Controversy is flaring up again after the AI-tampering question surrounding an audio file—released by YouTube channel HoverLab Inc. (hereafter HoverLab) as an alleged conversation between actor Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron—ended with an official "undetermined" conclusion. When the National Forensic Service (NFS) said it could not verify authenticity due to technical limits, Kim Soo-hyun's side expressed regret and challenged the investigation overall.
According to police on the 16th, Seoul's Gangnam Police Station received the NFS appraisal last month stating it was unable to determine whether the recording had been AI-manipulated or altered. The NFS reportedly replied that the materials submitted by police were not the original and, amid noise and other issues, there were technical limits to making a definitive call.
The disputed audio was played at a press conference in May by HoverLab and the legal representative of Kim Sae-ron's bereaved family. It allegedly included the claim that "Kim Sae-ron dated Kim Soo-hyun since she was a minor." Kim Soo-hyun's team immediately raised "the possibility of AI deep-voice manipulation," filing criminal complaints against HoverLab operator Kim Se-ui and members of the family's side, and also launched a large-scale damages suit.
After the NFS result became public, attorney Ko Sang-rok, representing Kim Soo-hyun, stated on YouTube that an "undetermined" finding does not automatically clear the suspicion of spreading false information. He stressed the appraisal covered only "a few minutes of samples" played at the press event and criticized police for not actively securing the full, original audio HoverLab claims exists. He also publicly condemned the procedure, saying that only partial samples were submitted for appraisal long after the press conference.
Meanwhile, HoverLab CEO Kim Se-ui reportedly said they had submitted a "full version (substantial length)" and hinted at further disclosures. Police are currently reviewing the recording's content, distribution path, and potential falsehoods via forensic analysis of seized materials, and are expected to decide soon whether to refer those involved to prosecutors.