40 Scripts, Jung Hae-in’s “Like,” and a Bouquet Photo: Kim Soo-hyun Is Back After 16 Months — What Changed?

July 20, 2026 3 Min Read

After more than a year of radio silence, Kim Soo-hyun’s social media finally sprang back to life — and of all things, with a photo of him grinning ear to ear while holding a bouquet of flowers. 💐 Yep, you read that right. The actor, who stepped away from all public activities last spring amid controversy tied to the late Kim Sae-ron, resurfaced at a Philippine fashion brand’s ad shoot, and industry insiders wasted zero time revealing he’s already sitting on a pile of 40 scripts. Add fellow actor Jung Hae-in’s quiet little “like” on the post into the mix, and what started as a simple update photo blew up into the entertainment story of the week. With the legal battle behind the original scandal also hitting a major turning point recently, let’s break down what this comeback actually means. 👀

📌 The Confirmed Facts

Kim Soo-hyun posted on his personal SNS on the 15th, officially resuming public activity for the first time in roughly 16 months.
The photo was taken on set for a BENCH (Philippine fashion brand) ad campaign — Chairman Ben Chan posted it first, and Kim Soo-hyun simply reshared it.
Fun fact: BENCH had actually dropped him as a model after the scandal broke, but they’ve now brought him back as their face. Talk about a vote of confidence! 🤝

Jung Hae-in’s like on the post sparked immediate buzz online — reportedly, he never even unfollowed Kim Soo-hyun during the whole controversy.
Alongside the comeback news, word is that Kim Soo-hyun has already received roughly 40 film and drama scripts.
Kim Se-eui, head of Garosero Institute and the one who originally raised the allegations, has been indicted and detained on charges including defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, sexual violence law violations, and stalking law violations. Investigators reportedly concluded the recordings and KakaoTalk chats he released were fabricated.

Kim Soo-hyun’s side is currently pursuing a 13 billion won (~$10M) defamation lawsuit against the bereaved family and others, while some advertiser lawsuits are being resolved through court-recommended settlements.
Disney+’s original series Knock Off has already wrapped filming, but a release date still hasn’t been announced.

🔍 Where Opinions Split

Perspective	Take
Optimists	With Kim Se-eui now indicted and the core “evidence” behind the scandal exposed as fabricated, Kim Soo-hyun’s comeback has solid justification. The fact that 40 scripts flooded in overnight is being read as a clear sign the industry is already ready to welcome him back with open arms. 🙌
The Cautious Camp	Critics point out that the civil and criminal cases with the bereaved family — plus some lingering legal disputes with advertisers — aren’t fully resolved yet, so calling this a “full comeback” might be premature. Whether Knock Off even gets a release date anytime soon also remains up in the air.
Colleagues & Fandom	Meanwhile, fellow actors and longtime fans seem to be reading the room differently, quietly signaling support in their own ways — Jung Hae-in’s like being Exhibit A. 💬