MANILA, Philippines — After spending more than a year away from the public eye, South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun is preparing to return to professional activities, with his agency confirming that his first official schedule will be an advertising campaign for a Philippine fashion and lifestyle brand.
Gold Medalist announced, “Kim Soo Hyun will participate in a print advertisement shoot for the leading Philippine fashion brand Bench on July 14.”
The scheduled shoot will mark the actor's first confirmed public activity since he halted entertainment and endorsement work amid a controversy that surfaced last year.
Bench has worked with the actor for years and previously brought him to Manila for the fan meeting “One Extraordinary Day,” held on June 10, 2022, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The event drew thousands of fans eager to see Soo-hyun, who gained international recognition through dramas such as “My Love From the Star,” “It's Okay to Not Be Okay” and “Queen of Tears.”
Soo-hyun's return comes months after authorities in South Korea investigated allegations circulated online linking him to the late actress Kim Sae-ron. The claims, which gained widespread attention through broadcasts and content posted by YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute, alleged that the actor had been involved in a relationship with Sae-ron while she was underage and had pressured her over financial obligations.
Soo-hyun denied the allegations and maintained that any relationship between the two occurred only after both were adults.
Recent developments in the case shifted attention back to the actor after Kim Se-ui, head of Garo Sero Research Institute, was arrested on charges related to the dissemination of false information. According to Korean media reports, police investigators concluded that audio recordings and online materials presented as evidence had been manipulated.
Authorities reportedly found that an audio file used in the allegations had been altered using artificial intelligence technology, while message exchanges cited as proof were determined to have been fabricated. A court subsequently approved an arrest warrant for Kim Se-ui, citing concerns over the possible destruction of evidence and flight risk. His request to challenge the legality of his detention was later dismissed.
Following the arrest, Gold Medalist released a statement thanking those who supported the actor while legal proceedings were underway.
“We deeply thank those who have spoken out for a long time on behalf of Mr. Kim Soo-hyun, who was waiting for the legal procedures, even though he is not a direct party to the case,” the agency said.
The company added, “We also express our deep gratitude to the investigative authorities who silently fulfilled their responsibilities behind the scenes, conducted the investigation based solely on evidence and facts, and revealed the truth, as well as to the judicial authorities who made a fair and strict judgment regarding the suspect's custody.”
The allegations had a far-reaching impact on his endorsement career, prompting several major brands to discontinue their partnerships with the actor. More than half of his endorsement deals reportedly lost during the controversy, iwhile Disney+'s highly anticipated series “Knock-Off,” which stars the actor, was placed on indefinite hold.
