Kim Soo-hyun makes Jakarta appearance a year after Kim Sae-ron controversy, cleared by police

Actor Kim Soo Hyun appeared at Mahakarya RCTI 37, a live broadcast special marking the 37th anniversary of Indonesian broadcaster RCTI, in Jakarta on August 23. It marks his first official broadcast appearance in more than a year and his first major public schedule since he suspended most of his professional activities in 2025.

RCTI welcomed Kim Soo Hyun ahead of the broadcast through its official social media account, writing, "Kim Soo Hyun is here! Honestly, you can feel how much everyone has missed him. Welcome back." Footage from the event showed him greeting the crowd with waves, a thumbs-up and hand hearts during an onstage interview and other segments.

Kim Soo Hyun's activities were curtailed following a controversy that began in March 2025, weeks after actress Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her home in Seoul on Feb. 16, 2025, in what authorities ruled a suicide. She was 24.

On March 10, 2025, the YouTube channel HoverLab published a video alleging that Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae-ron had been in a romantic relationship for six years, beginning when she was 15 — below South Korea's age of consent, which is 16. The channel said its claims were based on a phone interview with a member of Kim Sae-ron's family, along with photos and alleged chat records. The allegations also included claims that Kim Sae-ron had worked at Kim Soo Hyun's agency in an unpaid capacity and that the agency later pressured her to repay a debt connected to a 2022 drunk-driving incident.

Kim Soo Hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, initially denied the allegations outright, then later acknowledged the two had dated, stating the relationship took place between the summer of 2019 and the fall of 2020, after Kim Sae-ron had turned 19, the legal age of adulthood in South Korea. Kim Sae-ron's family disputed this account, with an aunt of the late actress alleging the relationship had in fact lasted six years, beginning when she was a minor.

On March 31, 2025, Kim Soo Hyun held a press conference in Seoul, where he tearfully denied dating Kim Sae-ron while she was underage, stating, "I can't admit to something I didn't do." He said the two had dated for about a year, beginning after she became an adult, and rejected claims that his agency had pressured her over a debt. He also addressed why he had previously denied any relationship at all, saying he had been protecting the cast and production of the drama "Queen of Tears" at the time.

During the controversy, several brands, including Prada, cut ties with Kim Soo Hyun, and there were public calls online for a boycott of his work. He subsequently paused most of his professional activities.

In June 2025, Kim Se Ui, who operates the YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute, was detained and indicted on charges including defamation under South Korea's Information and Communications Network Act. Prosecutors allege that Kim Se Ui distributed edited KakaoTalk messages and a fabricated audio recording to support claims that Kim Soo Hyun had dated Kim Sae-ron for six years starting when she was 15. Those criminal proceedings remain ongoing, and this matter is separate from HoverLab's original video.

Kim Soo Hyun has not faced criminal charges in connection with the relationship allegations themselves. His appearance in Jakarta represents his return to public broadcast activity for the first time since the controversy began, though it is not clear whether this signals a broader resumption of his acting or endorsement work in South Korea.