After Kim Soo Hyun, Burning Sun scandal reporter slaps YouTuber with lawsuit over ‘fake' Kim Sae Ron recording

Indian Express

09-05-2025

Garosero and Kim Sae Ron's family attorney, Bu Ji Seok, are being heavily criticised for allegedly presenting a fabricated audio recording during their second press conference held on May 7. The recording includes Sae Ron's confession about entering a sexual relationship with actor Kim Soo Hyun at the age of 14. YouTuber Lee Jin Ho, who has been on Kim Soo Hyun's side, held another press conference, calling out the lies and claiming the audio recording was AI-generated. Since then, the whistleblower, named A, has backtracked on his claim, but tensions for Garosero have not eased. Prominent South Korean journalist Kang Kyung Yoon, famous for her coverage of South Korea's biggest scandal, the Burning Sun, has filed a lawsuit against Kim Se Ui, the head of Garosero Research Institute. According to Kang, her name was 'inappropriately' used in the recording, which she slammed as fake.
Also read: 'Sent fake audio to Kim Soo Hyun': Whistleblower admits to fabricating Kim Sae Ron recording, used internet photos, blames tension with wife for confusion
'I've filed a complaint against Mr. Kim Se-ui from Garosero Research Institute. I've asked the authorities to start their investigation quickly,' the SBS reporter shared on her personal blog on May 8, according to KBIzoom. She added, 'What happened yesterday (May 7) was shocking. I never imagined Mr. Kim Se Ui would hold a press conference. I had heard about deepfakes and AI from the media, but I never thought it would happen to me.' At the press conference, the YouTuber claimed that he received a tip from a whistleblower in New Jersey, USA, who claimed to possess sensitive information regarding Kim Sae Ron's life. However, according to reporter Kang, who labelled this whistleblower a 'scammer,' he contacted her in person in April.
Also read: Kim Soo Hyun says 'fraudster' contacted him first, calls out 'AI-generated' audio of Kim Sae Ron admitting to sexual relationship at age 14
Kang wrote, 'I never trust these types of informants, people after money with unclear identities. I ignored them, and I thought the people around me would do the same because the 'scammer' smell was so strong.' Garosero and attorney Bu Ji Seok released an audio that supposedly captured a conversation between the late Kim Sae Ron and the whistleblower. In the audio dated January 10, the late Bloodhound star says, 'The first time I did it with him was during winter break (referring to Kim Soo Hyun) in my second year of middle school. Thinking about it now, it was done to me. Not many people know about when I dated him in middle school, but they all reacted the same way. They asked why I just let him be.' Kang pointed out how in the recording, foul language was used, and it discussed private matters about actor Kim Soo Hyun and Kang. 'Anyone can tell that the voice of the deceased was manipulated using AI to fit someone's agenda,' the reporter claimed.
Later, Kang disclosed how some friends of the late actor reached out to her to saying, 'Reporter, my friend wouldn't use such bad language', and 'We are so shocked and upset by how far this has gone.' Kang responded, 'The AI-manipulated audio is clearly fake. There's no need to analyse it further.' Earlier, Kim Soo Hyun and Gold Medalist also released a lengthy statement calling out the 'AI-generated' audio and said, 'The person who delivered the recording file has no connection to the late Kim Sae Ron. When the scam against the Gold Medalist didn't work, they conspired with Garo Sero to release a forged recording file. As mentioned before, Gold Medalist determined that the person delivering the file used AI, and is conducting technical verification of this and will share the results as soon as they become available.'
Meanwhile, Kang also presented sufficient proof to show that she never travelled to New Jersey during the timeframe that Kim Se Ui claimed she was there to threaten the informant. She said, 'After watching the press conference, my husband suggested I check my immigration records.' She released her travel records from January 1 to May 5, 2025, showing she had never been to New Jersey. 'I have never been to New Jersey, USA I was suspicious of the informant and never spoke to them on the phone.' Kang gained attention after her coverage of the 2019 Burning Sun scandal, also known as the biggest sex scandal in the country that rocked the whole Korean entertainment industry, as high-profile names were released, ranging from K-drama to K-pop and movie stars, derailing many careers. Kang was the first to obtain and release forensic evidence, and her reporting played a key role in the investigation.