South Korean police clear actor Kim Soo-hyun of allegations that he violated the Child Welfare Act and made a false accusation in connection with claims that he dated the late actress Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. Seoul’s Seongdong Police Station announces it decides not to refer the case to prosecutors, citing insufficient evidence to support claims of child abuse or related violations. Police say an audio recording submitted by the complainants is not accepted because it appears to have been edited or manipulated. The investigation stems from a criminal complaint filed in May 2025 by Kim Sae-ron’s family, which alleges that Kim Soo-hyun had been in a relationship with her since she was in middle school, a period the family says would fall under the Child Welfare Act’s protections. Korea Times and Inquirer.net both report that police conclude the evidence is not legally sufficient, leading to the closure of the case. The reports characterize the decision as based on the results of the police investigation, rather than a court ruling.