Kim Soo-hyun returns to Korean stage after 18-month hiatus

Actor Kim Soo-hyun has made his first official appearance in Korea in approximately 18 months. After a long hiatus from the public eye, Kim took the stage as a presenter, greeting the audience with a bright expression. Following a suspension of domestic activities due to controversies surrounding his private life, his recent move to resume official domestic schedules following overseas activities is drawing significant attention.

On the 19th, Kim attended the '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS' (2026 TMA) held at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium as a presenter. The awards ceremony was broadcast live through the streaming platform CHZZK.

During the event, Kim stepped onto the stage to present the 'TMA Popularity Award,' offering a brief greeting: "I am Kim Soo-hyun. Nice to meet you." Rather than appearing nervous, he drew attention by smiling and greeting the audience with a relatively relaxed demeanor.

"I am sincerely grateful to be invited today," he stated, adding, "Although I am standing here as a presenter, I am also a listener who loves K-pop. The award I will be presenting is the Popularity Award, for which fans worldwide participated in the voting."

After personally presenting the trophy to singer Lim Young-woong, the winner of the Popularity Award, Kim left the stage. During the ceremony, MC Jeon Hyeonmu expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you to Kim Soo-hyun for joining us as a presenter."

Although it was a brief appearance, the stage holds special significance as it marks Kim's first appearance before the Korean public after a long suspension of official domestic activities.

Last March, Kim became the center of controversy when allegations were raised regarding the timing of his past relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron. While Kim's side acknowledged the relationship with Kim Sae-ron, they denied the claim that they dated while she was a minor. Kim also held a press conference to clarify his position regarding the allegations.

Subsequently, the controversy expanded beyond private life issues into police investigations and criminal cases. The bereaved family of Kim Sae-ron filed a complaint against Kim last year on charges including violations of the Child Welfare Act, while Kim's side also filed complaints against related individuals for the distribution of false information and defamation.

Investigation results followed. In July, the Seoul Seongdong Police Station decided not to transfer the case against Kim regarding charges of violating the Child Welfare Act and false accusation due to insufficient evidence. This police decision, which relates to the criminal judgment regarding the allegations of dating a minor, should be distinguished from the notion that all civil and criminal issues have been settled collectively.

Criminal proceedings against Kim Se Ui, the CEO of Hover Lab, whom Kim's side has identified as a key party in the distribution of false information, are proceeding separately. Kim Se Ui was indicted in June on charges including the distribution of false information, such as claiming Kim Soo-hyun dated Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor and that there was debt pressure from Kim's side regarding the deceased's death. The prosecution stated that during the investigation, they confirmed circumstances such as the arbitrary editing of data or the use of false data without basic fact-checking.

Kim Se Ui's side denies the charges, and the first trial schedule was postponed in August following a request for a jury trial. As the case is currently undergoing trial proceedings, the final determination of criminal responsibility must await the court's judgment.

Despite the long hiatus in domestic activities, Kim has been gradually expanding his sphere of activity overseas. Starting with an international fashion brand advertising campaign last July, he showed signs of resuming activities, subsequently continuing his overseas schedule with appearances on Indonesian broadcasts and modeling for the Philippine fashion brand BENCH. In August, he expanded his connection with international fans by holding a fan meeting for 20,000 people in Manila, the Philippines.

Given that he first reappeared through overseas activities before expanding back to official Korean venues, his attendance at the TMA is expected to be a significant turning point. However, his role on this day was strictly that of a presenter, and he did not publicly disclose any specific position regarding the long-standing controversy or his future acting plans.

Kim has built high recognition both domestically and internationally through works such as 'Moon Embracing the Sun,' 'My Love from the Star,' 'The Producers,' and 'It's Okay to Not Be Okay.' He established himself as a Hallyu (Korean Wave) star through 'My Love from the Star' and 'The Producers,' proving both his box-office draw and acting prowess across films and dramas.

As such, this return to the Korean stage carries symbolic weight beyond a simple awards ceremony appearance. After a long hiatus, Kim signaled his presence once again with a brief greeting and a bright smile.

However, it remains to be seen how his full-scale return to acting will unfold. Following his overseas advertisements, broadcasts, and fan meetings, the industry is watching to see which upcoming projects will bring Kim back to the public eye and how the ongoing legal battles will impact his future career.