Authorities have determined that it is not possible to confirm whether an audio recording allegedly involving actor Kim Soo-hyun and the late actress Kim Sae-ron was manipulated using artificial intelligence.
According to reports on December 15, South Korea’s National Forensic Service (NFS) notified police that it reached an “inconclusive” conclusion regarding the authenticity of the recording. The analysis was requested by the Seoul Gangnam Police Station as part of an ongoing investigation.
The audio file in question was previously released by the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute, which claimed the recording contained conversations suggesting Kim Soo-hyun had been in a relationship with Kim Sae-ron during her minor years. The claim sparked widespread controversy earlier this year.
The NFS reportedly explained that the file submitted for analysis was not the original source recording, and that factors such as background noise and audio quality created technical limitations, making it impossible to determine whether AI-based manipulation had occurred.
Following the release of the audio, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency strongly denied the allegations, asserting that the recording had been fabricated using AI technology, and filed a criminal complaint against the channel’s operator on charges including defamation. In response, police requested a forensic examination of the file in August.
Despite the inconclusive forensic result, investigators have indicated that they are not ruling out the possibility of manipulation and are continuing their review. Authorities are expected to decide soon whether the case will be forwarded to prosecutors.
The case remains under investigation, with no final determination yet made regarding the recording’s authenticity or legal responsibility.