A police investigation has cleared South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun of allegations that he dated the late actress Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor. The claims, initially made by the YouTube channel HoverLab, were found to be based on manipulated evidence, including altered KakaoTalk messages and an AI-generated voice recording. According to police documents from Seoul's Gangnam Police Station, the accused, Kim Se-ui, knowingly spread false information for financial gain, despite being aware that Kim Soo-hyun had not dated Kim Sae-ron as a minor. The investigation revealed that seven parts of the screenshots released were tampered with, and the identity of the conversation partner was obscured. Following the investigation, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office requested an arrest warrant for Kim Se-ui, who has denied any wrongdoing. The controversy began after Kim Sae-ron's family alleged that she and Kim Soo-hyun began dating in 2016 when she was only 15. However, Kim Soo-hyun's representatives clarified that their relationship only began in the summer of 2019, after she had reached adulthood. The allegations have severely impacted Kim Soo-hyun's career, resulting in lost endorsements and acting opportunities.