According to Dispatch, the Seongdong Police Station recently decided not to refer Kim Soo Hyun for prosecution on allegations of violating the Child Welfare Act and filing a false accusation.
Investigators reportedly focused on whether the actor had been in a relationship with Kim Sae Ron while she was under 18 and whether any acts of sexual abuse had occurred. Police ultimately determined that the allegations were unfounded.
Kim Sae Ron’s bereaved family and YouTuber Kim Se Ui reportedly filed a complaint against Kim Soo Hyun in May of last year, citing statements made during a press conference hosted by Kim Se Ui and attorney Bu Ji Seok.
In the complaint, the family alleged that Kim Soo Hyun had sexually abused Kim Sae Ron when she was a second-year middle school student (age 14) in 2014, claiming he engaged in sexual acts with her and subjected her to inappropriate behavior.
The accusations were largely based on an audio recording presented during the press conference. The recording was introduced as a conversation between Kim Sae Ron and an acquaintance from New Jersey, with organizers claiming it proved the alleged abuse.
According to the report, investigators found that the recording used to support the allegations was not authentic. The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Forensic Science Division reportedly concluded that the audio had been manipulated using artificial intelligence, citing discrepancies in male and female voice frequency ranges as evidence of fabrication.
Authorities also stated that the alleged acquaintance from New Jersey could not be identified or verified. Investigators were reportedly unable to confirm the individual’s identity, whether they had ever met Kim Sae Ron, or even whether such a person actually existed. Police also did not rule out the possibility that this voice was AI-generated as well.
Despite these findings, Kim Se Ui reportedly continued to insist that the recording was genuine and claimed he had conducted investigations in New Jersey to verify its authenticity.
The complaint argued that Kim Soo Hyun had committed sexual and emotional abuse against Kim Sae Ron while she was still a minor and incapable of fully protecting her own interests.
However, after reviewing the evidence, police reportedly concluded that there was no factual basis supporting claims that Kim Soo Hyun dated Kim Sae Ron while she was underage or committed child sexual abuse. As a result, authorities decided not to refer the case for prosecution, effectively clearing the actor of the Child Welfare Act allegations.
The report also noted that Kim Se Ui was indicted and detained in June on charges related to allegedly spreading false information about Kim Soo Hyun. His first trial is scheduled to begin in August.
While the police investigation into the Child Welfare Act allegations has concluded with no charges against Kim Soo Hyun, the broader legal dispute surrounding the case remains ongoing.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스