Kim Soo Hyun Resumes Entertainment Work With New BENCH Campaign

Kim Soo Hyun has resumed official entertainment work after a 16-month break from public activities, beginning with a new campaign for the Philippine fashion brand BENCH.

According to his agency Gold Medalist, the actor filmed a commercial and campaign photoshoot for BENCH in South Korea on July 14. The project marks his first confirmed professional schedule since he stepped away from regular entertainment activities in March 2025.

The return is significant because it places Kim back in front of the camera through a brand partnership rather than a drama set or public event. BENCH has worked with him as an ambassador since 2024, and the new shoot indicates that the company is continuing that relationship as his public schedule restarts.

A Measured Return Through Advertising

For Korean actors, advertising campaigns can serve as an early test of public and industry confidence. They involve visible brand approval, commercial planning, and coordinated publicity, but they are generally more controlled than a television premiere or large fan-facing event.

Kim’s hiatus followed allegations circulated in 2025 by Kim Se Ui, the operator of the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute. The claims centered on an alleged relationship involving the late actress Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor. Kim Soo Hyun and Gold Medalist denied the allegation, saying any relationship began only after she was an adult.

Gold Medalist later pursued legal action, filing a defamation complaint. Authorities subsequently concluded that materials presented in connection with the accusations, including recordings and messenger conversations, had been fabricated or manipulated, according to the source report. Kim Se Ui was later indicted and detained on charges related to spreading false information.

Advertiser Dispute Also Moves Forward

The actor’s return also comes as at least one related advertiser dispute appears to be moving toward resolution. The Seoul Central District Court reportedly recommended a settlement in a damages case filed by outdoor apparel brand Eider against Kim and Gold Medalist.

Eider had initially sought approximately 2.5 billion won, or about 1.8 million U.S. dollars, arguing that the controversy affected its brand image. After the allegations were found to be false, the company reportedly adjusted its position and sought the return of roughly 400 million won in model fees tied to the remaining contract period.

The court was reported to have viewed the revised claim as legally weak and recommended that both sides maintain the original advertising agreement while each side covers its own legal costs. While a recommendation is not the same as a final public judgment, it adds to the broader picture of Kim’s professional restart.

Attention Turns To Acting Comeback

With advertising activity now underway, attention is likely to shift back to Kim Soo Hyun’s delayed acting schedule. He is expected to appear in the Disney+ original series Knock-Off, a project that had reportedly paused release discussions while the controversy and legal process developed.

In the series, Kim plays Kim Sung Joon, a man who rises in the counterfeit goods market following the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The role is expected to offer a sharper and darker contrast with his widely known turn as Baek Hyun Woo in the hit romance drama Queen of Tears.

The BENCH campaign does not by itself settle every question about timing for Knock-Off or Kim’s broader promotional schedule. However, it is the clearest sign so far that his agency, advertisers, and production partners are beginning to move from legal and reputational uncertainty back toward regular entertainment planning.

For fans and industry observers, the next key development will be whether the actor’s advertising comeback is followed by confirmed release details for his drama work. For now, Kim Soo Hyun’s first official step back is commercial, carefully managed, and closely watched.