Kim Soo-hyun's full footage removed from South Korean programme Good Day amid his dating scandal with Kim Sae-ron

Kim Sae ron and Kim Soo Hyun

Weeks after MBC’s variety programme Good Day initially announced it would reduce actor Kim Soo-hyun's screen presence due to the ongoing controversy surrounding Kim Sae-ron, the actor's entire appearance has now been completely removed from the show. According to a report by Korea Joongang Daily, Soo-hyun "was completely edited out" of the episode that aired last Sunday, amid the fallout from the ongoing scandal involving Sae-ron.

Soo-hyun had filmed segments for the show a few weeks prior, including a group recording of the 1988 hit "Telepathy" by City Boys and a celebrity auction. However, in the final broadcast, none of his scenes made it to air. In a segment featuring CL of 2NE1, Soo-hyun was originally seen sitting at the center of a group shot, but producers took the step of editing the image to ensure that he did not appear on screen at all. The episode also included a voice-directing segment with G-Dragon, but Soo-hyun’s absence was notable as he was omitted from the individual recording session with fellow cast members such as Yim Si-wan, Code Kunst, Jung Hae-in, Hwang Kwang-hee, Jo Se-ho, and DAY6.

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Earlier reports had indicated that the production team of Good Day had decided to "edit out Kim Soo-hyun’s appearances as much as possible," following a significant amount of public backlash. The team had also stated that the recording session from March 13, which featured Soo-hyun, would not be aired in the final cut. Despite his presence during filming, it was clear that the show’s producers were intent on distancing themselves from the actor amidst the growing controversy.

The issue that led to this decision revolves around the ongoing public scandal between Soo-hyun and Sae-ron.

Last month, Soo-hyun vehemently denied allegations suggesting that he had been involved with Sae-ron while she was a minor. He also rejected claims that his or his agency's actions had contributed to her tragic death. Soo-hyun called into question the authenticity of leaked KakaoTalk messages from 2016 and 2018 that were released by Sae-ron’s family, which fueled further scrutiny of his personal life. In response to the accusations, Soo-hyun has filed civil and criminal lawsuits, seeking 12 billion won ($8.2 million) in damages, claiming defamation and damage to his reputation.