Kim Soo-hyun returns with ad campaign, smiling with bouquet, as 40+ project offers pour in

Actor Kim Soo-hyun has broken a 16-month hiatus by resuming public activities with a commercial shoot, appearing all smiles while holding a bouquet of flowers. He has reportedly received about 40 project offers, including films and drama series.

Ben Chan, chairman of Philippine clothing brand Bench, shared photos Wednesday on his SNS from the advertising campaign shoot featuring Kim.

In the photos, Kim smiles and holds a bouquet as he greets staff on set.

The shoot marks Kim's first official activity in roughly 16 months since March last year and has drawn wide attention as a signal of his full comeback.

About 40 film and drama scripts have been sent to Kim since news of his return broke, according to Star News.

Kim had effectively halted all public activities in March last year after being caught up in privacy allegations raised by the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute. The channel alleged that Kim had dated the late Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor, presenting messenger chat logs and audio files as evidence.

Investigators found the materials to be fabricated using generative AI technology.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's Second Women and Children Crimes Investigation Division, led by chief prosecutor Park Ji-na, last month indicted and detained Kim Se-eui, the operator of Garosero Research Institute, on charges including defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes related to the distribution of illegally filmed material, attempted coercion, intimidation and violation of the Act on Punishment of Stalking Crimes.