- By Swati Singh
- Thu, 21 May 2026 03:52 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The legal dispute involving South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun, late actress Kim Sae Ron and controversial YouTube channel Hoverlab has taken a major turn. On May 20, 2026, Seoul prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Hoverlab chief Kim Se Eui after a police investigation reportedly found no evidence supporting claims that Kim Soo Hyun dated Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor.
The controversy surrounding Kim Soo Hyun intensified after the tragic death of Kim Sae Ron in February 2025. Following her passing, Hoverlab and lawyers linked to her family alleged that the two had been in a relationship since she was 15. Kim Soo Hyun’s legal team, however, maintained that they briefly dated only between 2019 and 2020, after she became an adult.
A forensic investigation by Seoul’s Gangnam Police later reportedly found that Hoverlab had deliberately spread false claims to generate views and profit. Investigators stated that the channel knowingly circulated defamatory information despite being aware that no underage relationship had existed.
The prosecution’s case reportedly centres on two key pieces of evidence shared by Hoverlab — KakaoTalk chats and a private audio recording — both of which were allegedly proven fake during forensic analysis. Investigators found that the 2016 chat screenshots were originally conversations between Kim Sae Ron and another unidentified person, with Kim Soo Hyun’s name allegedly edited into the files to create false evidence.
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Another major piece of evidence presented by Hoverlab during a May 2025 press conference was also reportedly found to be fake. The audio clip, which allegedly featured Kim Sae Ron claiming she dated Kim Soo Hyun in middle school, was later determined by police to have been created using AI voice-cloning technology.
Prosecutors are now reportedly pursuing stronger charges against Hoverlab chief Kim Se Eui, including illegal distribution of private material and threats to release additional sensitive content.
Reflecting on it, Kim Soo Hyun’s defense lawyer, Ko Sang-rok, noted, "Kim Soo Hyun's side did not file a complaint against the family's attorney. It appears that investigators found independent evidence of conspiracy and made the lawyer a suspect. It is highly unusual for a lawyer who started as a suspect's defense counsel to be recognized as an accomplice."