Uhm Tae-woong returns to public eye after 9-year hiatus following scandal
Actor Uhm Tae-woong, right, and his wife, ballerina Yoon Hye-jin / Korea Times file
Ballerina Yoon Hye-jin expresses joy over husband’s return through BIFAN
Actor Uhm Tae-woong, 51, is officially returning to the spotlight nearly nine years after receiving a fine for solicitation. While he was first forgiven by his wife, ballerina and entertainer Yoon Hye-jin, 45, Uhm now stands at a new crossroads, seeking forgiveness from the public.
His comeback will take place through the psychological thriller drama “I Kill U,” directed by Yoo Ha, which has been officially invited to the 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN). The series has also been reedited into a film version, set to screen at the festival with a guest visit event scheduled for July 9.
Yoon expressed her emotional support via Instagram on Saturday. “I often wondered whether this day would ever come. For more than 10 years, I waited in silence, hoping, imagining and at times thinking it might never arrive.”
She added that July 9, the day of the guest visit screening, is also her late mother’s birthday — a coincidence she called “deeply meaningful."
“I can’t shake the feeling that my mother is watching over us. This is all thanks to everyone who supported us through the years," she said.
“I Kill U” marks Uhm’s return to acting and centers on themes of vengeance and madness. The project has attracted attention not only for its content but also for the symbolic weight of his reappearance after years of silence.
In 2016, Uhm was accused of sexual assault at a massage parlor in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Although the assault charges were ultimately dropped, he was fined 1 million won ($720) for engaging in prostitution — a development that shocked the public, especially given his reputation at the time as a devoted family man.
The scandal had severe impact. Uhm withdrew from all entertainment activities and was forced to leave popular family-oriented variety shows. His image, once built around wholesomeness, was significantly tarnished.
His wife Yoon later revealed that the emotional toll of the incident led her to suffer a miscarriage, though she publicly expressed forgiveness multiple times.
“The person most hurt by this incident was him, and since the person who was hurt has already forgiven him, I hope others will refrain from making further judgments,” she said previously.
Still, public sentiment remains divided. Uhm made his first semi-public appearance in April at the VIP screening of the film “Yadang: The Snitch,” accompanied by his wife. Although the event was not a formal comeback, it sparked debate over whether his reemergence was appropriate.
Now, with “I Kill U” marking his full return to the industry, public discourse is expected to intensify.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.