South Korean police have decided not to pursue a criminal complaint against actor Kim Soo-hyun over allegations that he dated the late actress Kim Sae-ron while she was underage, concluding that there was insufficient evidence to support the claims.

The Seongdong Police Station in Seoul announced on July 29 that it would not forward the case for prosecution after finding no objective evidence to substantiate allegations that Kim violated the Child Welfare Act or made false statements.

The complaint had been filed by Kim Sae-ron's family following the actress' death on Feb. 16, 2025. They alleged that Kim Soo-hyun had been in a relationship with her when she was a minor.

The allegations gained widespread attention after the family released an audio recording during a press conference last year. In the recording, purportedly featuring Kim Sae-ron, a voice says, "We dated since middle school, but broke up after going to college."

Kim Soo-hyun's legal team immediately rejected the recording's authenticity, arguing that it had been fabricated using artificial intelligence.

According to the police, the recording itself was found to be suspected of fabrication. Investigators also cited forensic analysis of Kim Sae-ron's mobile phone, saying it failed to produce objective evidence supporting the allegations.

The police findings effectively remove the criminal basis for one of the most damaging accusations leveled against the actor since the controversy erupted.

The case unfolded alongside accusations made publicly by YouTuber Kim Se-ui of the HoverLab channel, who repeatedly alleged that Kim Soo-hyun had maintained a relationship with Kim Sae-ron while she was underage. Kim Se-ui has since been arrested on multiple charges, including defamation.

Following the police decision, Kim Soo-hyun's lawyer, Go Sang-rok, welcomed the outcome, describing the allegations of "grooming" as the most serious claims his client had faced.

During a press conference in March last year, a lawyer representing Kim Sae-ron's family presented alleged KakaoTalk messages from 2016 and questioned whether denying a romantic relationship amounted to evidence of grooming.

Go argued that the accusation had irreparably damaged Kim Soo-hyun's public image.

"That remark completely inflamed public opinion, and at that moment, Mr. Kim Soo-hyun was effectively branded by the public as a child sex offender," he said.

He added that the police decision, coupled with the earlier indictment and detention of Kim Se-ui, represented a significant development in the case.

"Kim Soo-hyun has now been cleared of the core grooming allegations that had weighed most heavily on him," Go said. "I hope this decision brings comfort to those who have continued to trust and support him."

The police decision ends the criminal complaint at the investigative level unless new evidence emerges. However, the controversy surrounding Kim Soo-hyun and the late actress has remained one of South Korea's most closely watched entertainment scandals, generating intense public debate since the allegations first surfaced.