Popular South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun’s recent return to Manila for a fan meeting drew mixed reactions, with thousands of Filipino fans welcoming the star while others renewed online criticism over past allegations involving the late actress Kim Sae-ron.
Kim returned to the Philippines for the ‘Our Forever With You’ fan meeting at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on October 2, marking one of his biggest overseas appearances following a lengthy hiatus from public activities.
The Queen of Tears star received an enthusiastic welcome from around 15,000 fans who gathered at the venue to show their support.
He also became teary-eyed during the event, appearing overwhelmed by the warm response and continued support from his Filipino fans despite the controversy that had kept him away from the public eye.
In a message reported by ABS-CBN, Kim described his Filipino fans with the words “warmth”, “passion” and “sparkle” as he recalled the welcome he received upon returning to the country.
Online backlash resurfaces
In spite of the warm welcome in Manila, his return also reignited criticism online, with some social media users condemning continued support for the actor amid the controversy surrounding his alleged past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron.
One user on X criticized Filipino fans for continuing to support Kim, calling their support “pathetic” in response to a video showing the actor becoming teary-eyed during the fan meeting.
Another user reacted to footage of fans dancing to catch Kim’s attention by alleging that the actor preferred underage girls – an apparent reference to accusations that surfaced following Kim Sae-ron’s death.
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The controversy explained
In March 2025, Kim was embroiled in controversy after YouTube channel HoverLab claimed that the actor had been in a romantic relationship with Kim Sae-ron for six years, beginning in 2015 when she was 15 years old.
The channel said the allegations and supporting materials came from Kim Sae-ron’s family, who later publicly backed the claims.
Kim acknowledged that he had dated Kim Sae-ron but strongly denied that their relationship began when she was a minor.
His agency, Gold Medalist, said the two dated from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, when Kim Sae-ron was already an adult.
The controversy heavily affected Kim’s career, prompting calls for his removal from MBC’s Good Day, while his Disney+ drama Knock-Off, which was set to mark his debut on the platform, was also put on hold amid the backlash.
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Police drop case
The controversy took another turn in 2026 after South Korean police found that voice recordings presented by HoverLab to support the allegations against Kim had been fabricated.
In May, a Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for HoverLab operator Kim Se-ui on suspicion of spreading false and fabricated information about the actor.
Authorities also accused him of publicly playing the recordings despite allegedly knowing that they were fabricated.
Two months later, Seoul police decided not to pursue the complaint accusing Kim of dating Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor, citing insufficient evidence.
The case effectively ended in September after prosecutors returned the records to police without requesting further investigation, leaving the police decision in place.
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