There are some celebrity controversies where it becomes almost impossible to have a nuanced conversation. You are expected to either defend the person completely or reject everything associated with them. For me, Kim Soo-hyun is not that simple. I don’t know Kim Soo-hyun personally. I have never met him, spent time with him, or had any relationship with him LOL that would allow me to say what kind of person he really is behind the cameras. What I do know is his work—and I genuinely like the projects he has done.
And I think there is an important distinction between those two things. I can appreciate Kim Soo-hyun as an actor without claiming to know Kim Soo-hyun as a person.
My connection to Kim Soo-hyun has always been through his projects. From My Love from the Star and Queen of Tears, he has consistently shown why he is considered one of Korea’s most recognizable actors. His ability to move between comedy, romance and heavier dramatic roles is a big part of what makes his performances work for me. Queen of Tears, in particular, reminded me why I enjoy watching him. There was something very effective about his portrayal of Baek Hyun-woo—the humor, vulnerability and emotional restraint.
That is the Kim Soo-hyun I know. The actor.
And I Understand Why Some People Walked Away. At the same time, I completely understand why some viewers decided they could no longer support him. The controversy involving the late actress Kim Sae-ron became one of the biggest scandals in Korean entertainment in recent years. Allegations were made that Kim Soo-hyun had been in a relationship with Sae-ron while she was a minor. Kim and his agency denied that, saying their relationship began after she had become an adult.
For people who believed the original allegations, this wasn’t simply another celebrity scandal. It raised serious questions about the power dynamics between two actors and about what may have happened in their private relationship. I understand why that made some people say, “I don’t want to watch him anymore.” And honestly, they don’t need to justify that decision to me. You are allowed to decide that an actor’s personal controversy changes how you feel about their work.
But the Investigation Also Changed the Conversation
What makes this situation particularly complicated is that the story did not remain where it started. After an extensive investigation, South Korean police in July 2026 decided not to refer Kim Soo-hyun to prosecutors over the allegation that he violated the Child Welfare Act, citing insufficient evidence. Prosecutors subsequently returned the case records without requesting further investigation, effectively leaving that decision intact.
Investigators also found that some of the material presented as evidence had been manipulated or fabricated, including an audio recording that authorities said could not be accepted as reliable evidence. Those developments are important because they changed the factual picture surrounding the original allegations. But I also don’t think they mean everyone suddenly has to become a Kim Soo-hyun fan again.
If someone says, “I still don’t feel comfortable supporting him,” that’s their personal decision. If someone else says, “The investigation changed my view, and I am comfortable watching his work again,” that’s also a personal decision.
This Is Where I Stand
For me, the distinction is actually quite simple. I like Kim Soo-hyun’s work. I like watching him act. I like many of his dramas. I am curious about his future projects. But I don’t know him personally. So I don’t feel the need to say, “He’s definitely a good person,” because how would I know that? And I also don’t think it’s fair to say, “He’s definitely a terrible person,” based on information that has subsequently been challenged by investigations. I can acknowledge what happened, acknowledge the allegations, acknowledge the investigation, and still make my own decision as a viewer.
This is actually the same way I look at RM—Namjoon—my BTS bias. I love Namjoon’s music. I appreciate his artistry, his songwriting and what his music means to me. But that doesn’t mean I automatically agree with every personal choice he makes. The recent controversy surrounding RM and J-Hope’s association with Chris Brown is an example. I can continue loving Namjoon’s music while also saying that I don’t necessarily agree with or endorse every personal choice or association he makes. Loving someone’s art doesn’t require me to defend everything they do. And I think the same principle applies to Kim Soo-hyun.
Being a Fan Doesn’t Mean Losing Your Own Judgment
Perhaps this is what gets lost in fandom. We sometimes become so invested in celebrities that we feel we have to defend them as if we personally know them. We don’t. We see interviews. We watch dramas. We listen to music. We follow social media. We see the version of them that is presented to the public.
But that isn’t the same as knowing someone personally. And I think that realization actually makes fandom healthier. You can love an actor’s performance without making him your moral compass. You can criticize something a celebrity does without suddenly declaring that everything they’ve ever created is worthless. You can change your mind when new information comes out. And you can also decide that you no longer want to support someone.So, Will I Continue Watching Kim Soo-hyun? Yes.
I am interested in his work because I have enjoyed his work for years. His return to entertainment has already begun after a lengthy hiatus. In July 2026, he resumed official activities through a campaign for Philippine fashion brand Bench, marking his first official entertainment activity in around 16 months.
His Disney+ series Knock-Off, however, remains a complicated part of that comeback. The series has remained on hold despite the developments in the investigation. Whatever happens next, I will judge the projects as a viewer based on the work itself. And that’s really the point of this whole discussion.
I don’t know Kim Soo-hyun the person. I know Kim Soo-hyun the actor.
I can like the actor’s work while refusing to pretend that I know the man behind it. I can understand why some people dislike him while still enjoying his dramas. And I can respect people who have chosen to walk away without feeling that I have to walk away too. For me, being a fan doesn’t mean blind loyalty. It means appreciating what speaks to you while still keeping your own judgment.
And sometimes, the most honest thing a fan can say is simply: “I like your work. But I don’t know you.”
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