South Korean A-list actor Kim Soo-hyun’s fan meet in Taiwan has been cancelled, amid an underage dating scandal he has been embroiled in.
The Queen Of Tears (2024) leading man was slated to appear at a fan meet during the three-day Sakura Festival in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on March 30, the last day of the event. But the organiser, convenience store chain 7-Eleven Taiwan, announced the cancellation on Facebook and Instagram on March 25.
It said Kim, 37, who is also known for his singing, is unable to attend the music festival “due to changes in his schedule”. The organiser added that those who bought tickets for March 30 can still enter the venue that day and enjoy other scheduled performances, but will receive full refunds for their tickets.
Other acts slated to appear on March 30 include Taiwanese band Power Station, Malaysian singer Andrew Tan, Taiwanese singer Ann Bai and Taiwanese-Korean singer Shi Shi. Tickets for that day have sold out.
Artistes taking the stage on March 28 and 29 include Taiwanese bands Bestards and 831, South Korean singer-rapper Lee Young-ji, Japanese diva Kumi Koda and K-pop girl group Apink’s Jung Eun-ji.
The cancellation of Kim’s appearance comes after days of speculation over whether he would appear. He has been mired in scandal since a South Korean YouTube channel accused him in a video released in March of beginning a romantic relationship with late actress Kim Sae-ron when she was just 15.
Kim Sae-ron, 24, was found dead at her home in Seoul in February. Her death was ruled a suicide by police.
The channel, which reportedly spoke to her mother, also alleged that Kim Soo-hyun drove the actress to end her life by pressuring her to pay debts owed to his agency Goldmedalist.
The actor later admitted that they dated for a year after she became an adult, but denied other allegations. He has since filed a lawsuit against the YouTube channel for blackmail.
The scandal has been a blow to Kim’s career.
Multiple brands he fronted, including luxury label Prada, cut ties with him. He was edited out of K-pop star G-Dragon’s variety show Good Day (2025 to present), which used to featured him prominently. An upcoming Disney+ series, Knock-Off, starring Kim in the lead role, has postponed its release due to the controversy. - The Straits Times/Asia News Network
