By Florencemary Nwabueze
KOREA — South Korea actor Kim Soo-hyun is set to make his first official public appearance in South Korea in approximately 18 months, marking a significant return to the domestic entertainment scene after being cleared of all allegations that had sidelined his career.
The actor will attend the 2026 The Fact Music Awards as a presenter at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium on September 19, 2026 according to event organizers. The ceremony, hosted by Korean media outlet 'The Fact', is an offline music awards show that brings together K-pop artists and industry figures. This year's edition holds particular significance as it marks the awards' return to Korean soil following previous installments in Osaka, Japan (2024) and Macau (2025).
Kim's upcoming domestic appearance comes after he gradually resumed public activities overseas following an extended hiatus triggered by a controversy in March 2025 involving the late actress Kim Sae-ron.
At the time, a YouTube channel alleged that Kim had been in a romantic relationship with Kim Sae-ron when she was only 15 years old—a minor—and also accused him of pressuring her to repay 700 million won in debt after her drunk driving incident, which allegedly contributed to her emotional distress. The allegations sparked massive public backlash, leading to the suspension of his drama production Knock Off, the cancellation of all public appearances, and the termination of multiple endorsement contracts, resulting in reported losses exceeding 10 billion won.
Kim admitted to having dated Kim Sae-ron but firmly denied that the relationship began while she was underage. Following a thorough investigation, police concluded in July 2026 that there was insufficient evidence to charge him, and he was cleared of all allegations. Investigators also found that key pieces of evidence—such as recordings and chat logs—had been AI-manipulated or fabricated. The representative of the YouTube channel that spread the allegations was subsequently detained and indicted for spreading false information.
With his name legally cleared, Kim made his first television appearance since March 2025 on Sunday, appearing as a special guest on "Mahakarya RCTI 37," a live program celebrating the 37th anniversary of RCTI, one of Indonesia's leading privately owned free-to-air television networks.
Industry observers view these appearances as a carefully calibrated return to the public eye, with the Busan event expected to serve as a formal reentry into the Korean entertainment industry.