Latest news with #GaroSeroResearchInstitute
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Despite Kim Sae-ron scandal, Kim Soo-hyun remains No. 1 in star rankings for fifth straight week
Kim Soo-hyun, currently one of the most talked-about figures in South Korea's entertainment scene, has held onto his No. 1 spot in the Star Ranking poll for male actors for the fifth consecutive week. During the 115th voting round, held from May 29 at 3:01 PM to June 5 at 3:00 PM, he amassed a total of 182,051 votes. Trailing behind him were King the Land star Lee Jun Ho in second place with 63,618 votes, and Lovely Runner actor Byun Woo Seok in third with 17,117 votes. View this post on Instagram What is Star Ranking and its rewards Star Ranking is a weekly fan-voting platform that allows fans to vote for their favorite celebrities. Fans who vote receive digital certificates, and those who top the rankings are rewarded with various promotional benefits. Any star who maintains the No. 1 position for four consecutive weeks is rewarded with a feature on an LED billboard advertisement. Additionally, fans are encouraged to submit proposals for extra fan-support video ads to celebrate their favorite celebrities. Allegations surrounding Kim Soo-hyun Despite his popularity, Kim Soo-hyun remains embroiled in controversy following recent allegations made by the bereaved family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron. The family claimed that the Queen of Tears actor and Kim Sae-ron had been in a romantic relationship for six years, beginning in 2015 when she was still a minor. They reportedly submitted a collection of photos, letters, and messages to the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute, also known as Hoverlab, as supposed evidence of the relationship. Kim Sae-ron's DUI incident resurfaces The allegations are tied to a previous incident involving Kim Sae-ron's DUI accident, which led to a 700 million KRW (~510,000 USD) penalty fee dispute between her and Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist. What began as a financial issue has now escalated into a public battle over the truth surrounding their alleged relationship. Kim Soo-hyun's public denial In March, Kim Soo-hyun emotionally addressed the controversy at a press conference, firmly denying the allegations. "I did not date her while she was a minor. The accusation that my rejection or pressure from my agency led to her tragic decision is entirely false," he said, visibly distressed. Following his statement, the actor took legal action, filing both civil and criminal lawsuits against the late actress's family and Hoverlab CEO Kim Sae Ui, seeking 12 billion KRW (approximately 8.7 million USD) in damages.
News18
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Kim Soo Hyun–Kim Sae Ron Controversy Triggers ‘10 Police Cases In 3 Months'
Last Updated: Kim Soo Hyun's side has filed seven legal complaints, including one against the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute. The controversy involving South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun and the late actress Kim Sae Ron continues to stir headlines and is far from over. Even months after the scandal, which first broke out in early March, every new revelation shakes things up. What started as a shocking revelation has now turned into a full-blown legal storm, with both parties locked in a tangled web of accusations, investigations and public scrutiny. The heart of the matter lies in allegations that Kim Soo Hyun had a romantic relationship with Kim Sae Ron when she was still a minor. These claims, which were shared by the late actress's aunt on Garo Sero Research Institute's YouTube channel, along with a few newly surfaced pieces of evidence, have led to a fierce legal battle and intense media scrutiny. While many details still remain unclear, the case has triggered ten separate legal investigations linked to Kim Sae Ron, according to the South Korean media outlet Edaily. On Monday, May 19, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency revealed during a press conference that seven of these cases are currently being handled by the Gangnam Police Station, while the remaining three are under the jurisdiction of the Seodaemun Police Station. The same outlet reported that Kim Soo Hyun's side has filed seven legal complaints, including one against the controversial YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute, aka Hoverlab, accusing them of defamation and stalking. Meanwhile, Kim Sae Ron's bereaved family and legal representatives have submitted three cases, one of which includes a serious accusation against Kim Soo Hyun for violating the Child Welfare Act. The family, along with the Garo Sero Research Institute, even held a press conference earlier this month, where they released an audio clip as part of their evidence. The clip, which allegedly featured the late actress, claimed that Kim Sae Ron dated the Queen of Tears actor when she was still in high school. Moreover, both even had intimate physical relations. However, the actor and his agency, Gold Medalist, have firmly denied the allegation, calling it baseless and deeply damaging. YouTuber Lee Jin Ho even claimed that the recording was fabricated using AI. More recently, Bu Ji Seok, the lawyer representing Kim Sae Ron's side, has come under fire, too. He has reportedly been reported to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea for allegedly giving misleading legal advice to the family during the case.
News18
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Whistleblower Confesses to Manipulating Kim Sae Ron's Audio Amid Controversy
Last Updated: The whistleblower has confessed to manipulating the audio file in which Kim Sae Ron allegedly claimed to have had a physical relationship with Kim Soo Hyun at the age of 14. The controversy surrounding South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun took a dramatic turn with the release of a voice recording that has stirred widespread attention. The audio clip, shared by the Garo Sero Research Institute and Kim Sae Ron's family during a recent press conference, allegedly features the late actress claiming she dated Kim Soo Hyun while still in high school. However, the actor and his agency, Gold Medalist, have firmly denied the allegation, calling it baseless and deeply damaging. However, these claims have backfired on both Kim Se Ui of the Garo Sero Research Institute and Kim Sae Ron's family, as the whistleblower, known as Mr A, has now changed his story. In a surprising turn of events, Mr A, who is based in New Jersey, admitted that his previous statements were the result of a 'misunderstanding with his wife." Earlier, he had claimed to have been stabbed nine times in the neck due to his possession of sensitive information about Kim Soo Hyun's dating controversy. However, he now acknowledges that the injuries he sustained were limited to his arms, raising questions about the credibility of his earlier statements. On May 7, Garo Sero and Kim Sae Ron's family lawyer held a press conference where they played the recording. They alleged that the clip featured the late actress' conversation with Mr A, where she admitted to having a sexual relationship with Kim Soo Hyun when she was a minor. Garo Sero even claimed that the FBI had started an investigation into the matter. They said he had deep cuts on both his hands. Mr A even sent a video of himself from the hospital, sharing that he was filming with his right hand as he could not move his left one. He talked about sustaining nerve damage, bleeding and other injuries. However, the medical report only confirmed a single deep cut on his right shoulder. He was also seen filming the video with the same injured hand. Later, it was revealed that the wound photos that were shown at the press conference were pulled from the internet. When questioned about his inconsistencies, Mr A blamed his wife, saying, 'My white wife caused some misunderstandings. There was a lot of tension between us." Further, he shared that in the middle of all the chaos, he had sent a voice message to the producer of Garo Sero. He added, 'At the time of the incident, I couldn't contact my family directly. So I just sent a voice message to the (Garosero) producer explaining that the photos were from the hospital to show what the injuries looked like." Mr A expressed his anger, saying, 'Isn't it ridiculous to take photos of someone being stabbed? What wife would pull out a camera while her husband is being attacked?" Eventually, the whistleblower admitted to manipulating the audio file in which Kim Sae Ron supposedly said she had a physical relationship with Kim Soo Hyun when she was 14. Mr A said that he sent the fake audio file to the Queen of Tears actor's side to avoid being seen as a 'spy". His explanation did not make much sense and confused people even more. Previously, YouTuber Lee Jin Ho, who supported Kim Soo Hyun from the start, held a press conference of his own and gave forensic evidence proving that the clip was AI-generated. First Published:
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Whistleblower admits Kim Sae Ron's audio recording making shocking allegations against Kim Soo Hyun was FABRICATED
The explosive claims made against actor Kim Soo Hyun in a voice clip of late actress Kim Sae Ron have now been discredited after the key whistleblower admitted to manipulating the file central to the allegations. The Garo Sero Research Institute (operating under the name HOVERLAB) reignited controversy on May 7, when they released a bombshell audio file, claiming it was a recording of a conversation between Kim Sae Ron and a person identified only as Mr A. Operation Sindoor Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list Did Pak shoot down Indian jets? What MEA said India foils Pakistan's attack on Jammu airport: What we know so far The recording was used to allege that Kim Sae Ron had a past sexual relationship with Kim Soo Hyun when she was a teenager and still in high school. However, when the credibility of the clip was questioned, evidence quickly unravelled prompting Mr A to confess to fabricating the audio file, which is now believed to have been generated using AI voice technology. Journalist and YouTuber Lee Jin Ho conducted a forensic analysis and presented evidence showing that the voice in the recording was artificially created, with Mr. A inserting his own voice and background noise to simulate a real conversation. 'The audio appears to be a product of AI voice synthesis,' Lee stated. 'It was deliberately constructed to mislead and extort.' Further inconsistencies came to light during the same press conference. Garo Sero had claimed that Mr A was the target of a violent knife attack after meeting with Kim Sae Ron, stating he had been stabbed nine times in the neck and required 20 stitches. Mr A later contradicted this, saying the injuries were limited to his arms and shoulder. Moreover, the photos of his alleged injuries were later found to have been sourced from a stock image website. The scandal, which briefly captured public attention due to its serious allegations of an underage romance. Kim Soo Hyun's agency has reportedly dismissed the audio as absurd and unworthy of response. As of now, no legal action has been announced, but Kim Soo Hyun has filed a lawsuit against the family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron as well as the operators of YouTube channel Hoverlab. In the complaint, Kim's team is seeking 12 billion won in damages.
