Actor Kim Su-hyun's clock has started moving again. After appearing before the public overseas for the first time in about 1 year and 5 months, he has also confirmed his first official domestic appearance.
Kim Su-hyun will attend the '2026 The Fact Co. Music Awards (THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS, TMA)' as an award presenter on Sept. 19 at Busan Asiad Main Stadium. His first official step back before the domestic public after a long hiatus.
Kim Su-hyun recently fired the starting shot for his return by appearing as a special guest on RCTI's 37th anniversary live special Mahakarya RCTI 37, Indonesia's largest private broadcaster. Footage of fans who had waited for Kim Su-hyun showing tears was captured during the live broadcast, and he reunited with fans by singing the Dream High OST 'Dreaming' himself.
The fact that Kim Su-hyun's next destination after cautiously taking his first steps overseas is domestic makes this awards show attendance particularly meaningful. In particular, changes have been continuing regarding the recent circumstances surrounding Kim Su-hyun. After effectively stopping activities last year amid allegations related to the late Kim Sae-ron, Kim Su-hyun has consistently denied allegations that he dated her when she was a minor. Subsequently, the police decided not to prosecute Kim Su-hyun for violations including the Child Welfare Act due to insufficient evidence, and the operator of the YouTube channel that raised the related allegations was arrested on charges including defamation against Kim Su-hyun.
Meanwhile, Kim Su-hyun has gradually expanded his activity range, starting with overseas commercial shoots and appearing on Indonesian broadcasts. With the decision to attend an official domestic event as well, Kim Su-hyun's comeback clock appears to be moving faster than before.
In that sense, choosing to be an 'award presenter' as his first stage back in Korea is a noteworthy choice. He is not immediately returning to public judgment through a work, nor is it an event that puts his name front and center. An award presenter who briefly goes on stage to congratulate the main artist and hand over a trophy is relatively low-pressure while allowing him to naturally show his current self to the public.
That the stage is a major K-pop awards show is also apt. Through hits such as 'My Love from the Star' and 'Queen of Tears,' Kim Su-hyun built a solid fandom across Asia, and that aligns with the global recognition he enjoys and the nature of a music awards show that draws attention from K-pop fans worldwide.
Ultimately it is a win-win for both Kim Su-hyun and the awards show. Based on the still-strong global popularity confirmed overseas, Kim Su-hyun can naturally meet domestic audiences again, and TMA is expected to boost the ceremony's newsworthiness a step further by hosting the first domestic scene of a top star's return.
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