Kim Soo Hyun’s comeback remains uncertain amid renewed tensions with Sulli’s family

The possibility of Kim Soo Hyun returning to the entertainment industry appears to have improved following the arrest of Kim Se Ui, head of HoverLab (Garo Sero Research Institute), but industry insiders say the actor’s road to a full comeback remains far from easy.

On the night of May 27, Kim Se Ui, who previously claimed that late actress Kim Sae Ron had dated Kim Soo Hyun while she was still a minor, was taken into custody. Following the news, Kim Soo Hyun’s side released a statement saying, “The truth has finally been revealed.”

However, a cautious atmosphere still surrounds the actor after the family of late actress Sulli continued posting warning messages online.

On May 22, Sulli’s older brother revealed through Instagram that he possessed a 37 minute phone recording involving Sulli’s former manager. He claimed the recording included mentions of Kim Soo Hyun and film director Lee Sarang, along with “some of the darker circumstances” surrounding his sister at the time.

He added, “There are many things I want to ask, but I’m holding back because of my mother,” and continued, “Last year, I only briefly touched on the movie issue, but I don’t want to use this recording going forward either. Let me make it clear in advance that there are no falsehoods.”

His comments appeared to suggest that the alleged recording would not portray Kim Soo Hyun positively.

Sulli’s brother further fueled speculation by posting messages such as “The moment he crawls back out, round two begins,” and “There’s one guy from the stars,” which many interpreted as criticism directed toward Kim Soo Hyun’s potential return.

Last year, Sulli’s family also raised allegations related to the film 'Real', which starred Kim Soo Hyun and was directed by Lee Sarang. They claimed Sulli had been pressured into filming bed scenes and revealing scenes during production. Kim Soo Hyun’s side denied the allegations at the time, stating there had been no coercion, but tensions with the family have remained unresolved.

As police reportedly concluded that the allegations raised by Kim Se Ui were false, public sentiment had recently begun shifting toward sympathy for Kim Soo Hyun. However, Sulli’s family’s announcement of a potential “recording exposure” has once again placed the actor under renewed psychological and public pressure.

Entertainment industry insiders say that while Kim Soo Hyun may have succeeded in pushing back against false information, he still faces the difficult challenge of navigating emotionally charged conflicts involving the bereaved families of both Kim Sae Ron and Sulli.

Attention is now focused on whether Kim Soo Hyun will be able to overcome the ongoing controversies and successfully return to the public eye with his upcoming project ‘Knock Off.’

SEE MORE: Kim Soo Hyun thanks fans, investigators one year after emotional press conference