Kim Soo-hyun has stepped back into the spotlight for the first time in more than a year, and Filipino fans are already counting down to his October 2 fan meeting at the Mall of Asia Arena. Here is what his comeback looks like so far.
An emotional return in Jakarta
Kim appeared as a special guest on Mahakarya RCTI 37, the live show celebrating the 37th anniversary of Indonesian broadcaster RCTI, held in Jakarta on August 23. Dressed in a white suit, he performed “Dreaming,” the song tied to his breakout role as Song Sam-dong in the 2011 drama “Dream High.”
The moment hit him harder than the audience expected. After the cheers rose, Kim stood silently and pressed his lips together, appearing to hold back emotion before waving to fans.
A quick guide to his comeback
| Detail | What happened |
|---|---|
| First TV appearance | Mahakarya RCTI 37 in Jakarta, Aug 23, after a year off |
| Song performed | “Dreaming” from “Dream High” (2011) |
| Philippine tie | Named a model for fashion brand BENCH |
| Manila fan meet | Oct 2 at SM Mall of Asia Arena |
The controversy he left behind
Kim stepped away from public activities after claims surfaced in March 2025 that he had dated late actress Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor. Kim Sae-ron died at her home in Seoul in February 2025 at age 24. Her family filed a criminal complaint in May 2025 accusing him of violating the Child Welfare Act.
Kim acknowledged the relationship but denied it began while she was underage, and disputed an audio recording released by her family as an AI fabrication.
Cleared by police
In July, South Korean police cleared Kim of the Child Welfare Act allegations, with Seoul’s Seongdong Police Station deciding on July 29 not to refer the case to prosecutors. The head of the YouTube channel that raised the allegations, Kim Se-ui of Garo Sero Institute, has been detained and indicted on defamation charges.
Manila is next
Kim was named a model for Philippine fashion brand BENCH and took part in its campaign before the Jakarta appearance. His schedule now includes a fan meeting on October 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, a venue that holds about 20,000 people.
It is a familiar pattern for Korean stars turning a comeback into a Manila homecoming, much like Kim Seon Ho’s fan meet earlier this year. For more on what is trending in Korean entertainment, The Scandal on Netflix is streaming now.
