Kim Soo-hyun once again proves that his popularity knows no borders. â¤ď¸ After a period away from the spotlight, his return to activities is once again drawing attention from fans around the world. đâ¨
No. 1 in the Star Ranking for the 177th edition â a result that says everything about the love and support he continues to receive. đđ¤
Congratulations, Kim Soo-hyun! May this be just the beginning of an extraordinary comeback! đŤśđťđĽ
Tomorrow, the lawsuit filed against Kim Se-eui by actor Kim Soo-hyun will also take place.
The first trial hearing of Kim Se-eui, who has been accused of spreading false information about YouTuber Tzuyang, has been delayed by nearly four months.
First trial hearing for Kim Se-eui over false claims about YouTuber Tzuyang delayed by nearly four months
The first trial hearing of Kim Se-eui, head of the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, who has been indicted for allegedly spreading false information about Park Jeong-won, known as YouTuber Tzuyang, is set to begin.
Seoul Central District Court Judge Jung Ah-young of Criminal Division 20 will hold the first hearing in Kimâs case at 11:10 a.m. on the 13th. Kim is accused of defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, violating the anti-stalking law, and making threats.
Investigators found that Kim allegedly produced and distributed content containing details about Tzuyangâs private life and attempted to generate revenue through donations made to a sponsorship account. He is also accused of pressuring Park to broadcast an explanation regarding his allegations and of maliciously defaming her.
Prosecutors indicted Kim without detention in April. Since then, however, Kim has been detained in connection with separate allegations that he spread false information claiming, among other things, that the death of actress Kim Sae-ron was caused by financial pressure from actor Kim Soo-hyun.
The court had originally scheduled the first hearing for April 20, but the trial was delayed for nearly four months after Kim changed lawyers and repeatedly submitted requests to postpone the hearings.
At a hearing scheduled for June, Kim submitted a request for the proceedings to be held privately and did not appear, saying, âThere are terrorist threats, and there are unstable people in the detention center, so I am being cautious.â
Judge Jung stated, âI did not approve the postponement, but you failed to appear,â and warned that if Kim failed to appear again, the court would consider issuing an arrest warrant to compel his attendance at the next hearing.
ăPopular Korean Netizen Commentsă [2026.08.10, EXCLUSIVE]
âAccused by Kim Soo-hyunâs fans of damaging his reputation⌠YouTuber, a former comedian, partially referred to the prosecutionâ
â ď¸ Kim Sae-ronâs bereaved family is finally going to be referred to the prosecution, just as so many people wanted đâ ď¸
âď¸ Top comments
âśď¸ The person behind this whole scheme has finally been referred to the prosecution. Now weâre waiting for the news that the rest of the bereaved family members will also be referred.
âśď¸ The news keeps coming one after another. Is the bereaved family next?
âśď¸ I really want to see the news that the bereaved family has been referred to the prosecution. When are those people going to be referred? How come thereâs still no news about the main perpetrators, when theyâre clearly the worst offenders? That womanâs mother keeps posting pictures on Instagram and going out having fun. What kind of mother behaves like that?
âśď¸ Kim Soo-hyun was already cleared with no suspicion of wrongdoing. What the hell are they talking about when they keep mentioning âsuspicions of a relationshipâ?
âśď¸ Reporter, the so-called suspicions were already closed with a finding of no wrongdoing. Why are you still causing secondary harm to the victim? Donât you read the other news reports?
âśď¸ What do you mean by âsuspicionâ? The case was cleared with no suspicion a long time ago. What is wrong with this reporter, writing an article without updating the information? Please correct the article and stop subjecting the victim to secondary victimization. Although Iâm angry that someone who committed such acts is only being referred without detention, at least now that theyâre going to court, I hope they receive the maximum punishment they deserve!
âśď¸ No, seriously, reporter, what do you mean by âsuspicionâ? It was already determined that there was no suspicion, so why is the article written like this? The upcoming trial is simply about determining how many years Kim Se-ui and the other people who were referred will be sentenced to. It has absolutely nothing to do with Kim Soo-hyun. And yet youâre still talking about âsuspicionâ? Do you not fact-check before writing an article? Or is your comprehension the problem?
âśď¸ I hope the bereaved family members are referred to the prosecution too!!!
âśď¸ Kwon Young-chan, the person who initially started the Kim Sae-ron case. That despicable person who introduced Kim Se-ui to the bereaved family. The entire criminal scheme needs to be thoroughly investigated, including his collusion with the bereaved family and their attempt to target a celebrityâs assets. He needs to receive the punishment he deserves. The results of the investigation into the bereaved family should be coming out soon too, right? Iâm looking forward to it. Hopefully, theyâll be referred under detention!
âśď¸ YouTuber Kwon Young-chană ă I hope you get a cell next to Se-ui!ă ă ă ă How serious must the defamation have been for him to be referred to the prosecution?ă ă ă ă The trolls should probably start receiving lawsuits too by now.
âśď¸ The result finally came out. Compared to that, Iâm extremely curious about the results of the investigation into the bereaved family.
âśď¸ Come on, all you idiots who still believe what the bereaved family says, if you still claim to believe them even after seeing that even their spokesperson has been referred to the prosecution, then thereâs something seriously wrong with your intelligence. Got it?
Kim Soo-hyun Returns to No. 1 in the Weekly âStardom Chartâ Ranking
South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has returned to the top of the weekly actorsâ ranking on the âStardom Chart.â
In the ranking for the first week of August 2026, covering the period from August 3 to August 9, Kim Soo-hyun received 21,200 votes, securing first place once again.
His return to the top comes just one week after he temporarily lost the No. 1 position to Cha Eun-woo. Kim Soo-hyun had previously held the top spot for three consecutive weeks, before giving up the position in the final week of July.
With this weekâs result, Kim Soo-hyun quickly reclaimed the lead in the actorsâ ranking. He finished 6,832 votes ahead of Cha Eun-woo, who received 14,368 votes and placed second.
The result highlights Kim Soo-hyunâs continued popularity among fans and his strong position in the âStardom Chartâ rankings.
From my perspective, chasing after and digging up things that have no news value for society, then publicizing them and encouraging people to swarm someone and condemn them, is not the right thing to do. It is not necessary either. It is not my job, and it is something I should not be doing.
Kim Sae-ron died by suicide earlier this year, and the public, who had previously thrown stones at her, began unconsciously looking for someone to shift all the blame onto, in order to ease their own sense of guilt. Then the deceasedâs bizarre family joined forces with Gaseyeon, one of the worst criminal groups, and, using completely fabricated falsehoods, singled out an innocent man and attacked him with lies. The public once again eagerly piled on, beginning to trample on his reputation and dignity.
The public and the media needed to find a scapegoat in order to once again absolve themselves of the cruel violence they had repeatedly inflicted. Therefore, they were already willing to believe even crude arguments filled with fabricated evidence and contradictions. Gaseyeon, which understands the psychology of the public all too well, had little difficulty destroying the victimâs character through sloppy manipulation of evidence and distortion of facts.
Why did this happen? How was something like this possible? How is it that, even though Kim Se-eui presents ridiculous, fabricated evidence and tells blatant lies that anyone could easily recognize as such, the media simply repeats his claims, the public believes what the media reports about Gaseyeon, and even investigative authorities approach the case with prejudice, influenced by public opinion?
The fake part-time job controversy involving Kim Sae-ron during her lifetime, the uploading of wedding photos from the United States, drinking parties during the period when she was refraining from alcohol, and so on. Each time, people would follow her around, criticize and insult Kim Sae-ron, click on the news, and the condemnation they had harbored toward her in their minds eventually became intertwined with Koreaâs unique cultural practice of treating the dead as untouchable. In order to relieve their collective sense of guilt, the public once again began searching for a scapegoat, thinking, âAs long as it isnât me.â
There is a major difference between these cases: Kim Sae-ron had made mistakes during her lifetime, whereas the man who was unfairly victimized after her death had done nothing wrong. Yet despite this fundamental difference, the overall principles and methods of the barbarity and violence with which the public treats these celebrities are essentially the same.
What should we have done? What should we reflect on? We should have held the deceased accountable for the wrongs she committed during her lifetime only to the extent warranted by those wrongs, criticized her accordingly, and allowed her to be punished through the judicial process and to make full restitution through civil proceedings. By doing so, she would have fulfilled her responsibility, and that should have been the end of it.
Whether she worked at a coffee shop or not, whether she uploaded photos to social media or not, whether someone posted those things on YouTube or not--if people had simply not watched them and the media had not reported on them, perhaps the butterfly effect of all this would not have come full circle after her death, leading to the barbarity and violence of repeatedly shifting the blame onto different people, searching for scapegoats, and crushing them.
Today, I gave a long speech that was not originally planned. But broadly speaking, my position is that I comment on and criticize peopleâs actions from a legal perspective. Whenever possible, I have no intention of hating the person themselves or, even if I do hate them privately, publicly condemning them in front of tens of thousands of people.
And fundamentally, this position applies even to someone like Kim Se-eui.
In fact, I wish there had been no need for me to step forward to this extent, harshly criticize him, and repeatedly condemn him so strongly.
If South Koreaâs judicial and administrative regulatory systems had functioned properly, someone as terrible as this could never have emerged in the first place, and he would have been isolated from society long ago.
If that had happened, there would have been no need for me to step forward and criticize and condemn these people, or to call for investigations and punishment.
The reason I strongly criticize Kim Se-eui is that the judicial system and mechanisms of checks and accountability are not functioning. That is exactly what was discussed at the National Assembly audit the day before yesterday.
If Kim Se-eui is arrested, receives the punishment he deserves for all the wrongdoing he has committed up to now, is isolated from society, and is driven out of the YouTube world, I will have no reason to ever mention such a lowlife again.
The term âcyber wreckingâ is not enough to encompass the full extent of Kim Se-euiâs wrongdoing. He is no different from an organized crime gangster who threatens people with a knife, saying he will kill them, and systematically extorts money from them.
The Kim Se-eui đ˘ Kim Soo-hyun Case Enters a New Phase
Kim Se-euiâs case has reached the courts after the Gangnam Police Department referred the case to the prosecution, where charges were subsequently filed against him.
In Kim Soo-hyunâs case, however, the investigation conducted by the Seongdong Police Department concluded with a âno chargesâ result.
The significant development came after the Gangnam Police Department received the results of the investigation concerning Kim Soo-hyun. Following this, the Gangnam authorities launched a new investigation, this time into suspected âmu-goâ (ëŹ´ęł ) in connection with Kim Se-eui.
In other words, the sequence of events is clear: Kim Se-eui was sent to trial, the investigation into Kim Soo-hyun concluded without charges, and subsequently, the Gangnam Police Department began investigating suspected false accusation (âmu-goâ) in relation to Kim Se-eui.
This development marks a shift in the direction of the case: following the conclusion of the investigation into Kim Soo-hyun, the attention of the Gangnam authorities has now turned toward the allegation of âmu-goâ involving Kim Se-eui.
⨠Kim Soo-hyun is officially stepping back into the spotlight!
After a difficult period and the controversies of recent months, Kim Soo-hyun has confirmed his first official public appearance. On August 23, he will be in Jakarta as a special guest on âMahakarya RCTI 37,â a special anniversary show celebrating RCTIâs 37th year since its establishment.
This is a major annual entertainment event in Indonesia, broadcast during prime time and bringing together some of the countryâs biggest names in acting and music. The show will be streamed simultaneously on television, the RCTI+ platform, and MNC Groupâs digital channels.
Kim Soo-hyunâs appearance is expected to be more than just a brief stage appearance. According to the reports, he will take part in interviews and may also perform special segments together with popular Indonesian artists.
What makes this invitation particularly significant is that it comes from MNC Group, Indonesiaâs largest media group, as part of an initiative focused on cooperation with the Korean entertainment industry. Kim Soo-hyun has maintained a very strong presence and popularity throughout Southeast Asia, and this invitation can be seen as another sign of his continued international influence.
In other words, on August 23, Kim Soo-hyun will make his first major official appearance following the controversies, on one of Indonesiaâs biggest entertainment stages. â¤ď¸âđĽ
May this be the beginning of his well-deserved comeback and another chapter filled with great projects, unforgettable performances, and the recognition he truly deserves đŤśđťâ¤ď¸â¤ď¸â¤ď¸
YouTuber Kwon Young-chan Referred to Prosecutors for Defaming Kim Soo-hyun: âIntent to Defame and Awareness of Falsehoods Recognizedâ
Published: August 10, 2026,
Comedian-turned-YouTuber Kwon Young-chan, who is accused of damaging actor Kim Soo-hyunâs reputation by spreading false information about him, has been referred to prosecutors.
According to an exclusive report by Money Today on August 10, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station referred Kwon Young-chan to the Seoul Central District Prosecutorsâ Office without detention on July 22. He is accused of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, specifically in relation to defamation.
Police reportedly determined that Kwon had spread the allegations with the intention of defaming Kim Soo-hyun, despite being aware that the information he discussed on his broadcasts could be false.
In particular, police pointed out that, apart from photographic materials allegedly provided to Kwon by the family of the late Kim Sae-ron, he did not independently verify the specific facts behind his claims.
Police told Money Today: âKwon broadcast the information as if he had confirmed the facts accurately,â adding, âIt appears that he had the intention of defaming Kim Soo-hyun.â
Kwon is accused of discussing Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron during live broadcasts on his YouTube channel between March and April last year, presenting as fact claims that Kim Soo-hyun had allegedly groomed the late Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor and had a sexual relationship with her.
Previously, on April 30 last year, Kim Soo-hyunâs Korean and global fan alliance filed a complaint against Kwon Young-chan and more than 100 people, including individuals accused of posting malicious comments, on charges of defamation.
At the time, attorney Yang Tae-young of the law firm Doa, who represented the fan alliance, explained:
âWe decided to file these complaints because we could no longer stand by while Kim Soo-hyun was subjected to continuous malicious attacks, the spread of false information, defamation, and personal insults.â
Kwon Young-chan has denied the allegations. He reportedly argued that if the accusations of defamation against Kim Soo-hyun were truly valid, there would be no reason for fans, rather than the person directly involved, to file complaints. He also maintained that the information he broadcast was ânot false.â
However, during the investigation, police rejected Kwonâs claims and determined that the allegations against him were substantiated, leading to the case being referred to prosecutors.
The prosecution will now review the police investigation and related materials before deciding whether to formally indict him.
Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun largely suspended his activities last year after allegations emerged in March that he had been in a relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron while she was still a minor.
Kim Soo-hyunâs side has acknowledged that the two were in a relationship but has consistently denied that the relationship began while Kim Sae-ron was a minor, maintaining that they began dating after she had reached adulthood.
In May last year, the late Kim Sae-ronâs family filed a complaint against Kim Soo-hyun, including allegations of violating the Child Welfare Act. However, police recently determined that the allegations were not substantiated and decided not to forward the case, concluding that there was âno suspicion of wrongdoing.â
Following that decision, Kim Soo-hyunâs side also emphasized that the investigation had found no grounds for allegations that he had dated Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor or committed sexual abuse or other violations of the Child Welfare Act.
Next Thursday, Kim Se-eui, who is already a convicted felon, is scheduled to stand trial in connection with the Tzuyang case (including allegations of blackmail, stalking, defamation, etc.).
The very next day, Friday, he is scheduled to appear in court in connection with actor Kim Soo-hyun (including allegations of violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, stalking, defamation, and more).
After targeting Tzuyang and now going after our actor as well⌠At this point, heâs a habitual offender.
I hope he gets a very severe aggravated sentence!
Because of you, this summer hasnât been completely annoying. When I think about you suffering through the heat behind bars, all battered and miserable, it actually makes me laugh. lol
Next Thursday, Kim Se-eui, who is already a convicted felon, is scheduled to stand trial in connection with the Tzuyang case (including allegations of blackmail, stalking, defamation, etc.).
The very next day, Friday, he is scheduled to appear in court in connection with actor Kim Soo-hyun (including allegations of violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, stalking, defamation, and more).
After targeting Tzuyang and now going after our actor as well⌠At this point, heâs a habitual offender.
I hope he gets a very severe aggravated sentence!
Because of you, this summer hasnât been completely annoying. When I think about you suffering through the heat behind bars, all battered and miserable, it actually makes me laugh. lol
Kim Soo-hyun Confirms a 20,000-Seat Fan Meeting in the Philippines⌠Resumes Global Activities
Published on 2026.08.06 at 16:54
Actor Kim Soo-hyun will resume his global activities by holding a large-scale fan meeting in the Philippines.
On October 2, Kim Soo-hyun will hold a fan meeting in the Philippines titled âFOREVER WITH YOU.â The event will accommodate approximately 20,000 people and is designed to give him the opportunity to meet in person with Filipino fans who have shown him unwavering love for a long time.
Kim Soo-hyun plans to communicate with his fans by preparing a variety of events, as well as colorful performances and talks.
The fan meeting is drawing attention as it is the first major overseas event confirmed after police decided not to indict Kim Soo-hyun for violating the Child Welfare Act.
After completing an investigation into the allegations raised on the 29th of last month, police concluded that the allegations could not be proven and closed the case.
Kim Soo-hyunâs global influence is being reaffirmed through his activities in the local market. In a recent collection released in collaboration with leading Philippine lifestyle brand Bench, he quickly sold out key items.
Analyses suggest that successfully hosting a fan meeting attended by 20,000 people demonstrated the strength of his brand and his popularity in the local market.
After resolving his legal issues, Kim Soo-hyun is expanding his reach globally by successfully completing advertising campaigns, followed by overseas fan meetings.
Through an advertising campaign that continued a series of strong sales and by hosting a large-scale fan meeting, his company has reaffirmed his popularity in the Philippine market.
Kim Soo-hyun suspended his activities last year after becoming involved in allegations that he had been in a relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor.
Kim Soo-hyunâs side denied the allegations, stating, âThe relationship began after Kim Sae-ron became an adult,â and filed a lawsuit against Kim Se-ui, the operator of the YouTube channel âGaro Sero Research Institute,â who raised the allegations, as well as the bereaved family, on charges of defamation.
Police investigations revealed that some of the photographs and audio files submitted as evidence by Mr. Kim Se-uiâs side had been manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI), and that the history of message conversations had also been falsified.
Mr. Kim Se-ui was arrested and charged with offenses including defamation, violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, attempted coercion, and intimidation.
Over 350 million reactions: audiences continue to call for âKnockoffâ
Comments posted in recent hours reflect a growing sense of anticipation surrounding the production âKnockoff.â Beyond the short and repetitive messages, one thing is difficult to overlook: public interest remains strong and is being expressed with unusual intensity.
With more than 350 million reactions, these comments take on particular significance. This is not simply a handful of isolated messages, but a volume of engagement that shows âKnockoffâ continues to attract considerable attention even in the absence of an immediate release.
Ultimately, the message from audiences is simple and repeated in dozens of different ways: the anticipation has not faded. On the contrary, the comments suggest that, for a significant part of the audience, the question is no longer whether there is interest in âKnockoff,â but when they will finally be able to watch it.
â ď¸ Kim Soo-hyunâs return to CFs proves for himself that there is no wrongdoing for which he should be liable for damages
âKim Soo-hyun has resumed his activities. He has even held fan meetings and has started appearing on all broadcasts again.
Apparently, scripts for dramas and films are pouring in, and he is said to be reviewing around 40 scripts for his next project.
Why do I say that this has such great significance?
Because there are still people who keep talking nonsense and claiming that Kim Soo-hyun is guilty.
Let me make just one thing very clear!
Kim Soo-hyun has already gone through a lawsuit over penalty payments because of the Kim Se-eui case, and he must have gone through an extremely difficult and stressful time.
But the fact that Kim Soo-hyun has now resumed his television activities means:
đ âI am completely innocent.â đ
If he were actually guilty of something, could he have resumed doing CFs, appearing on broadcasts, and working on dramas again?
This time, from the advertisersâ perspective, I imagine they must have made the contracts much stricter. If I were in their position, I would have done the same.
If he were guilty, he wouldnât be able to resume his broadcasting activities because of the risk of having to pay damages!â
âWhat I think Kim Soo-hyun has done really well is this:
The fact that he has resumed working in CFs and on television is âď¸
      đ the âfinal destinationâ đ
âď¸ proving that Kim Soo-hyun is not guilty.
I believe that by appearing in CFs himself and returning to television, he has perfectly proven that there is no wrongdoing for which he would be liable to pay damages.
The fact that he has resumed his activities has enormous significance.
The reason I keep saying that his return to activities is so meaningful is that he was able to resume because Kim Soo-hyun is completely innocent! âď¸
He said that he would prove it himself, and I believe that Kim Soo-hyun has proven everything through his own actions.
He did an excellent job, and because Kim Soo-hyun endured and held on, people like me and others were able to continue fighting as we are now.
Congratulations Kim Soo Hyun on your return to modeling !!! Plus all the items sold out !!! Welcome back to the…
Don't let the haters get to you. Whenever they show up in your comments, just block them and move on. That's exactly what they want: attention and a reaction.
Let them complain on their own, we've got better things to do. Let's enjoy the moment and celebrate our beloved KSH đđđđâ¤ď¸âđĽâ¤ď¸âđĽâ¤ď¸âđĽ
I came across this post (itâs not mine), but the person expressed themselves so beautifully that I just wanted to share it and let you read it.
â Kim Soo-hyun as seen by a fan of another idol during the Dream High era
I actually first saw Kim Soo-hyun in Will It Snow for Christmas? (Christmas Snow). At the time, I liked him because his voice was very charming, his eyes were so dark and, above all, he had a strong presence. To be honest, I donât think Kim Soo-hyun showed some kind of groundbreaking acting performance at that point. Cha Kang-jin was a character who kept all his emotions deeply buried inside and relied heavily on his eyes, so his acting had a rather consistent tone without many dramatic changes. Even in some scenes where he exploded emotionally, I could feel a little awkwardness.
But even when he was just speaking expressionlessly, in a low voice, almost mumbling, he had something that naturally made you wonder:
âWhat is he thinking right now?â
He had that kind of charm that made you focus on him.
I didnât watch Kimchi Cheese Smile or Giant because they werenât really my taste, so I only had that impression of him. Then I met Kim Soo-hyun again through Dream High.
When they built the set for Dream High and held the opening ceremony, many entertainment programs went there to cover it and interviewed the actors.
Of course, I was watching all those interviews because I wanted to see OO (the idol I was a fan of đ), but since Kim Soo-hyun appeared too, I watched his parts as well.
The other actors came in looking very serious, almost nervous and full of determination. But Kim Soo-hyun had this strangely relaxed, slightly clumsy and playful feeling, lol.
When he said something like:
âI heard theyâre holding the ceremony todayâŚâ he sounded as if someone in his neighborhood was having a party and he had just stopped by to see what was happening.
He seemed lighthearted, as if he was watching everything from a distance. But paradoxically, that actually gave the impression:
âIâm already fully prepared.â
He didnât seem careless at all. Instead, it strangely made me trust him.
And I thought:
âWait⌠is this really the same person I saw in Christmas Snow, the one who felt so heavy, dark, and quiet?â
It was such a refreshing surprise.
Then, during the Dream High press conference, because the drama itself was a huge topic thanks to the collaboration between Park Jin-young and Bae Yong-joon, there was a program that asked the actors to compare the two.
You could really feel that everyone was aware that Dream High was a collaboration between JYP and KeyEast, between Park Jin-young and Bae Yong-joon, and that it had become a kind of âbattleâ and comparison.
(The question was first directed to Kim Soo-hyun, and someone next to him jokingly shouted, âA showdown~â or something like that.)
Kim Soo-hyun was sitting there quietly, then suddenly answered:
âFirst of all⌠President Bae Yong-joon has⌠longer hair.â đ
And he ended it with a playful expression:
âI love him.â
I donât think he was intentionally creating a funny moment or trying to manage his image, but it gave me the feeling that he wasnât focused on the external circumstances of the drama , the comparisons, the rivalry, or the surrounding hype. He was simply focused on the drama itself.
Lastly, about that two-part interview that someone shared today: even though I was a fan of OO, there was something that had been bothering me a little since Dream High started its official promotions.
I had heard that from the early planning stages of the drama, Kim Soo-hyun had already been cast and that he had been preparing for it carefully for a very long time.
But once promotions began, the focus was overwhelmingly on the idols.
OO did the greetings, OO introduced the drama, and whenever they talked about the main characters, the spotlight went to the idol members again.
Even during the opening ceremony and the press conference, I wasnât sure whether Kim Soo-hyun even got much interview time because most of his parts were cut. Even when articles came out, they mostly talked about the idols, Park Jin-young, and Bae Yong-joon.
If I were Kim Soo-hyun, I think I would have felt a little upset.
He must have considered this drama as âmy projectâ, something he had prepared for and invested so much time into. And as a human being, it would have been natural for him to want recognition.
Around him, there were people who only paid attention to the idols, and others who criticized the drama, saying it would fail because of them.
If he had become impatient or let those feelings turn negative, he could have thought:
âSeriously? This drama means so much to me, and these idols who donât even know what theyâre doing are ruining everything.â
But he didnât.
He had exactly the right balance between humility and confidence.
That made him seem trustworthy, cheerful, and made me even more excited for what was to come.
During Christmas Snow, he was simply an actor who made me think:
âWhy do I keep looking at him? Why am I so curious about him?â
But even before the story had properly unfolded, regardless of his screen time, his characterâs share of the drama, or the romance storyline, I felt that among the young actors around OOâs age, OO had gained a good friend â someone who could help him, support him, and bring him comfort.
It was wonderful to meet again an actor I had only vaguely liked before, but who had grown into someone much more relaxed and mature.
I hope that for both Kim Soo-hyun and OO, this drama becomes another opportunity for them to grow tremendously.
And somehow, I feel that Dream High might also become the moment when he gains âa fellow actor friend who truly matches well with him.â
Of course, Dream High itself is exciting, but Iâm also really looking forward to seeing how the relationship between Sam-dong and OO develops.
âHe has the perfect balance between humility and confidence.â
That one sentence explains everything.
14 years have passed, but whether then or now, Kim Soo-hyun is still Kim Soo-hyun.
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Kim Soo-hyun once again proves that his popularity knows no borders. â¤ď¸ After a period away from the spotlight, his return to activities is once again drawing attention from fans around the world. đâ¨
No. 1 in the Star Ranking for the 177th edition â a result that says everything about the love and support he continues to receive. đđ¤
Congratulations, Kim Soo-hyun! May this be just the beginning of an extraordinary comeback! đŤśđťđĽ
#KimSooHyun #ęšěí #WeStandwithKimSooHyun
https://m.entertain.naver.com/home/article/108/0003461724
The first trial hearing of Kim Se-eui, who has been accused of spreading false information about YouTuber Tzuyang, has been delayed by nearly four months.
First trial hearing for Kim Se-eui over false claims about YouTuber Tzuyang delayed by nearly four months
The first trial hearing of Kim Se-eui, head of the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, who has been indicted for allegedly spreading false information about Park Jeong-won, known as YouTuber Tzuyang, is set to begin.
Seoul Central District Court Judge Jung Ah-young of Criminal Division 20 will hold the first hearing in Kimâs case at 11:10 a.m. on the 13th. Kim is accused of defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, violating the anti-stalking law, and making threats.
Investigators found that Kim allegedly produced and distributed content containing details about Tzuyangâs private life and attempted to generate revenue through donations made to a sponsorship account. He is also accused of pressuring Park to broadcast an explanation regarding his allegations and of maliciously defaming her.
Prosecutors indicted Kim without detention in April. Since then, however, Kim has been detained in connection with separate allegations that he spread false information claiming, among other things, that the death of actress Kim Sae-ron was caused by financial pressure from actor Kim Soo-hyun.
The court had originally scheduled the first hearing for April 20, but the trial was delayed for nearly four months after Kim changed lawyers and repeatedly submitted requests to postpone the hearings.
At a hearing scheduled for June, Kim submitted a request for the proceedings to be held privately and did not appear, saying, âThere are terrorist threats, and there are unstable people in the detention center, so I am being cautious.â
Judge Jung stated, âI did not approve the postponement, but you failed to appear,â and warned that if Kim failed to appear again, the court would consider issuing an arrest warrant to compel his attendance at the next hearing.
https://n.news.naver.com/article/022/0004150669
âAccused by Kim Soo-hyunâs fans of damaging his reputation⌠YouTuber, a former comedian, partially referred to the prosecutionâ
â ď¸ Kim Sae-ronâs bereaved family is finally going to be referred to the prosecution, just as so many people wanted đâ ď¸
âď¸ Top comments
âśď¸ The person behind this whole scheme has finally been referred to the prosecution. Now weâre waiting for the news that the rest of the bereaved family members will also be referred.
âśď¸ The news keeps coming one after another. Is the bereaved family next?
âśď¸ I really want to see the news that the bereaved family has been referred to the prosecution. When are those people going to be referred? How come thereâs still no news about the main perpetrators, when theyâre clearly the worst offenders? That womanâs mother keeps posting pictures on Instagram and going out having fun. What kind of mother behaves like that?
âśď¸ Kim Soo-hyun was already cleared with no suspicion of wrongdoing. What the hell are they talking about when they keep mentioning âsuspicions of a relationshipâ?
âśď¸ Reporter, the so-called suspicions were already closed with a finding of no wrongdoing. Why are you still causing secondary harm to the victim? Donât you read the other news reports?
âśď¸ What do you mean by âsuspicionâ? The case was cleared with no suspicion a long time ago. What is wrong with this reporter, writing an article without updating the information? Please correct the article and stop subjecting the victim to secondary victimization. Although Iâm angry that someone who committed such acts is only being referred without detention, at least now that theyâre going to court, I hope they receive the maximum punishment they deserve!
âśď¸ No, seriously, reporter, what do you mean by âsuspicionâ? It was already determined that there was no suspicion, so why is the article written like this? The upcoming trial is simply about determining how many years Kim Se-ui and the other people who were referred will be sentenced to. It has absolutely nothing to do with Kim Soo-hyun. And yet youâre still talking about âsuspicionâ? Do you not fact-check before writing an article? Or is your comprehension the problem?
âśď¸ I hope the bereaved family members are referred to the prosecution too!!!
âśď¸ Kwon Young-chan, the person who initially started the Kim Sae-ron case. That despicable person who introduced Kim Se-ui to the bereaved family. The entire criminal scheme needs to be thoroughly investigated, including his collusion with the bereaved family and their attempt to target a celebrityâs assets. He needs to receive the punishment he deserves. The results of the investigation into the bereaved family should be coming out soon too, right? Iâm looking forward to it. Hopefully, theyâll be referred under detention!
âśď¸ YouTuber Kwon Young-chană ă I hope you get a cell next to Se-ui!ă ă ă ă How serious must the defamation have been for him to be referred to the prosecution?ă ă ă ă The trolls should probably start receiving lawsuits too by now.
âśď¸ The result finally came out. Compared to that, Iâm extremely curious about the results of the investigation into the bereaved family.
âśď¸ Come on, all you idiots who still believe what the bereaved family says, if you still claim to believe them even after seeing that even their spokesperson has been referred to the prosecution, then thereâs something seriously wrong with your intelligence. Got it?
South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has returned to the top of the weekly actorsâ ranking on the âStardom Chart.â
In the ranking for the first week of August 2026, covering the period from August 3 to August 9, Kim Soo-hyun received 21,200 votes, securing first place once again.
His return to the top comes just one week after he temporarily lost the No. 1 position to Cha Eun-woo. Kim Soo-hyun had previously held the top spot for three consecutive weeks, before giving up the position in the final week of July.
With this weekâs result, Kim Soo-hyun quickly reclaimed the lead in the actorsâ ranking. He finished 6,832 votes ahead of Cha Eun-woo, who received 14,368 votes and placed second.
The result highlights Kim Soo-hyunâs continued popularity among fans and his strong position in the âStardom Chartâ rankings.
https://m.entertain.naver.com/home/article/477/0000622917
Kim Sae-ron died by suicide earlier this year, and the public, who had previously thrown stones at her, began unconsciously looking for someone to shift all the blame onto, in order to ease their own sense of guilt. Then the deceasedâs bizarre family joined forces with Gaseyeon, one of the worst criminal groups, and, using completely fabricated falsehoods, singled out an innocent man and attacked him with lies. The public once again eagerly piled on, beginning to trample on his reputation and dignity.
The public and the media needed to find a scapegoat in order to once again absolve themselves of the cruel violence they had repeatedly inflicted. Therefore, they were already willing to believe even crude arguments filled with fabricated evidence and contradictions. Gaseyeon, which understands the psychology of the public all too well, had little difficulty destroying the victimâs character through sloppy manipulation of evidence and distortion of facts.
Why did this happen? How was something like this possible? How is it that, even though Kim Se-eui presents ridiculous, fabricated evidence and tells blatant lies that anyone could easily recognize as such, the media simply repeats his claims, the public believes what the media reports about Gaseyeon, and even investigative authorities approach the case with prejudice, influenced by public opinion?
The fake part-time job controversy involving Kim Sae-ron during her lifetime, the uploading of wedding photos from the United States, drinking parties during the period when she was refraining from alcohol, and so on. Each time, people would follow her around, criticize and insult Kim Sae-ron, click on the news, and the condemnation they had harbored toward her in their minds eventually became intertwined with Koreaâs unique cultural practice of treating the dead as untouchable. In order to relieve their collective sense of guilt, the public once again began searching for a scapegoat, thinking, âAs long as it isnât me.â
There is a major difference between these cases: Kim Sae-ron had made mistakes during her lifetime, whereas the man who was unfairly victimized after her death had done nothing wrong. Yet despite this fundamental difference, the overall principles and methods of the barbarity and violence with which the public treats these celebrities are essentially the same.
What should we have done? What should we reflect on?
We should have held the deceased accountable for the wrongs she committed during her lifetime only to the extent warranted by those wrongs, criticized her accordingly, and allowed her to be punished through the judicial process and to make full restitution through civil proceedings. By doing so, she would have fulfilled her responsibility, and that should have been the end of it.
Whether she worked at a coffee shop or not, whether she uploaded photos to social media or not, whether someone posted those things on YouTube or not--if people had simply not watched them and the media had not reported on them, perhaps the butterfly effect of all this would not have come full circle after her death, leading to the barbarity and violence of repeatedly shifting the blame onto different people, searching for scapegoats, and crushing them.
Today, I gave a long speech that was not originally planned. But broadly speaking, my position is that I comment on and criticize peopleâs actions from a legal perspective. Whenever possible, I have no intention of hating the person themselves or, even if I do hate them privately, publicly condemning them in front of tens of thousands of people.
And fundamentally, this position applies even to someone like Kim Se-eui.
In fact, I wish there had been no need for me to step forward to this extent, harshly criticize him, and repeatedly condemn him so strongly.
If South Koreaâs judicial and administrative regulatory systems had functioned properly, someone as terrible as this could never have emerged in the first place, and he would have been isolated from society long ago.
If that had happened, there would have been no need for me to step forward and criticize and condemn these people, or to call for investigations and punishment.
The reason I strongly criticize Kim Se-eui is that the judicial system and mechanisms of checks and accountability are not functioning. That is exactly what was discussed at the National Assembly audit the day before yesterday.
If Kim Se-eui is arrested, receives the punishment he deserves for all the wrongdoing he has committed up to now, is isolated from society, and is driven out of the YouTube world, I will have no reason to ever mention such a lowlife again.
The term âcyber wreckingâ is not enough to encompass the full extent of Kim Se-euiâs wrongdoing. He is no different from an organized crime gangster who threatens people with a knife, saying he will kill them, and systematically extorts money from them.
I sincerely hope that happens soon.,,
Kim Se-euiâs case has reached the courts after the Gangnam Police Department referred the case to the prosecution, where charges were subsequently filed against him.
In Kim Soo-hyunâs case, however, the investigation conducted by the Seongdong Police Department concluded with a âno chargesâ result.
The significant development came after the Gangnam Police Department received the results of the investigation concerning Kim Soo-hyun. Following this, the Gangnam authorities launched a new investigation, this time into suspected âmu-goâ (ëŹ´ęł ) in connection with Kim Se-eui.
In other words, the sequence of events is clear: Kim Se-eui was sent to trial, the investigation into Kim Soo-hyun concluded without charges, and subsequently, the Gangnam Police Department began investigating suspected false accusation (âmu-goâ) in relation to Kim Se-eui.
This development marks a shift in the direction of the case: following the conclusion of the investigation into Kim Soo-hyun, the attention of the Gangnam authorities has now turned toward the allegation of âmu-goâ involving Kim Se-eui.
After a difficult period and the controversies of recent months, Kim Soo-hyun has confirmed his first official public appearance. On August 23, he will be in Jakarta as a special guest on âMahakarya RCTI 37,â a special anniversary show celebrating RCTIâs 37th year since its establishment.
This is a major annual entertainment event in Indonesia, broadcast during prime time and bringing together some of the countryâs biggest names in acting and music. The show will be streamed simultaneously on television, the RCTI+ platform, and MNC Groupâs digital channels.
Kim Soo-hyunâs appearance is expected to be more than just a brief stage appearance. According to the reports, he will take part in interviews and may also perform special segments together with popular Indonesian artists.
What makes this invitation particularly significant is that it comes from MNC Group, Indonesiaâs largest media group, as part of an initiative focused on cooperation with the Korean entertainment industry. Kim Soo-hyun has maintained a very strong presence and popularity throughout Southeast Asia, and this invitation can be seen as another sign of his continued international influence.
In other words, on August 23, Kim Soo-hyun will make his first major official appearance following the controversies, on one of Indonesiaâs biggest entertainment stages. â¤ď¸âđĽ
May this be the beginning of his well-deserved comeback and another chapter filled with great projects, unforgettable performances, and the recognition he truly deserves đŤśđťâ¤ď¸â¤ď¸â¤ď¸
Published: August 10, 2026,
Comedian-turned-YouTuber Kwon Young-chan, who is accused of damaging actor Kim Soo-hyunâs reputation by spreading false information about him, has been referred to prosecutors.
According to an exclusive report by Money Today on August 10, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station referred Kwon Young-chan to the Seoul Central District Prosecutorsâ Office without detention on July 22. He is accused of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, specifically in relation to defamation.
Police reportedly determined that Kwon had spread the allegations with the intention of defaming Kim Soo-hyun, despite being aware that the information he discussed on his broadcasts could be false.
In particular, police pointed out that, apart from photographic materials allegedly provided to Kwon by the family of the late Kim Sae-ron, he did not independently verify the specific facts behind his claims.
Police told Money Today: âKwon broadcast the information as if he had confirmed the facts accurately,â adding, âIt appears that he had the intention of defaming Kim Soo-hyun.â
Kwon is accused of discussing Kim Soo-hyun and the late Kim Sae-ron during live broadcasts on his YouTube channel between March and April last year, presenting as fact claims that Kim Soo-hyun had allegedly groomed the late Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor and had a sexual relationship with her.
Previously, on April 30 last year, Kim Soo-hyunâs Korean and global fan alliance filed a complaint against Kwon Young-chan and more than 100 people, including individuals accused of posting malicious comments, on charges of defamation.
At the time, attorney Yang Tae-young of the law firm Doa, who represented the fan alliance, explained:
âWe decided to file these complaints because we could no longer stand by while Kim Soo-hyun was subjected to continuous malicious attacks, the spread of false information, defamation, and personal insults.â
Kwon Young-chan has denied the allegations. He reportedly argued that if the accusations of defamation against Kim Soo-hyun were truly valid, there would be no reason for fans, rather than the person directly involved, to file complaints. He also maintained that the information he broadcast was ânot false.â
However, during the investigation, police rejected Kwonâs claims and determined that the allegations against him were substantiated, leading to the case being referred to prosecutors.
The prosecution will now review the police investigation and related materials before deciding whether to formally indict him.
Meanwhile, Kim Soo-hyun largely suspended his activities last year after allegations emerged in March that he had been in a relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron while she was still a minor.
Kim Soo-hyunâs side has acknowledged that the two were in a relationship but has consistently denied that the relationship began while Kim Sae-ron was a minor, maintaining that they began dating after she had reached adulthood.
In May last year, the late Kim Sae-ronâs family filed a complaint against Kim Soo-hyun, including allegations of violating the Child Welfare Act. However, police recently determined that the allegations were not substantiated and decided not to forward the case, concluding that there was âno suspicion of wrongdoing.â
Following that decision, Kim Soo-hyunâs side also emphasized that the investigation had found no grounds for allegations that he had dated Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor or committed sexual abuse or other violations of the Child Welfare Act.
https://m.entertain.naver.com/home/article/076/0004434539
After months of waiting, the first results are finally beginning to emerge.
And it looks like this is only the beginning. đ¨đ¤
Get ready for it.
KNOCKOFF TAKES 2027đĽ
#BigSis9ja #KimSooHyun #KnockoffTakes2027
#KimSooHyunKnockOff
Get ready for it.
KNOCKOFF TAKES 2027đĽ
#BigSis9ja #KimSooHyun #KnockoffTakes2027
#KimSooHyunKnockOff
The very next day, Friday, he is scheduled to appear in court in connection with actor Kim Soo-hyun (including allegations of violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, stalking, defamation, and more).
After targeting Tzuyang and now going after our actor as well⌠At this point, heâs a habitual offender.
I hope he gets a very severe aggravated sentence!
Because of you, this summer hasnât been completely annoying.
When I think about you suffering through the heat behind bars, all battered and miserable, it actually makes me laugh. lol
Full article đť
https://m.entertain.naver.com/home/article/108/0003460193
The very next day, Friday, he is scheduled to appear in court in connection with actor Kim Soo-hyun (including allegations of violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, stalking, defamation, and more).
After targeting Tzuyang and now going after our actor as well⌠At this point, heâs a habitual offender.
I hope he gets a very severe aggravated sentence!
Because of you, this summer hasnât been completely annoying.
When I think about you suffering through the heat behind bars, all battered and miserable, it actually makes me laugh. lol
Full article đť
https://m.entertain.naver.com/home/article/108/0003460193
Published on 2026.08.06 at 16:54
Actor Kim Soo-hyun will resume his global activities by holding a large-scale fan meeting in the Philippines.
On October 2, Kim Soo-hyun will hold a fan meeting in the Philippines titled âFOREVER WITH YOU.â The event will accommodate approximately 20,000 people and is designed to give him the opportunity to meet in person with Filipino fans who have shown him unwavering love for a long time.
Kim Soo-hyun plans to communicate with his fans by preparing a variety of events, as well as colorful performances and talks.
The fan meeting is drawing attention as it is the first major overseas event confirmed after police decided not to indict Kim Soo-hyun for violating the Child Welfare Act.
After completing an investigation into the allegations raised on the 29th of last month, police concluded that the allegations could not be proven and closed the case.
Kim Soo-hyunâs global influence is being reaffirmed through his activities in the local market. In a recent collection released in collaboration with leading Philippine lifestyle brand Bench, he quickly sold out key items.
Analyses suggest that successfully hosting a fan meeting attended by 20,000 people demonstrated the strength of his brand and his popularity in the local market.
After resolving his legal issues, Kim Soo-hyun is expanding his reach globally by successfully completing advertising campaigns, followed by overseas fan meetings.
Through an advertising campaign that continued a series of strong sales and by hosting a large-scale fan meeting, his company has reaffirmed his popularity in the Philippine market.
Kim Soo-hyun suspended his activities last year after becoming involved in allegations that he had been in a relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor.
Kim Soo-hyunâs side denied the allegations, stating, âThe relationship began after Kim Sae-ron became an adult,â and filed a lawsuit against Kim Se-ui, the operator of the YouTube channel âGaro Sero Research Institute,â who raised the allegations, as well as the bereaved family, on charges of defamation.
Police investigations revealed that some of the photographs and audio files submitted as evidence by Mr. Kim Se-uiâs side had been manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI), and that the history of message conversations had also been falsified.
Mr. Kim Se-ui was arrested and charged with offenses including defamation, violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, attempted coercion, and intimidation.
Reporter Lee Ha-young
https://www.insight.co.kr/news/566881
Comments posted in recent hours reflect a growing sense of anticipation surrounding the production âKnockoff.â Beyond the short and repetitive messages, one thing is difficult to overlook: public interest remains strong and is being expressed with unusual intensity.
With more than 350 million reactions, these comments take on particular significance. This is not simply a handful of isolated messages, but a volume of engagement that shows âKnockoffâ continues to attract considerable attention even in the absence of an immediate release.
Ultimately, the message from audiences is simple and repeated in dozens of different ways: the anticipation has not faded. On the contrary, the comments suggest that, for a significant part of the audience, the question is no longer whether there is interest in âKnockoff,â but when they will finally be able to watch it.
https://ntalk.naver.com/ch/N1N2jN
â ď¸ Kim Soo-hyunâs return to CFs proves for himself that there is no wrongdoing for which he should be liable for damages
âKim Soo-hyun has resumed his activities.
He has even held fan meetings and has started appearing on all broadcasts again.
Apparently, scripts for dramas and films are pouring in, and he is said to be reviewing around 40 scripts for his next project.
Why do I say that this has such great significance?
Because there are still people who keep talking nonsense and claiming that Kim Soo-hyun is guilty.
Let me make just one thing very clear!
Kim Soo-hyun has already gone through a lawsuit over penalty payments because of the Kim Se-eui case, and he must have gone through an extremely difficult and stressful time.
But the fact that Kim Soo-hyun has now resumed his television activities means:
đ âI am completely innocent.â đ
If he were actually guilty of something, could he have resumed doing CFs, appearing on broadcasts, and working on dramas again?
This time, from the advertisersâ perspective, I imagine they must have made the contracts much stricter. If I were in their position, I would have done the same.
If he were guilty, he wouldnât be able to resume his broadcasting activities because of the risk of having to pay damages!â
âWhat I think Kim Soo-hyun has done really well is this:
The fact that he has resumed working in CFs and on television is âď¸
      đ the âfinal destinationâ đ
âď¸ proving that Kim Soo-hyun is not guilty.
I believe that by appearing in CFs himself and returning to television, he has perfectly proven that there is no wrongdoing for which he would be liable to pay damages.
The fact that he has resumed his activities has enormous significance.
The reason I keep saying that his return to activities is so meaningful is that he was able to resume because Kim Soo-hyun is completely innocent! âď¸
He said that he would prove it himself, and I believe that Kim Soo-hyun has proven everything through his own actions.
He did an excellent job, and because Kim Soo-hyun endured and held on, people like me and others were able to continue fighting as we are now.
I keep saying that.â
Let them complain on their own, we've got better things to do. Let's enjoy the moment and celebrate our beloved KSH đđđđâ¤ď¸âđĽâ¤ď¸âđĽâ¤ď¸âđĽ
â Kim Soo-hyun as seen by a fan of another idol during the Dream High era
I actually first saw Kim Soo-hyun in Will It Snow for Christmas? (Christmas Snow). At the time, I liked him because his voice was very charming, his eyes were so dark and, above all, he had a strong presence. To be honest, I donât think Kim Soo-hyun showed some kind of groundbreaking acting performance at that point. Cha Kang-jin was a character who kept all his emotions deeply buried inside and relied heavily on his eyes, so his acting had a rather consistent tone without many dramatic changes. Even in some scenes where he exploded emotionally, I could feel a little awkwardness.
But even when he was just speaking expressionlessly, in a low voice, almost mumbling, he had something that naturally made you wonder:
âWhat is he thinking right now?â
He had that kind of charm that made you focus on him.
I didnât watch Kimchi Cheese Smile or Giant because they werenât really my taste, so I only had that impression of him. Then I met Kim Soo-hyun again through Dream High.
When they built the set for Dream High and held the opening ceremony, many entertainment programs went there to cover it and interviewed the actors.
Of course, I was watching all those interviews because I wanted to see OO (the idol I was a fan of đ), but since Kim Soo-hyun appeared too, I watched his parts as well.
The other actors came in looking very serious, almost nervous and full of determination. But Kim Soo-hyun had this strangely relaxed, slightly clumsy and playful feeling, lol.
When he said something like:
âI heard theyâre holding the ceremony todayâŚâ
he sounded as if someone in his neighborhood was having a party and he had just stopped by to see what was happening.
He seemed lighthearted, as if he was watching everything from a distance. But paradoxically, that actually gave the impression:
âIâm already fully prepared.â
He didnât seem careless at all. Instead, it strangely made me trust him.
And I thought:
âWait⌠is this really the same person I saw in Christmas Snow, the one who felt so heavy, dark, and quiet?â
It was such a refreshing surprise.
Then, during the Dream High press conference, because the drama itself was a huge topic thanks to the collaboration between Park Jin-young and Bae Yong-joon, there was a program that asked the actors to compare the two.
You could really feel that everyone was aware that Dream High was a collaboration between JYP and KeyEast, between Park Jin-young and Bae Yong-joon, and that it had become a kind of âbattleâ and comparison.
(The question was first directed to Kim Soo-hyun, and someone next to him jokingly shouted, âA showdown~â or something like that.)
Kim Soo-hyun was sitting there quietly, then suddenly answered:
âFirst of all⌠President Bae Yong-joon has⌠longer hair.â đ
And he ended it with a playful expression:
âI love him.â
I donât think he was intentionally creating a funny moment or trying to manage his image, but it gave me the feeling that he wasnât focused on the external circumstances of the drama , the comparisons, the rivalry, or the surrounding hype. He was simply focused on the drama itself.
Lastly, about that two-part interview that someone shared today: even though I was a fan of OO, there was something that had been bothering me a little since Dream High started its official promotions.
I had heard that from the early planning stages of the drama, Kim Soo-hyun had already been cast and that he had been preparing for it carefully for a very long time.
But once promotions began, the focus was overwhelmingly on the idols.
OO did the greetings, OO introduced the drama, and whenever they talked about the main characters, the spotlight went to the idol members again.
Even during the opening ceremony and the press conference, I wasnât sure whether Kim Soo-hyun even got much interview time because most of his parts were cut. Even when articles came out, they mostly talked about the idols, Park Jin-young, and Bae Yong-joon.
If I were Kim Soo-hyun, I think I would have felt a little upset.
He must have considered this drama as âmy projectâ, something he had prepared for and invested so much time into. And as a human being, it would have been natural for him to want recognition.
Around him, there were people who only paid attention to the idols, and others who criticized the drama, saying it would fail because of them.
If he had become impatient or let those feelings turn negative, he could have thought:
âSeriously? This drama means so much to me, and these idols who donât even know what theyâre doing are ruining everything.â
But he didnât.
He had exactly the right balance between humility and confidence.
That made him seem trustworthy, cheerful, and made me even more excited for what was to come.
During Christmas Snow, he was simply an actor who made me think:
âWhy do I keep looking at him? Why am I so curious about him?â
But even before the story had properly unfolded, regardless of his screen time, his characterâs share of the drama, or the romance storyline, I felt that among the young actors around OOâs age, OO had gained a good friend â someone who could help him, support him, and bring him comfort.
It was wonderful to meet again an actor I had only vaguely liked before, but who had grown into someone much more relaxed and mature.
I hope that for both Kim Soo-hyun and OO, this drama becomes another opportunity for them to grow tremendously.
And somehow, I feel that Dream High might also become the moment when he gains âa fellow actor friend who truly matches well with him.â
Of course, Dream High itself is exciting, but Iâm also really looking forward to seeing how the relationship between Sam-dong and OO develops.
âHe has the perfect balance between humility and confidence.â
That one sentence explains everything.
14 years have passed, but whether then or now, Kim Soo-hyun is still Kim Soo-hyun.
đđđ