Kim Soo-hyun returned to public view on August 2, 2026, ending a 1 year and 4 month hiatus from entertainment and public activities. He resumed with a new endorsement deal for the Philippine fashion brand BENCH, releasing a greeting video to fans in which he appeared with a warm smile but noticeably slimmer facial features, prompting some fan concern over his health [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8].

In the video, Kim expressed his happiness to reconnect with fans, saying, "I’ve missed you all so much. I’m happy to be greeting you again after such a long time. I hope that you look forward to what’s ahead" [8]. Another greeting in Chinese said, "大家好，我是BENCH的模特兒金秀賢。真的非常想念大家，今天可以透過BENCH跟大家見面，我真的感到很幸福，希望大家今後也繼續支持BENCH，謝謝大家." [1, 6].

The BENCH campaign included apparel named after Kim, with a denim jacket selling out rapidly in all sizes. The swift sellout demonstrated his continued strong commercial influence [1, 2, 4, 7, 8].

Kim’s hiatus followed a controversy in early 2025 when allegations surfaced regarding a relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron while she was underage. Kim denied the claims and was found not to have committed any crimes due to lack of evidence. Seoul police decided not to refer Kim to prosecutors for violation of child welfare laws in late July 2026 [3, 5, 6, 8].

The YouTube channel "横竖研究所" and its head Kim Se-ui, responsible for spreading false rumors about Kim Soo-hyun, was arrested and is undergoing legal proceedings [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7].

Following his return, Kim has received over 40 script offers for films and TV dramas, highlighting strong market demand for his acting career [4]. The previously postponed Disney+ series "Knock Off," starring Kim, is now expected for imminent release as the platform negotiates the schedule [4, 8].

In July 2026, BENCH began releasing promotional photos of Kim ahead of the official video greeting [6]. His official comeback in early August coincided with the release and success of his branded apparel.

Kim Soo-hyun’s return marks a fresh chapter as he engages with fans and prepares for new projects after an extended absence.