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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]

6 clusters · 35 sources · 28 days · First seen 30 days ago · Last updated 2 days ago

Categories: CULTURE · CRIME

Kim Soo Hyun cleared, returns with BENCH video

Entities: Kim Soo-hyun · Philippines · Kim Sae Ron · BENCH · Kim Soo Hyun

Overview

After being cleared of child‑welfare accusations on 29 July 2026, Kim Soo‑Hyun’s comeback accelerated. A Seoul Central District Court hearing on 9 July saw clothing brand Eider withdraw its ₩2.5 billion claim and reduce its demand to roughly ₩400 million, seeking only unpaid modeling fees; judges hinted the suit could be dropped.

On 14 July he fronted a new Bench advertising campaign shot in the Philippines, with founder Ben Chan posting a supportive Instagram message and behind‑the‑scenes photos. Industry insiders report about 40 film and drama scripts offered to him, and fellow actor Jung Hae‑In publicly liked the post.

His endorsement sparked rapid sell‑outs of Bench items, and fans organized a charity drive that donated 3,800 pieces of clothing to the Green Umbrella welfare group, creating 1,900 full sets for children in need. Participants hailed from 114 countries.

A fan meet in Manila, organized with Bench, was announced for 2 October, marking his first live appearance since the scandal. Civil claims from other advertisers total roughly ₩10 billion, and defamation actions against the family of the late Kim Sae‑Ron and the Garo Sero Institute continue. Rumors persist that he may headline the Disney+ series “Knock‑Off.”

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 7 SOURCES] Seongdong Police Station decided not to forward the case against Kim Soo Hyun for alleged Child Welfare Act violation and false accusations. (Police decision not to prosecute.)
[● 7 SOURCES] Investigation found no evidence that Kim Soo Hyun dated Kim Sae Ron while she was underage. (Police investigation result.)
[● 7 SOURCES] The voice recording presented as evidence was fabricated using artificial‑intelligence technology. (Forensic audio analysis.)
[● 5 SOURCES] Kim Se Ui, operator of the Garo Sero Institute YouTube channel, was arrested and indicted on defamation and related charges. (Police arrest report.)
[● 5 SOURCES] The accusations were initiated by the family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron and YouTuber Kim Se Ui. (Accusers' claim)
[● 4 SOURCES] Kim Soo Hyun filmed a commercial for a Philippine fashion brand in July 2025. (Media reports of his comeback.)
[● 3 SOURCES] Kim Soo Hyun filed a defamation lawsuit against Kim Se Ui. (Legal filing reported.)
[● 3 SOURCES] Kim Soo Hyun appeared in a Bench brand video released on 2 August, greeting fans and saying he missed them. (Video release described in all three articles)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Bench video featuring Kim Soo Hyun received over 110 000 views on the day it was posted. (Reported in article d4e042d1‑ba47‑48ec‑a678‑49131d4738d0)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Kim Soo Hyun has received approximately 40 offers for film and television projects since his legal clearance. (Stated in article d4e042d1‑ba47‑48ec‑a678‑49131d4738d0)

Timeline

2 days ago

[CULTURE] 2 sources
Kim Soo-hyun Returns to Philippines for Fan Meet After Underage Dating Allegations Cleared
Kim Soo-hyun, cleared of underage dating allegations, will hold a fan meet in Manila on Oct 2, promoted with a Bench video campaign, ending a 16‑month hiatus.
5 days ago

[CULTURE] 16 sources
Kim Soo Hyun Returns in BENCH Video After Being Cleared of Child‑Welfare Charges
Actor Kim Soo Hyun, cleared of child‑welfare charges, returns after 1 yr 4 mo with a BENCH video greeting; fans respond positively, but civil lawsuits remain.
9 days ago

[CRIME] 10 sources
Kim Soo Hyun cleared of child‑welfare law allegations in South Korea
South Korean police cleared actor Kim Soo Hyun of child‑welfare law violations after finding no evidence and identifying the alleged audio recording as AI‑fabricated; his defamation suit proceeds.
15 days ago

[CULTURE] 2 sources
Kim Soo-hyun's comeback fuels fashion sales and fan charity drive
Kim Soo-hyun returns with a fashion endorsement that sold out twice, fans launch a global charity clothing drive, and the actor continues to face legal fallout from AI‑fabricated evidence.
25 days ago

[CULTURE] 17 sources
Kim Soo Hyun Returns to Acting with Bench Campaign After Scandal
Kim Soo Hyun returns to the spotlight with a Bench ad campaign after legal clearance of underage‑dating accusations, sparking industry interest and about 40 new script offers.
30 days ago

[CULTURE] 2 sources
Actor Kim Soo Hyun’s Lawsuit Overturned as Brand Eider Cuts Claim
South Korean court saw brand Eider slash its ₩2.5 billion claim against actor Kim Soo Hyun to ₩400 million after YouTuber accusations were debunked and the actor was cleared of allegations.

Sources

afamily.vn · baogiaothong.vn · biz.heraldcorp.com · blog.nfb.ca · bollywoodlife.com · cinemacafe.net · diamond.jp · ekr.chosunonline.com · entertainment.inquirer.net · exitoina.perfil.com · folgefonnsenteret.no · koreaboo.com · koreaherald.com · koreastardaily.com · koreatimes.co.kr · lifestyle.sindonews.com · lubicsszilvi.webnode.hu · lucidadvice.com · m.afamily.vn · news.donga.com · news.heraldcorp.com · news18.com · nme-jp.com · nowjakarta.co.id · pannchoa.com · primeirojornal.com.br · rbbtoday.com · revistakoreain.com.br · soha.vn · star.ettoday.net · stv.seoul.co.kr · tenasia.hankyung.com · tuoitre.vn · unniepop.cl · zapzee.net

This summary has been updated 7 times: see revision history