South Korean actor Kim Seon Ho is once again at the center of heated public debate after reports revealed that he will join a new variety show produced by Coupang Play titled Bonjour Bakery. The program, which reportedly follows the process of opening a dessert café for elderly residents in a rural village, is expected to begin filming in the first half of the year. Veteran actors Kim Hee Ae and Cha Seung Won are also said to have signed on for the project.
For Kim Seon Ho, the program marks his first regular cast role on a variety show in nearly five years since leaving the popular KBS show 2 Days & 1 Night. The news immediately attracted attention because the actor had previously gained massive popularity through his natural and charming presence on entertainment programs. In addition to the rumored casting, he is also preparing for a fan meeting tour across six cities in Asia, which will mark his first time meeting international fans in person in nearly two years.
Despite the growing list of activities, reactions from online communities have been sharply divided. Many internet users expressed disappointment that the actor continues to secure new projects despite the controversies that have surrounded him in recent years. Comments circulating on social media questioned the decisions of producers and directors who continue to cast him, with some critics arguing that male celebrities often recover from scandals much faster than their female counterparts.
The backlash is partly linked to Kim Seon Ho’s past controversies. In 2021, the actor faced a major scandal when his former girlfriend accused him of pressuring her into having an abortion and behaving hypocritically in their relationship. The allegations caused his public image to collapse almost overnight and forced him to halt many entertainment activities. However, later reports from the media outlet Dispatch presented additional details that suggested some parts of the original accusations had been exaggerated or taken out of context. The revelations helped stabilize his reputation and allowed him to gradually resume acting projects.
More recently, the actor faced another controversy when Sports Kyunghang reported in early February that he owned a family-run corporation with a structure similar to one previously linked to alleged tax avoidance cases involving other celebrities. The report sparked speculation that the structure could potentially be used to minimize taxes through a one-person corporate system.
In response to the accusations, Kim Seon Ho issued an official statement through his agency on February 4. He apologized to the public and acknowledged that his lack of knowledge about establishing and managing a single-member corporation had resulted in financial mistakes. The actor also stated that he would pay additional taxes to correct the issue. While the statement did not explicitly confirm illegal activity, many observers interpreted it as an indirect admission that tax obligations had not been fully handled earlier.
Kim Seon Ho debuted in 2009 as a musical actor before transitioning to television in 2017 with the drama Good Manager. He later rose to international fame after playing a standout supporting role in the hit drama Start-Up in 2020. His popularity reached new heights the following year when he starred as the male lead in the romantic drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, which turned him into one of the most recognizable actors of the Korean Wave overseas.
However, repeated controversies have left his public image deeply divided. Some fans believe the actor has already faced consequences and deserves a chance to rebuild his career, while critics argue that his continued casting shows how forgiving the entertainment industry can be toward male stars involved in scandals. As discussions continue to spread across online communities, Kim Seon Ho’s return to television is becoming one of the most talked-about topics in Korean entertainment.
Sources: Sports Kyunghang,Dispatch
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