What changed
2026-08-03 04:36 UTC → 2026-08-05 05:52 UTC ·
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Kim Soo‑Hyun was After being cleared of child‑welfare accusations on 29 July 2026 by Seoul’s Seongdong Police of any violation of the Child Welfare Act after forensic analysis proved the alleged audio was AI‑fabricated. 2026, Kim Soo‑Hyun’s comeback accelerated. A court later affirmed the police finding, ruling the evidence fabricated Seoul Central District Court hearing on 9 July saw clothing brand Eider withdraw its ₩2.5 billion claim and ending the legal dispute that had halted his career for over a year. The clearance enabled his return reduce its demand to public life. He had already appeared in a Philippine fashion‑brand commercial in roughly ₩400 million, seeking only unpaid modeling fees; judges hinted the suit could be dropped. On 14 July 2025 and he fronted a new BENCH Bench advertising campaign shot in the Philippines in mid‑July 2026. On 2 August 2026 he posted Philippines, with founder Ben Chan posting a greeting video on BENCH’s official social‑media accounts, saying, “I really missed you all… please look forward supportive Instagram message and behind‑the‑scenes photos. Industry insiders report about 40 film and drama scripts offered to what’s coming.” The clip quickly amassed over 110,000 views, sparked strong fan support, him, and drove fellow actor Jung Hae‑In publicly liked the denim jacket post. His endorsement sparked rapid sell‑outs of Bench items, and other items he wore fans organized a charity drive that donated 3,800 pieces of clothing to sell out. Kim’s legal team continues civil 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, Sae‑Ron and the Garo Sero Institute, and YouTuber Kim Se‑ui, who remains detained. He also faces civil claims for damages from several advertisers estimated at roughly 10 billion won. Industry sources report dozens of offers for future film and TV projects, though no schedule has been announced, and rumors link him to a lead role in Institute continue. Rumors persist that he may headline the Disney+ series “Knock‑Off.” His charitable donations and renewed advertising contracts signal a full return to acting and public engagements.