As actor Kim Soo-hyun claimed parts of his KakaoTalk conversations with the late Kim Sae-ron were manipulated, public interest has surged over the credibility of the firm that analyzed the messages.

On March 31, Kim Soo-hyun held a press conference at a hotel in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, vehemently denying allegations that he had dated Kim Sae-ron while she was still a minor.

Kim Sae-ron's family previously asserted that the two were in a relationship from November 2015-when she was 15 and Kim was 27-citing letters and texts left behind. However, Kim Soo-hyun has maintained that their relationship began in 2019, after Kim Sae-ron became an adult. The controversy deepened after messages from 2016 and 2018 surfaced, including phrases like "chu" (kiss) and "When can I fall asleep in your arms?", adding fuel to the speculation.

To counter this, Kim Soo-hyun stated: "The bereaved family is framing me as a pedophile and accusing me of grooming a minor. But the individuals in the 2016 and 2018 KakaoTalk conversations with the deceased are not me. To prove this, I submitted the messages from 2016 and 2018, as well as recent messages with acquaintances, to a forensic linguistic analysis institute. That institute concluded that I am not the same person who sent those earlier messages."

Kim added, "The bereaved family manipulated the chats. Just because something is presented doesn't make it the truth. Just as I verified the messages through proper procedures, I call on the family to submit all their evidence to investigators so it can be thoroughly reviewed through legal channels. If their evidence is true, they should undergo verification by the authorities."

However, the "scientific proof" Kim introduced was met with widespread skepticism. The analysis was conducted by TruVaum, a private center specializing in forensic statement analysis. Its CEO, Kim Mi-young, holds a doctorate in criminal psychology and has served as an expert advisor to both the prosecution and Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Despite these credentials, Kim Mi-young previously appeared on the SBS investigative program Unanswered Questions, where she analyzed messages from infamous "Nth Room" operator Jo Joo-bin and described him as "an intellectual in his mid-40s." Jo was later revealed to be in his 20s.

According to Kim Soo-hyun's report, the likelihood that the 2016 and 2018 messages were not from him was given a "92% confidence level." The report also noted, "There remains an 8% chance that the assessment is incorrect."

Because TruVaum is not a government agency like the National Forensic Service, many observers remain cautious. The report, though detailed, is not universally accepted as definitive proof.

Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun has filed a combined damages lawsuit worth 12 billion KRW (approximately $9 million USD) against the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute (GaSeYeon) and the family of the late Kim Sae-ron.

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