Kim Soo-hyun's Controversial Return Sparks Outrage

PUBLISHED Aug 28, 2026, 10:23 AM ET

South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun plans to make his first official public appearance in South Korea in over a year. He will serve as an award presenter at The Fact Music Awards at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium. The upcoming appearance follows a nearly year-long suspension of domestic activities. In March 2025, allegations emerged regarding a past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron. The allegations claimed the relationship occurred when she was a minor. Police later dropped the underage dating charge due to insufficient evidence. The conservative YouTuber who raised the initial claims was subsequently arrested on defamation charges. Kim acknowledged dating the actress but denied any underage involvement. The announcement sparked divided public reactions across domestic social media platforms. While international fan events proceeded smoothly, domestic audiences expressed mixed views regarding his return. Industry officials confirmed his scheduled participation for the September event.

By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 31
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 31

Explain Framing

Left: Framed around celebrity accountability and protection of vulnerable individuals. Center: Framed objectively around official police findings and public return announcements. Right: Framed around digital defamation risks and conservative commentator allegations.