MANILA, Philippines — South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun is officially returning to Manila, with Philippine fashion brand Bench announcing on Tuesday that the Korean star will meet his Filipino fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Oct. 2.
Bench unveiled the event through a "Save the Date" poster on its official social media pages.
"The countdown begins! Kim Soo Hyun is coming to meet his Filipino fans very soon. Who's excited? Sound off in the comments!" the brand posted.
The announcement comes weeks after Kim returned to work through a new Bench advertising campaign filmed in South Korea, his first confirmed professional engagement since stepping away from the spotlight in early 2025.
In July, Bench founder Ben Chan shared photos from the campaign shoot on Instagram, writing, "Reunited with your @benchtm family, @soohyun_k216," before posting another image captioned, "Always in our [heart]."
The actor largely withdrew from public life in early 2025 after allegations surfaced that he had dated the late actress Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. Kim has consistently denied the allegations, while his legal team pursued legal action against individuals accused of spreading false and defamatory claims.
South Korean media reported earlier this year that Kim was preparing to resume his career, with the Bench campaign serving as his first official schedule after a hiatus lasting approximately 16 months.
Kim rose to international fame through hit dramas including "Dream High," "Moon Embracing the Sun," "My Love From the Star," "It's Okay to Not Be Okay," and the record-breaking series "Queen of Tears."
