South Korean authorities have arrested a popular YouTuber who runs the Hover Lab channel, accused of using AI technology to fake voice and text to allege that famous actor Kim Soo-hyun was involved with the late actress Kim Sae-ron since he was a minor, severely affecting the actor’s career and mental well-being.
South Korean authorities arrested the well-known YouTuber for spreading false information, fabricating evidence, and defaming the famous actor Kim Soo-hyun, which damaged his reputation and halted his career in the entertainment industry.
On Tuesday, 26 May 2025 GMT+7, the Seoul Central District Court approved an arrest warrant for Kim Se-yi, host of the popular conservative YouTube channel Hover Lab, which has nearly one million subscribers, citing concerns that the suspect might destroy evidence or flee.
Police and prosecutors stated that Kim Se-yi distorted evidence using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create fake audio clips of Kim Sae-ron, the late actress, to convince people she had a close relationship with Kim Soo-hyun since she was in middle school. They also fabricated screenshots and chat messages from the actress’s phone. Additionally, the allegations claimed Kim Soo-hyun pressured her over debt repayment, leading to her suicide at age 24 in early 2025. Kim Soo-hyun has consistently denied all these accusations.
Gold Medalist, Kim Soo-hyun's agency, issued a statement on Wednesday saying, "Ultimately, the truth has been proven through legal processes and thorough investigations. The inquiries and evidence presented by Hover Lab against Kim Soo-hyun were baseless." They also thanked officials and fans who have trusted and supported the actor throughout.
The statement also recalled when Kim Soo-hyun tearfully admitted at a March 2025 press conference that he had dated Kim Sae-ron for one year, but only after she was an adult. He vowed, "I don’t ask you to believe me now, but I will prove myself." The agency revealed that over the past year, the actor has devoted himself to fulfilling that promise.
However, before the court approved the arrest warrant, Kim Se-yi gave an interview outside the court denying all charges, claiming the warrant was not based on factual evidence, and announced plans to sue the police and prosecutors who requested his arrest.
Local media JungAng Ilbo reported that police records state the false allegations by Hover Lab "destroyed the social foundation and all economic activities of Kim Soo-hyun, completely undermining his professional livelihood." Moreover, police revealed that Kim Soo-hyun is still undergoing psychiatric treatment due to the traumatic impact of this incident.
Hover Lab is a YouTube channel notorious in South Korea for controversy and heavy criticism. It focuses on in-depth political analysis and entertainment gossip. The court ruled that the channel’s actions constituted serious offenses, including defamation and attempted extortion. In March last year, Kim Soo-hyun filed criminal charges against the YouTuber and the late actress’s family for false reporting.