The recent controversy surrounding actor Kim Soo Hyun took a dramatic turn when the whistleblower at the center of the allegations admitted to fabricating evidence. Known as “Mr. A,” this individual had claimed he was violently attacked for possessing sensitive information related to Kim Soo Hyun’s alleged relationship with Kim Sae Ron. However, he later retracted his statement, attributing the confusion to personal issues with his wife.
Initially, Mr. A had stated he was stabbed nine times in the neck. But in a later admission, he clarified that the injuries were limited to his arms. This contradiction came to light after a press conference held by Garosero Research Institute and Kim Sae Ron’s legal team, where they played an audio clip purportedly of Kim Sae Ron admitting to a sexual relationship with Kim Soo Hyun. The recording was supposedly a conversation between her and Mr. A.
In response to the injury claims, a video showed Mr. A in a hospital using his supposedly injured hand to record himself. Although he described severe nerve damage, a medical report only confirmed a deep cut on his shoulder. The inconsistency in his account raised doubts about the authenticity of both his injuries and the broader claims he made.
Further discrediting Mr. A’s story, it emerged that photos of his injuries were taken from the internet. When questioned, he shifted responsibility to his wife, citing stress in their relationship as a reason for the misleading evidence. He explained that he sent a voice message to Garosero’s producer, saying the photos were merely examples of what his wounds might have looked like.
Mr. A also confessed to intentionally tampering with the audio clip, which was presented as evidence of Kim Sae Ron’s relationship with Kim Soo Hyun when she was 14. He admitted he sent the doctored audio to Kim Soo Hyun’s agency to avoid being suspected as a spy, though his explanation lacked clarity and consistency, making the situation more questionable.
Supporting Kim Soo Hyun, YouTuber and former journalist Lee Jin Ho held his own press conference. He revealed that forensic analysis indicated the audio was likely AI-generated. According to him, the manipulated clip included artificially created voices and ambient noise, possibly combined with Mr. A’s voice to add realism.
Lee Jin Ho further accused Mr. A of attempting to extort money from Kim Soo Hyun’s side, though the attempt was unsuccessful. He expressed shock at how sophisticated AI voice cloning has become and highlighted the danger of such technology being used maliciously in the entertainment industry.
This unfolding saga has exposed the risks of misinformation and manipulation in the digital age. What began as a scandal involving major Korean entertainment figures has unraveled into a cautionary tale about false accusations, deepfakes, and the personal motives that can drive someone to fabricate such elaborate deceptions.