It was met with backlash.
Koreaboo
36 minutes ago
Actor Kim Soo Hyun is officially set to make his long-awaited return to a major public event in South Korea, but the announcement has already been met with a noticeably divided response.
On August 28, the organizing committee for the 2026 The Fact Music Awards (TMA) announced that Kim Soo Hyun will attend the ceremony as an award presenter on September 19 at Busan Asiad Main Stadium.
The appearance will mark Kim Soo Hyun’s first major domestic public schedule in approximately a year and six months, following the press conference he held in March 2025 amid the controversy involving late actress Kim Sae Ron.
Kim Soo Hyun had largely disappeared from public entertainment activities in Korea following allegations that he had dated Kim Sae Ron while she was a minor. The actor acknowledged that the two had previously dated but maintained that their relationship began after she became an adult.
The controversy resulted in enormous professional consequences for the actor. His Disney+ series Knock-Off was indefinitely postponed, advertising contracts were affected, and Kim Soo Hyun became embroiled in a series of legal disputes. However, the legal situation surrounding the controversy has changed considerably in recent months.
Investigators reportedly determined that a recording presented in support of allegations against Kim Soo Hyun had been created using generative AI, while purported KakaoTalk conversations involving Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron were also determined to have been manipulated. Kim Se Ui, who had publicized allegations against the actor through Garosero Research Institute, was subsequently detained and indicted on multiple charges.
Kim Soo Hyun also received a non-referral decision due to insufficient evidence in a case involving allegations including violations of the Child Welfare Act.
Meanwhile, on August 27, the actor’s agency scored another significant legal victory when a court dismissed Swiss watch brand Mido’s lawsuit seeking approximately ₩570 million KRW (about $413,000 USD) in returned advertising fees.
Following the legal developments, Kim Soo Hyun has gradually begun returning to public activities. He recently appeared as a special guest at Indonesian broadcaster RCTI’s 37th-anniversary live special, where he performed “Dreaming” from Dream High. He is also scheduled to hold a large-scale fan event in Manila in October.
Now, his return is moving to Korea. Despite the positive legal developments surrounding Kim Soo Hyun, however, his TMA appearance has not received a universally warm reception.
Comments on Korean community site TheQoo showed that some netizens remain strongly opposed to seeing the actor return to a major entertainment event. Several questioned why K-Pop artists attending the ceremony should have to receive an award from him in the first place.
| theqoo
- Hate it. Why do singers have to receive awards from him?
- B*llsh*t.
- He’s not gracing them with his presence, but rubbing dirt in their faces.
- Wow, crazy LOL. It’s also gross how there’s a few comments supporting him here and there.
- Thankfully, it seems like enough time has passed in Korea too.
The comments highlight an important distinction between legal developments and public sentiment. For Kim Soo Hyun, the night could effectively serve as the first major test of his domestic comeback. After successfully returning to an overseas stage and securing several favorable legal developments, he will finally be appearing before the Korean public again. Judging by the early reactions, not everyone is ready to welcome him back.