Kim Soo-hyun to return to public activities with new ad campaign

Actor Kim Soo-hyun is reportedly set to film an advertisement for a Filipino fashion brand, marking his return to public activities after nearly a year amid allegations involving late actor Kim Sae-ron.

Kim Soo-hyun will film an advertisement for Bench, a Filipino clothing brand, on July 14, according to reports from News1 on Monday.

The commercial shoot will be the actor's first public activity since allegations that he dated late Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor arose last year.

In March 2025, the YouTube channel Hoverlab alleged that Kim Soo-hyun and late Kim Sae-ron were in a relationship while she was underage. The channel also alleged that pressure from his side to repay a debt led to her death.

Allegations halted Kim Soo-hyun's public activities, such as Disney+ postponing the release of its crime drama "Knock-Off" that featured the actor. He also faces damages lawsuits totaling over 10 billion won ($6.5 million), filed by various companies that signed him for advertisement deals.

However, in an arrest warrant application for Hoverlab channel operator Kim Se-ui submitted by the Seoul Gangnam Police Precinct, the police said allegations that actor Kim Soo-hyun dated the late actor when she was a minor were false. Authorities stated that the KakaoTalk screenshots and the audio file Kim Se-eui presented as evidence were fabricated. According to police, the KakaoTalk chat logs were edited to identify the conversation partner as Kim Soo-hyun, and the audio file was manipulated using AI.

Kim Se-eui was referred to prosecutors on Thursday on charges including violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes and defamation.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [[email protected]]