The government agency has released the results of its analysis.
The South Korean National Forensic Service (NFS) has concluded its evaluation regarding whether the leaked audio recordings involving late actress Kim Sae Ron were created or manipulated using artificial intelligence. The findings have raised concerns among Koreans.
On December 15, 2025, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station received a report from the NFS stating that it was “unable to make a determination” about the authenticity of the recordings. These recordings were first revealed during a press conference on May 7 by the YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute and attorney Bu Ji Seok, who represents Kim Sae Ron’s bereaved family.
The scandalous content of the recordings includes claims from Kim Sae Ron asserting that she had a romantic relationship with actor Kim Soo Hyun starting when she was a minor and that she had her first sexual relationship in middle school. In response, Kim Soo Hyun’s legal team denied these allegations, suggesting that the recordings were fabricated using AI or similar technologies.
According to an exclusive report from Money Today, the NFS examined the recordings at the request of the police. However, due to technical limitations and the fact that the recordings were not original files, the NFS could not definitively determine whether the voice and/or recordings were generated or altered by AI.
Park Jeong Bo, the commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police, mentioned in a press briefing that the investigation is nearing completion following the forensic results and a conclusion will be reached soon.
The NFS’s inconclusive results have sparked new anxieties as they suggest that advancements in AI technology may have outpaced current verification systems, causing concern about the potential for criminal misuse of AI.
Public reactions have included fears about the implications of AI in such cases, with statements highlighting worries about the difficulty in distinguishing between real and manipulated content. The discussion reflects concerns that AI-related crimes could increase if forensic agencies are unable to confirm the authenticity of evidence.
In addition to the recordings, Kim Sae Ron’s side has also released forensic evidence of her KakaoTalk messages with Kim Soo Hyun.
—
