Kim Soo-hyun to shoot first ad campaign since controversy, faces ongoing lawsuits

South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun is set to return to the public eye with a new advertising campaign for the Philippine fashion brand Bench in July. This marks his first official public engagement in almost a year, following a period of controversy.

The controversy stemmed from allegations that Kim was dating actress Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor. This led to the suspension of several of his high-profile brand partnerships, including those with Italian fashion house Prada, Korean bakery Tous les Jours, and South Korean beauty brand Dinto.

Recently, South Korean police concluded that the evidence used to accuse the actor, such as KakaoTalk screenshots and audio recordings, was fabricated using artificial intelligence. This finding was intended to clear Kim's name regarding the allegations.

However, the actor's legal challenges are not entirely resolved. Lawsuits filed by former advertisers against Kim and his agency, Gold Medalist, are set to resume. A cosmetics company is seeking 2.8 billion won (approximately US$1.8 million) in damages, with a hearing scheduled for July 3 at Seoul Central District Court. A separate lawsuit from a health supplement company, valued at 3.96 billion Korean won, is also expected later in July.

In addition to defending himself against advertiser lawsuits, Kim Soo-hyun is also planning to pursue a civil damages claim against YouTuber Kim Se-eui, who operates the channel HoverLab. This claim, initially for 12 billion won, is reportedly being increased to 30 billion won. The YouTuber has been arrested and referred to prosecutors on multiple charges, including defamation and violations of South Korea's stalking and sexual crimes laws.