South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun is facing renewed criticism from some international K-pop fans following confirmation that he will appear at two major entertainment awards shows later this year.
The latest backlash comes as the actor’s public comeback gathers momentum after more than a year away from major activities in South Korea amid allegations concerning his past relationship with late actress Kim Sae-ron.
According to reports from The Korea Herald and The Straits Times, organizers have confirmed Kim Soo-hyun as an award presenter at the 2026 The Fact Music Awards (TMA) in Busan on Sept. 19. He was subsequently announced as part of the lineup for the 2026 Asia Artist Awards (AAA), which will be held at Kaohsiung National Stadium in Taiwan on Dec. 5 and 6.
The announcements quickly triggered protests on social media, with some overseas fan communities calling on organizers to remove the actor from the events.
A hashtag campaign, including #KimSooHyunOutAAA, has circulated online, while fan-created graphics criticizing his inclusion in the AAA lineup have also spread across social media platforms.
However, it is important to note that the online campaign represents some fan communities, rather than a universal position among international K-pop fans.
Why are fans demanding his removal?
The renewed criticism is connected to the controversy surrounding Kim Soo-hyun’s past relationship with Kim Sae-ron.
The controversy erupted publicly in 2025 after Kim Sae-ron’s family alleged that the two had been romantically involved while she was underage. Kim Soo-hyun acknowledged that he had dated Sae-ron but strongly disputed the claim that their relationship began when she was a minor.
His agency, Gold Medalist, maintained that the relationship began in 2019, when Kim Sae-ron was 19.
The allegations subsequently became the subject of a police investigation.
Police decision did not end the controversy
In July 2026, South Korean police decided not to refer Kim Soo-hyun to prosecutors over allegations involving the Child Welfare Act, citing insufficient grounds for prosecution.
That decision has become a major point of contention surrounding the actor’s return to public activities.
Supporters argue that the police decision should be respected and that continuing to treat the allegations as established facts is unfair.
Meanwhile, critics and some overseas fan communities maintain that the controversy raises ethical and reputational concerns regardless of the police outcome.
The result is a highly polarized debate surrounding Kim’s comeback.
Awards organizers have not removed him
Despite the online backlash, there has been no announced change to Kim Soo-hyun’s scheduled appearances at either TMA or AAA as of the latest reports.
The Fact Music Awards confirmed him as a presenter for its Sept. 19 ceremony in Busan, while the Asia Artist Awards included him in its December lineup in Taiwan.
His agency, Gold Medalist, has also said it would look into the situation internally.
For now, therefore, the viral calls for his removal have not translated into an official cancellation of either appearance.
Kim Soo-hyun’s comeback is gaining momentum
The controversy comes at a critical moment in Kim Soo-hyun’s return to the entertainment spotlight.
Yonhap News Agency reported in late August that the actor was preparing for his first major public appearance in South Korea in more than a year when his TMA appearance was announced.
His comeback has also expanded beyond Korea.
According to The Korea Times, Kim recently appeared on Indonesian television and is scheduled for a fan meeting in the Philippines in October before his planned appearance at the Asia Artist Awards in Taiwan.
The developments indicate that his entertainment career is moving toward a broader public comeback even as the debate surrounding his past continues.
The next major test could come onstage
Kim Soo-hyun’s scheduled appearance at The Fact Music Awards on Sept. 19 could become an important test of how audiences react to his return to South Korean entertainment events.
The larger question is whether the growing international criticism will remain an online fan campaign or eventually influence decisions by award organizers, broadcasters, advertisers or other industry partners.
For now, the official position remains unchanged: Kim Soo-hyun is still scheduled to appear at both awards shows.
And with his comeback accelerating, all eyes are now on what happens when the actor steps back onto a major Korean entertainment stage.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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