Actor Kim Soo Hyun is scheduled to appear in public for the first time following a recent personal controversy that led to a temporary pause in his activities. Reports suggest that 50 police officers will be present at the Kaohsiung Cherry Blossom Festival in Taiwan where Kim Soo Hyun will join a fan meeting organized by a convenience store.
According to Taiwanese media outlet ET Today, Kim Soo Hyun will be part of the event on March 30, as per local time. The local police in Kaohsiung will deploy 50 officers to ensure order and address any illegal or disruptive behavior that may arise during the fan meeting.
Kim Soo Hyun faced severe criticism due to personal issues, resulting in the suspension of several advertising deals. His appearance at the 'Kaohsiung Cherry Blossom Festival' fan meeting is anticipated to be his first public outing post the controversy. Despite the backlash, the organizers confirmed that the fan meeting would proceed as planned, emphasizing that the event would continue according to the contract terms.
The 'Kaohsiung Cherry Blossom Festival,' managed by the Qianzhen branch, is scheduled from March 28 to March 30, 2025. The 50 police officers' deployment is part of standard security measures for the festival and not specifically for Kim Soo Hyun. Meanwhile, the fan meeting itself will have a substantial police presence.
The fan meeting tickets with Kim Soo Hyun will be given out through a lottery system, open to individuals aged 18 and above. Approximately 200 lucky fans were chosen through the lottery for the 40-minute event. Attendees will not need to pay for the fan meeting, except for the general admission fee of the Cherry Blossom Festival.
While Kim Soo Hyun's reputation has taken a hit, the organizers are firm in their decision to proceed with the fan meeting. There is anticipation around whether the event will run smoothly given the public interest. Refunds, transfers, resales, or exchanges for tickets will not be entertained even if there are adjustments or cancellations to the event, as the tickets were distributed for free.
Criticism has been mounting from Taiwanese fans and media towards Kim Soo Hyun and the event organizers. Refund requests for Cherry Blossom Festival tickets have increased, but the local Consumer Protection Office mentioned that refunds are unlikely as the fan meeting is part of a larger festival and not an independent concert.
The controversy surrounding Kim Soo Hyun stemmed from allegations regarding his relationship with actress Kim Sae Ron when she was a teenager. Despite admitting to dating Kim Sae Ron, Kim Soo Hyun's side clarified that their relationship began when she was of legal age, from 2019 to 2020. They strongly denied any misconduct and vowed legal action against Garosero Research Institute for making false claims.
Kim Soo Hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, lodged a formal complaint against Garosero Research Institute and Kim Sae Ron's family over defamation and false accusations on March 20. Despite the ongoing controversy, the upcoming fan meeting will gauge Kim Soo Hyun's ability to bounce back from the scandal and regain public trust.