Kim Soo Hyun's legal team responds to Garosero Research Institute's claims "Downloaded images from internet, will pursue legal action"

Actor Kim Soo Hyun’s legal representatives have firmly rejected the recent allegations made by YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, calling the claims fabricated and malicious.

On May 7, the law firm LKB & Partners, representing Kim Soo Hyun and his agency Gold Medalist, issued an official statement in response to a press conference held by Garosero Research Institute. The statement addressed the channel’s claims, including the existence of an audio recording allegedly involving the late actress Kim Sae Ron and images purportedly showing the aftermath of a physical assault.

“Garosero Research Institute claimed to possess an audio file involving the late actress Kim Sae Ron,” the legal team stated. “However, this file is entirely fabricated. Gold Medalist has determined that the recording was likely created using artificial intelligence or similar technology.”

According to the statement, the individual who provided the file (hereafter referred to as the “audio file provider”) approached Gold Medalist claiming to have a recording of Kim Sae Ron speaking favorably about Kim Soo Hyun and demanded money in exchange. “The file provider sent a manipulated sample featuring altered audio of the late actress. Gold Medalist rejected all demands and did not engage further.”

The law firm stressed that the file provider had no actual connection to Kim Sae Ron and, after failing to deceive the agency, colluded with Garosero Research Institute to release the fabricated content.

The statement also addressed a separate claim made during the press conference: that the file provider had been assaulted at the direction of Gold Medalist or its legal counsel, attorney Go Sang Rok. “Garosero Research Institute publicly shared photos they claimed were from the alleged assault. However, these images can be easily found through a simple internet search. The photos were downloaded from the web and falsely presented as evidence.”

Calling the press conference another instance of targeted harassment, Gold Medalist described the incident as “a cyber attack orchestrated by Garosero Research Institute, which is already under pressure due to ongoing accusations of defamation, stalking, cybersex crimes, and evidence tampering.”

“This incident clearly demonstrates that the institute’s past and present claims are baseless and manipulated,” the statement continued. “Their actions constitute a serious criminal offense involving the use of AI-generated evidence to damage Kim Soo Hyun’s reputation.”

Gold Medalist announced its intention to file immediate criminal complaints against Garosero Research Institute for violating South Korea’s Anti-Stalking Law and the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation). The agency added that it will cooperate fully with investigators to ensure legal accountability.