Can Kim Soo-hyun work his way back to the spotlight?

MANILA, Philippines – The highly successful drama series Queen of Tears further solidified Kim Soo-hyun’s status as a Korean superstar and a bankable lead actor. 

It was one of the most watched Netflix shows of the past year, garnering 860.4 million hours viewed for the entire 2024. 

But Kim Soo-hyun, 37, sees his life turned upside down a year after the Queen of Tears phenomenon following allegations that he dated late actress Kim Sae-ron as a minor.

One of the highest-paid Korean actors, Kim Soo-hyun has since lost multiple brand deals and is nowhere near returning to professional work; the pristine image that he shaped throughout his near two-decade career now tarnished.

Can Kim Soo-hyun work his way back to the spotlight?

Scandals can destroy careers in Korean entertainment.

Actor Kim Ji Soo has taken his act to the Philippines after accusations that he was a bully in high school, a revelation that cost him the lead role in the 2021 series River Where the Moon Rises.

Starring in the first six episodes, Kim Ji Soo was removed from the cast and later on replaced even as he apologized for his “past misconduct.” 

Kim Ji Soo moved to the Philippines and signed with Sparkle GMA Artist Center in August, appearing in local shows Black Rider and Abot-Kamay Na Pangarap.

Even Kim Soo-hyun’s co-star in the 2021 hit series It’s Okay To Not Be Okay, Seo Ye-ji, was embroiled in controversy as she was accused of school bullying and mistreatment of staff at work, among other allegations. 

After starring in the 2022 series Eve, Seo went on a two-year hiatus. 

Seo resumed activities only in 2024 and has since endorsed French luxury brand Longchamp and Korean fashion brand Nick Nicole. 

But Kim Soo-hyun’s case may be more complicated as it involves not just him allegedly grooming Kim Sae-Ron when she was underage. More seriously, he’s being linked to her death.

Just 24 years old, Kim Sae-ron was found dead after a suspected suicide on February 16, which incidentally is Kim Soo-hyun’s birthday.

Kim Sae-ron was an award-winning child actress whose budding career took a hit following a drunk-driving incident in 2022 that left her in a mountain of debt.

Although Kim Soo-hyun vehemently denied dating Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor, with his management Gold Medalist saying the two were in a relationship from 2019 to 2020 after she became a legal adult, the damage is done. 

Italian luxury fashion house Prada terminated its contract with Kim Soo-hyun, while Korean bakery franchise Tous les Jours and French outdoor brand Eider, among others, have distanced themselves from the actor. 

Also, the release of Kim Soo-hyun’s Disney+ series Knock Off that was initially scheduled to air this April has been pushed back.

There seems to be no end in sight for the controversy as Kim Soo-hyun’s legal team filed a civil lawsuit against Kim Sae-ron’s family and the operators of the YouTube channel Hoverlab, which released videos claiming that Kim Soo-hyun began dating Kim Sae-ron when she was just 15.

According to The Korean Times, Kim Soo-hyun’s camp is also seeking 12 billion won in damages. 

Kim Soo-hyun denied the claims and said the presented evidences in the videos were fabricated. 

“I did not date the deceased when she was a minor. And it is also not true that the deceased made a tragic choice because of me turning a blind eye,” a tearful Kim Soo-hyun said in a press conference on March 31. 

With Kim Soo-hyun engaging in a legal battle, it is uncertain when he will get back to work, with brands and production companies expected to stay away to avoid public backlash.

Kim Soo-hyun, though, vowed to absolve himself.

“I will not ask you to believe me. I will definitely prove it,” he said. – Rappler.com