A new controversy has erupted in South Korea’s entertainment world as a voice recording, allegedly of the late actress Kim Sae-ron, has surfaced claiming a past relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun. However, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, has strongly denied the validity of the clip and accused the parties involved of spreading manipulated content possibly generated through artificial intelligence.
The situation unfolded during a recent press conference held by Kim Sae-ron’s family and tech company HoverLab Inc. At the event, they revealed an audio recording supposedly capturing a conversation between Kim Sae-ron and an unnamed whistleblower in New Jersey. According to the family, the conversation took place just one month before the actress passed away.
In the audio clip, a voice that appears to be Kim’s is heard saying, “I dated Soo-hyun oppa. You might say I’m crazy and not believe me, but I dated him since I was in middle school, and we broke up after I went to college.” The voice also claims that Kim Soo-hyun and his agency are dangerous and capable of doing “anything.”
The family stated that they have filed a criminal complaint against Kim Soo-hyun, accusing him of violating the Child Welfare Act and making false accusations.
In response, Gold Medalist issued a detailed statement labeling the voice clip as fake. They firmly stated the audio was “entirely fabricated” and likely created using artificial intelligence or similar audio manipulation technologies. According to the agency, the audio file had been offered to them by an individual who also tried to extort money by claiming to have recordings favorable to Kim Soo-hyun. When the agency refused to pay, the individual allegedly partnered with HoverLab to make the recording public.
“We are currently analyzing the audio file using technical methods and will release the findings as soon as possible,” Gold Medalist said. They emphasized that the so-called whistleblower had no real connection with Kim Sae-ron and labeled the entire press conference a “staged cyber attack.”
The agency also denied additional claims made during the press conference, including allegations that individuals connected to Gold Medalist or their legal representative assaulted the whistleblower. They pointed out that the image used as “evidence” of the attack had actually been sourced from the internet.
Gold Medalist said they plan to file criminal complaints against both HoverLab and the audio provider. The charges will reportedly include violations of the Stalking Punishment Act and the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. The agency expressed its commitment to cooperate with authorities in order to ensure accountability.
This recent uproar comes after months of speculation and online rumors about Kim Soo-hyun’s alleged relationship with Kim Sae-ron, which he and Gold Medalist have consistently denied. They have also firmly rejected accusations that Kim Soo-hyun placed financial pressure on the late actress.
While the investigation is still ongoing, the debate over the authenticity of the audio highlights a growing concern around the use of AI-generated deepfakes to manipulate public opinion and target celebrities. Voice cloning technologies have become increasingly accessible, and this case could become a significant test of how legal systems and tech companies deal with fabricated content in high-profile cases.
As the public awaits the results of the forensic audio analysis, both Kim Soo-hyun and Gold Medalist remain adamant that they will not tolerate defamation and are prepared to pursue legal action against anyone spreading misinformation.
This case continues to unfold as one of the most talked-about scandals in recent South Korean entertainment history.