South Korean prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant for Kim Se-yi, owner of the YouTube channel "Garosero Research Institute," on charges of spreading false information targeting Kim Soo-hyun, including allegations of using AI to fake the voice of Kim Sa-rang.
On 20 May 2026, The Korea Times reported, citing South Korean legal sources, that the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office filed a petition with the court to issue an arrest warrant for Kim Se-yi, head of the YouTube channel "Garosero Research Institute," on charges of defamation and violations under special laws concerning sexual crimes, as well as digital media dissemination offenses. Earlier, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul had also requested an arrest warrant on the same charges on 14 May.
Kim Se-yi is accused of spreading false information through his YouTube program and other channels, claiming that famous actor Kim Soo-hyun had a relationship with the late actress Kim Sa-rang since she was a minor. He also alleged that significant factors leading to Kim Sa-rang's death involved pressure related to debt repayment from Kim Soo-hyun's side.
Authorities are also investigating allegations that Kim Se-yi used AI technology to alter Kim Sa-rang's voice before publishing content, potentially damaging Kim Soo-hyun's reputation. Reports state that the pre-arrest warrant hearing for Kim Se-yi is scheduled at the Seoul Central Court on 26 May at 10:30 a.m.
Back in May last year, Kim Se-yi held a press conference with Kim Sa-rang's family, releasing audio clips claimed to prove that Kim Soo-hyun had been involved with Kim Sa-rang before she reached adulthood. However, the famous actor denied the claims, asserting the audio files were AI-generated, and filed a defamation lawsuit against Kim Se-yi.
Source: The Korea Times