A legal battle between actor Kim Soo Hyun and the Garo Sero Research Institute is escalating, with Kim and his agency, Gold Medalist, accusing the institute of submitting fabricated evidence in relation to the falsehoods surrounding the late actress Kim Sae Ron.

Since March 2025, the controversy has gained public attention after Garo Sero Research Institute stated that they were in possession of crucial evidence that was caught as a link between Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron, which includes voice records, photos, and messages.

The claims pertain to a relationship dating back to when Kim Sae Ron was still a minor.

However, Gold Medalist Kim Soo Hyun's management company has strongly denied these claims, calling much of the evidence "fake" and "doctored."

AI-Generated Voice Recordings

One of the most controversial "evidence" Garo Sero provided was an audio file claimed to be a conversation between Kim Sae Ron and her relationship with Kim Soo Hyun.

In the recording, Kim Sae Ron is heard saying, "The first time we did it was when I was in 8th grade, during the winter vacation." The audio also allegedly suggests that Kim Sae Ron believed she was taken advantage of.

However, the Gold Medalist has dismissed the recording as a fabrication, claiming it was generated using AI technology.

"The voice recording is not real," said LKB & Partners, the legal firm representing Gold Medalist. "It was created using artificial intelligence and does not reflect the actual voice of Kim Sae Ron."

The Garo Sero Institute maintains that the recording was obtained legally, but Kim Soo Hyun's team has called the claims "unsubstantiated."

Alleged Fake Injury Photos

In addition to the voice recording, Garo Sero presented photos allegedly showing the informant, who claimed to have access to the voice recordings, suffering from injuries after being assaulted.

However, Gold Medalist quickly responded, labeling the photos as fakes.

"These photos were found on the internet and have no connection to the actual informant," the agency stated. "It is clear these images were taken from a different source and misrepresented as evidence in this case."

Garo Sero Institute and the informant have rejected these accusations, asserting the legitimacy of the photographs.

Falsified KakaoTalk Exchanges

A second issue is multiple KakaoTalk messages between Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron from 2016.

The messages exposed by Kim Sae Ron's family showed the two exchanging a flirty and sultry conversation.

However, Kim Soo Hyun's camp has also responded strongly against these messages and insists that they were doctored.

According to Kim Soo Hyun, the text conversations were professionally analyzed by a forensic institution, which determined that the messages were not from the same person at different times.

"The forensic analysis concluded that the person in the 2016 messages is not the same individual as the one in the 2018 messages," Kim Soo Hyun stated during a press conference. "This has been the most painful part of this controversy."

Disputed Photos

Among the most talked-about pieces of evidence are a series of photos, including one allegedly showing Kim Soo Hyun kissing Kim Sae Ron on the cheek.

Garo Sero alleges the photo was taken when Kim Sae Ron was 16, implying that the encounter was inappropriate.

Gold Medalist, though, claims that the picture was captured in 2019, after the pair turned adults.

Furthermore, they challenge the authenticity of other photos, including one showing a man outside Kim Sae Ron's apartment, claiming the individual is not Kim Soo Hyun.

"There are claims that I frequently visited Kim Sae Ron's apartment, but I have never been there," Kim Soo Hyun clarified. "The man in that picture is not me."

Continued Legal Disputes

The accusations surrounding Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron have sparked widespread public debate, with both sides presenting conflicting narratives.

Though Gold Medalist keeps denying the claims, Garo Sero and Kim Sae Ron's families insist that they have evidence that is impossible to refute.

This ongoing legal battle has further intensified scrutiny on both Kim Soo Hyun's career and the reputation of the Garo Sero Research Institute.

As the dispute continues, the future of the case remains uncertain.

For now, Gold Medalist maintains that they will continue to fight back against what they call "false claims."

"We are committed to clearing Kim Soo Hyun's name and ensuring that the truth comes to light," said LKB & Partners.