Actor Noh Jin-won has spoken out about rumors online about a recent social media post that seemed to show him with a much younger girlfriend.

He said that the woman in the picture was actually an AI-generated image that was shared as a joke. Before the actor explained what happened, the misunderstanding quickly spread online.

Noh used his personal social media account on February 18 to clear things up after people started talking more about a photo he had posted. The first upload had a picture of the actor and a young woman together with the caption, "A day like this has come for me too... I will love you beautifully."

The picture caused a lot of talk online, especially because there is a big age difference between Noh, who was born in 1970, and the woman in the picture. Some people who commented on xportsnews said they weren't sure if the woman was real, while others said the two looked like a father and daughter.

Noh posted a clarification about where the image came from in response to the growing controversy. "An absurd incident has occurred!! Yesterday, while drinking, I posted a picture of an AI made by an acquaintance for fun, and it ended up in this embarrassing situation... My joking reply to my acquaintances' comments has made them angry."

He went on to say that the woman wasn't a real person. "Let me be clear once again, it's an AI!! If there's anyone who misunderstood, please let me know... It's a scary world out there."

Before he explained himself, Noh had been defensive in response to comments made online. When someone called the two of them "father and daughter," he said, "I hope you refrain from making insulting comments about our relationship." He also denied speculation that the woman was AI-generated at the time, responding, "No, lol." Later, it came out that those replies were part of what he called a private joke between friends.

Naver's coverage of the event showed how quickly the misunderstanding spread online before the actor's explanation was posted.

Noh Jin-won made his first movie, "Love Begins Now," in 1991. Since then, he has been in movies like "Oh! Brothers," "200 Pounds Beauty," "Winter Butterfly," and "An Insignificant Life." He has also stayed busy with theater, including the play "Liar."