Is Kim Soo Hyun Making a Comeback with Bench?

Kim Soo Hyun may be preparing for his first public-facing activity since becoming embroiled in a controversy last year—and it will be with a Filipino brand.

On June 8, Korean media outlet YTN reported that the actor will participate in a print ad shoot for local fashion retailer Bench. In response, his agency Gold Medalist confirmed to Soompi: "Kim Soo Hyun will participate in a print advertisement shoot for the leading Philippine fashion brand Bench on July 14."

If the campaign proceeds as scheduled, it would mark Kim Soo Hyun's first official activity since stepping back from the spotlight amid controversy over allegations about his relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron.

The controversy erupted in March 2025 when YouTube channel HoverLab and its operator Kim Se-ui alleged that Kim Soo Hyun—who rose to global stardom through hit K-dramas like My Love from the Star, Dream High, It's Okay to Not Be Okay, and Queen of Tears—had been in a six-year relationship with Kim Sae Ron beginning in 2015, when she was 15 years old.

Additional allegations regarding debt collection and the actress' financial situation also circulated online. The actor denied dating Kim Sae Ron while she was a minor and later held a press conference to refute the claims, maintaining that any romantic relationship occurred only after she had reached adulthood.

Following the scandal, several brands reportedly ended their endorsement agreements with the actor, while Disney+ indefinitely postponed the release of his highly anticipated series Knock-Off.

In recent weeks, however, the case has taken another turn. According to South Korean police findings cited by YTN and other Korean media outlets, investigators determined that key evidence circulated by Kim Se-ui had been manipulated. Authorities alleged that AI technology was used to alter voice recordings purportedly belonging to Kim Sae Ron and that KakaoTalk conversations presented as evidence had been fabricated.

Kim Se-ui was subsequently arrested and referred to prosecutors on charges that include the dissemination of false information. A court reportedly approved the arrest warrant, citing concerns about evidence destruction and the possibility of flight.

The developments have renewed public discussion around the role of AI-generated content and manipulated digital evidence in high-profile celebrity cases. They have also prompted renewed attention on Kim Soo Hyun's possible return to the spotlight, with the reported Bench campaign emerging as the first sign of his comeback.

Kim Soo Hyun has served as a Bench endorser since 2021. As of writing, Bench has yet to release an official announcement regarding the supposed campaign.