South Korean entertainment news erupted as the sibling of late singer Kang Sulli accused actor Kim Soo-hyun of misconduct, citing a 37-minute call recording with their late sister’s former manager. The allegations, amplified by a YouTube channel’s previous claims of a minor relationship between Kim and Kang, have triggered a police investigation into potential AI manipulation of evidence.
The Sister’s Accusations and the 37-Minute Recording
The sibling of Kang Sulli, a member of the K-pop group f(x), posted on social media on May 22, stating, “I have a 37-minute recording of a call with my sister’s former manager,” according to Newsis. The post alleged that the recording included “some parts of my sister’s private life at the time,” though the sibling emphasized, “I have many questions, but I’m holding back for my mother’s sake.” The sibling also referenced a prior post from May 21, where they wrote, “When the guy from ‘The Beginning of the End’ comes out again, there will be a second round. The choice is yours.” This cryptic message alluded to Kim Soo-hyun’s role in the 2016 drama It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, which some fans speculated was tied to the allegations.
The sibling’s claims echo previous accusations from 2025, when they alleged that Kim Soo-hyun and director Lee Ro-bae (also known as Iroba) pressured Kang Sulli during the filming of the movie Real. At the time, the sibling demanded explanations but did not escalate the matter publicly. This latest statement, however, suggests a renewed effort to address unresolved concerns.
The Police Investigation into the YouTube Channel’s Allegations
Authorities are scrutinizing the YouTube channel Gassero Research, which previously alleged that Kim Soo-hyun and Kang Sulli were in a relationship during her minority. The police have dismissed these claims as false, citing “multiple suspicious elements of fabrication” in the evidence presented. According to Seoul Economic, investigators believe the channel’s representative, Kim Se-yeong, used AI to manipulate audio files, including recordings of Kang Sulli’s voice, to bolster their claims.
Kim Se-yeong has denied these allegations, asserting that the National Scientific Investigation Institute ruled the audio “unaltered” and accusing the police of targeting him to “cover up a political figure’s Vietnam-related crimes.” The police, however, argue that the channel’s evidence lacked “sufficient verification or cross-checking,” citing the manipulation of a 2016 KakaoTalk conversation between Kang Sulli and an unidentified individual. The channel had previously claimed the conversation confirmed a relationship between Kim Soo-hyun and Kang Sulli, but the police have since invalidated this as a fabrication.
The Context of Previous Claims and Legal Implications
The controversy has reignited debates about the ethics of media outlets and the role of AI in spreading misinformation. Kang Sulli, who struggled with mental health, died in 2023 at age 25. Her sibling’s recent posts have drawn parallels to the 2025 allegations, which were initially met with public sympathy but later receded as evidence of their validity remained unclear.
Legal experts note that the police’s decision to seek an arrest warrant for Kim Se-yeong hinges on proving intent to defame. If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison under South Korea’s Information and Communications Network Act.