YouTuber arrested for allegedly using AI to defame Korean actor

South Korean authorities have arrested YouTuber Kim Se-ui, known for his channel Hover Lab, for making defamatory claims against actor Kim Soo-hyun, which have halted the latter’s career.

The police allege that Kim manipulated evidence to falsely suggest that Kim Soo-hyun had a romantic relationship with an actress while she was a minor, claims the actor consistently denies.

The Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant due to concerns of potential evidence destruction or flight.

In a recent statement, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency affirmed that the allegations against him are unfounded and expressed gratitude to supporters.

Kim Se-ui, speaking to reporters, denied the charges and asserted that the warrant lacked proper factual organization, stating his intent to lodge complaints against the authorities involved in his arrest.

The controversy ignited last year after actress Kim Sae-ron’s tragic suicide, with Hover Lab posting a voice recording claiming she dated Kim Soo-hyun since middle school, which police say was artificially created.

Furthermore, the YouTuber is accused of faking text message screenshots to substantiate his claims.

Hover Lab is known for its contentious celebrity gossip content in South Korea, and the allegations have severely impacted Kim Soo-hyun, who remains popular in TV and advertising.

The claims reportedly “collapsed” his social standing and economic activities, leaving him in need of psychiatric treatment.

Since a public press conference in March 2025, where Kim Soo-hyun reaffirmed his innocence and alleged that he only dated Kim Sae-ron as an adult, he has ceased public appearances and pursued legal action against both the YouTuber and the actress’s family.

His agency reiterated his commitment to proving his innocence over the past year.