Kim Se-ui, left, and Kim Soo-hyun / Xportsnews
A year after actor Kim Soo-hyun broke down in tears at a high-profile press conference over allegations involving late actress Kim Sae-ron, the controversy has entered yet another dramatic phase.
Kim Se-ui, head of controversial YouTube channel HoverLab, also known as Garo Sero Institute, was taken into custody this week as police reportedly concluded that audio files previously presented as evidence against Kim Soo-hyun were generated using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
According to the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday, Judge Boo Dong-sik approved an arrest warrant for Kim Se-ui over allegations including defamation, attempted coercion, intimidation and violations of laws related to distributing illegally produced content. The court said there were concerns about destruction of evidence and flight risk.
Kim Se-ui is accused of spreading false claims through YouTube broadcasts suggesting that Kim Sae-ron’s death was linked to Kim Soo-hyun. He also publicly alleged that Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron while she was still a minor, a claim the actor has repeatedly denied.
