she added, “This scammer reached out to me in early April. I don’t trust vague, money-seeking sources like this, so I ignored them. I assumed those around me would do the same. The whole thing reeked of a ‘con artist’ from the start.”
Kim Se-ui also accused Kang Kyung-yoon of visiting the whistleblower’s home in New Jersey, terrifying him; however, Kang Kyung-joon denied this, stating, “I’ve never set foot in New Jersey, let alone spoken to the whistleblower.” To support her claim, she released official travel records proving no entries or exits between January 1 and May 5, 2025.
Other individuals mentioned in the press conference, including Byun Hee-jae and Kang Yong-seok, also denied any connection to Kim Soo-hyun or his agency. Kang Yong-seok stated, “The leaked audio appears to have been manipulated using AI.” Byun Hee-jae said, “I don’t even know who the whistleblower is – I’ve never contacted them. I’ll be filing a lawsuit.”
Actor Won Bin, accused via the voice of the whistleblower’s wife, also clarified, “Aside from attending the funeral, I have no connection to this case.”
While shocking revelations tend to grab attention regardless of their truth, especially when involving public figures, false claims without solid evidence risk serious backlash. The legal process will eventually determine what’s true. However, in the world of sensational exposés, failing to provide proof could lead to a boomerang effect that hits harder than the original scandal.