Recently, Kim Dong-hee shared the news of the opening of the fan club through her social media account, posting a message in Japanese that read: “It’s finally open. Thank you for your support,” signaling the start of his renewed engagement with overseas fans.
According to the official announcement, the actor’s Japanese fan club will be called “D:EAR”. His team explained that the name combines the “D” in Dong-hee with the word “Dear”, which symbolizes both the fans who are precious to Kim Dong-hee and those who continue to love and support him.
The launch marks the clearest sign yet of Kim Dong-hee’s return to the entertainment industry following her signing with Neos Entertainment in January this year.
Kim Dong-hee first attracted attention after debuting in the web drama A-Teen in 2018. He later rose to fame through successful productions, including SKY Castle, Itaewon classand the Netflix series Extracurricular. However, his career came to a halt in 2022 when allegations surfaced that he had committed school violence against a classmate during his school years. Kim Dong-hee initially denied the allegations and filed a lawsuit against the online user who raised the allegations. The case later attracted public attention after investigators found insufficient grounds to charge the accuser.
Following the controversy, Kim Dong-hee released a public statement expressing regret, saying he sincerely apologized to anyone who had been hurt in the past by his immature words and actions and wanted to resolve any lingering issues with those affected.
Since then, the actor has largely stayed out of the spotlight. The opening of an official Japanese fan club is seen as a significant step towards rebuilding his career and reconnecting with fans.
While no new acting projects have been officially announced, industry observers are watching closely to see if Kim Dong-hee will return to television or streaming productions in the near future.
Sources: Daum | Sport today
