On September 1, the organizers of the Asia Artist Awards 2026 (AAA 2026) announced that Kim Soo Hyun will be in the cast lineup of this year's event, along with Michieda Shunsuke, Park Ji Hwan, Eum Moon Suk and Heo Sung Tae.
AAA 2026 will take place on December 5-6 at Kaohsiung National Stadium, Taiwan (China).
Previously, he was confirmed to participate in The Fact Music Awards 2026 held on September 19, as the award presenter.
However, the information that Kim Soo Hyun appeared at The Fact Music Awards 2026 and AAA 2026 has caused controversy on social networks. Some international netizens questioned why the actor is still being invited to major award ceremonies.
Previously, Kim Soo Hyun had been heavily scrutinized in connection with allegations of a past romantic relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron. Among them was an accusation that the relationship started when Kim Sae Ron was not yet a minor. Kim Soo Hyun denied this accusation.
Controversy caused the actor to almost withdraw from artistic and entertainment activities for a long time. Recently, he has gradually returned to the entertainment industry, including activities abroad and year-end award ceremonies.
South Korean media reported that Kim Soo Hyun has been determined to have no basis for prosecution according to allegations related to the child welfare law after the investigation process.
Meanwhile, the operator of YouTube channel Garo Sero - Kim Se Ui - once made accusations against Kim Soo Hyun, and was later prosecuted on charges of slander.
However, a part of netizens still strongly opposed Kim Soo Hyun's return.
After AAA 2026 announced the lineup, these people went online to question the decision to include Kim Soo Hyun in the attendance list, even calling for a boycott of the awards ceremony. They continued to accuse the actor of dating minors and called for the protection of young idols who would be present at the event.
Some other opinions suggest that Kim Soo Hyun's continuous appearance at major events shows that previous controversies are still not enough to prevent the entertainment industry from welcoming him back.
On the contrary, Kim Soo Hyun's supporters emphasize the investigation results and believe that the actor should be allowed to continue his career. The negative reaction shows that the controversy surrounding Kim Soo Hyun has not ended, even as he is gradually returning to public life.
The organizers of AAA 2026 have not yet publicly spoken out about the criticisms related to bringing Kim Soo Hyun into the participating lineup.
