Kim Soo-hyun to hold fan meeting in Philippines this October, his first in 16 months

Actor Kim Soo-hyun is set to meet fans in the Philippines. The Philippine lifestyle brand BENCH announced that it will host a fan meeting for Kim Soo-hyun on October 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. The event, expected to draw approximately 20,000 attendees, marks Kim's first official appearance before fans since he suspended activities following allegations of dating a minor last year.

Kim Soo-hyun recently shared an update via BENCH's official social media channels. In the video, he greeted fans, saying, "I missed you all so much. I am happy to greet you after such a long time." Local fans are showing intense interest in his message, which breaks a 16-month hiatus.

Legal battle concluded with police clearing him of charges

This comeback follows the recent conclusion of a legal battle. The controversy began last year when the bereaved family of the late Kim Sae-ron claimed that Kim Soo-hyun had been in a relationship with her since she was a minor. The issue escalated when the YouTube channel 'Garo Sero Institute' released related voice recordings, prompting Kim to hold a press conference to refute the allegations, stating that the relationship began only after Kim Sae-ron had reached adulthood. During this process, the release of the Disney+ original series 'Knock-off,' which was being filmed at the time, was also delayed.

The case was settled at the police investigation stage. While the family of Kim Sae-ron filed charges against Kim Soo-hyun for violations of the Child Welfare Act and other offenses, Kim's legal team countered that the voice recordings provided by the family were manipulated using AI. The police decided not to transfer the case to the prosecution due to insufficient evidence. Meanwhile, Kim Se-ui, the head of Garo Sero Institute who released the video, has been indicted and is currently in custody for violating the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation). Having cleared his legal hurdles, Kim Soo-hyun, who was appointed as a model for BENCH last month, is now resuming his full-scale activities through this fan meeting.

K-stars expanding their reach centered on the Philippines

Actor Jisoo is also continuing her activities with a focus on the Philippines. Jisoo recently attended a brand event held at the SM Mall of Asia in Manila. She is active as an actress under GMA, the largest broadcaster in the Philippines, and consistently appears in local dramas and variety shows. In 2021, during her appearance in the KBS2 drama 'Moon in the Day,' Jisoo stepped down from the production following school violence allegations and subsequently terminated her exclusive contract with KeyEast. Later, following a legal dispute with the production company over reshooting costs, a ruling was made that KeyEast must pay approximately 880 million KRW in damages.

Jisoo revealed that she has been studying English to facilitate her activities in the Philippines and has now reached a level of proficiency that allows her to work there without difficulty. The Philippines is a market where the influence of K-content is powerful, serving as a gateway for stars who have had hiatuses in Korea to expand their reach through a local fanbase. Through his role as a BENCH model and this upcoming fan meeting, Kim Soo-hyun will broaden his connection with fans for the first time in 16 months and continue his professional momentum.