According to News1 on 8/6, the actor plans to film an advertisement for a fashion brand in the Philippines on 14/7. This marks his first scheduled appearance since being accused of dating a minor. Soo Hyun's return has garnered significant attention from millions of fans across Asia.
Over the past year, Kim Soo Hyun's professional activities stalled. He halted filming for the series "Knock Off", canceled events both in and outside South Korea, and lost several advertising contracts.
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Kim Soo Hyun, 38, is known for works such as "My love from the star", "Moon embracing the sun", and "Queen of tears". *Photo: News1* |
The scandal involving Kim Soo Hyun began in early 2025 when the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute, operated by Kim Se Ui, cited a relative of the late actress Kim Sae Ron. This source accused the actor of dating Sae Ron while she was a minor. According to Kim Sae Ron's family, Kim Soo Hyun was "heartless and ungrateful", demanding repayment of debts from Sae Ron, which allegedly pushed her to a desperate state. Sae Ron passed away in February 2025, with police concluding she "chose an extreme option".
Kim Soo Hyun's representatives repeatedly denied the allegations. The actor stated he did not date Kim Sae Ron when she was underage, nor did he toy with her feelings or pressure her to repay any debts.
At a press conference in late March 2025, the actor addressed the situation: "The deceased and I once dated like any other couple. We had a good relationship, but after breaking up, we did not contact each other often. Contacting each other after a breakup is very awkward," he explained.
Kim Soo Hyun subsequently filed lawsuits against Kim Sae Ron's family and the owner of Garo Sero Institute, seeking a total of 12 billion won (8,1 million USD) in compensation.
In late May, Kim Se Ui was arrested on charges of violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act and the Information and Communications Network Act. Investigative findings indicated that Kim Se Ui engaged in defamation and actions damaging to others' honor.
Investigators further accused Kim Se Ui of employing AI technology to simulate Kim Sae Ron's voice, creating and distributing a fabricated recording designed to harm Kim Soo Hyun's reputation.
Police concluded that Kim Se Ui's actions severely impacted actor Kim Soo Hyun, leading to the collapse of his reputation, significant damage to his economic and professional life, and requiring him to undergo psychological treatment. Despite these accusations, Kim Se Ui denied any wrongdoing during his interrogation on 26/5.
By Nhu Anh (according to News1)
