Singer Kim Gun Mo, who returned to the public eye earlier this year after a six-year hiatus, is not expected to make any television appearances for the remainder of the year.
On August 29th KST, iStar Media Company announced that it would open ticket sales exclusively on YES24 for Kim Gun Mo’s nationwide concert tour ‘25-26 Kim Gun Mo Live Tour KIM GUN MO.’ The tour kicked off in Busan on September 27th, followed by scheduled stops in Daegu on October 18th, Daejeon on December 20th, and will continue into Seoul and other major cities next year.
During his return to the stage at Busan KBS Hall on September 27th, Kim Gun Mo lightheartedly remarked, “I planned to rest for five years, but I ended up taking one more,” and casually addressed his divorce. He added, “From now on, I won’t care about online comments or anything like that. I’ll just live freely and show you how to grow old cutely.”
Having reaffirmed his presence through live performances, Kim is reportedly focusing solely on the tour. There are currently no plans for television appearances or the release of new music.
A representative shared, “There are no immediate plans for broadcasting or new music,” and added, “We haven’t received any specific offers. We haven’t had any communication with 'My Little Old Boy' (미운 우리 새끼) either.”
Kim Gun Mo’s fall from public favor began in 2019 when he became embroiled in a shocking sexual assault allegation, which eventually led to his withdrawal from the entertainment industry.
At the time, Garo Sero Institute, a YouTube channel run by lawyer Kang Yong Seok, claimed that a woman (referred to as Ms. A) accused Kim of sexually assaulting her at an adult entertainment venue in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul, in August 2016. The allegations surfaced shortly after the news of Kim’s relationship and plans for marriage were made public, causing considerable uproar.
Kim immediately denied the allegations, stating that they were untrue. However, Ms. A filed a criminal complaint through Kang, leading Kim to appear at Gangnam Police Station for nearly six hours of questioning. Maintaining a firm stance, Kim said he did not even know who Ms. A was. Amid the escalating scandal, he stepped down from SBS’s 'My Little Old Boy' and canceled his 25th anniversary concert—effectively exiting the entertainment scene.
Kim also had to face the end of his marriage. After announcing a serious relationship with pianist and composer Jang Ji Yeon, 13 years his junior, in 2019, the two filed for a marriage registration. However, with ongoing legal battles and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, they never held a wedding ceremony and ultimately separated after 2 years and 8 months.
The couple had gained attention for overcoming their age gap after a year of dating. Jang Ji Yeon, the daughter of renowned composer Jang Wook Jo and sister of actor Jang Hee Woong, studied classical music before attending Berklee College of Music in the U.S. In 2011, she even released her own album. Jang also appeared on SBS’s 'My Little Old Boy' in December 2019, where she was visibly touched by Kim’s marriage proposal.
At the time, Jang Wook Jo, who became Kim’s father-in-law, shared just ahead of their planned private church wedding in January 2020: “Kim Gun Mo is a cute junior and a beloved singer of the nation. I was concerned about the age gap at first, but my daughter told me she fell for Kim’s sincerity and honesty. So I gladly gave them my blessing.”
Eventually, the 30th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court dismissed Ms. A’s petition for a prosecution review. The court stated, “Although Ms. A filed charges against Kim Gun Mo, the prosecution decided not to indict him. After reviewing all submitted materials, we found the non-indictment decision to be appropriate, with no sufficient grounds to consider it unjust.” In November 2021, the prosecution, following the decision of the Citizen Prosecution Committee, officially dropped the case, concluding a two-year-long investigation.
SEE ALSO: Tears and deep bow mark Kim Gun Mo’s first performance since scandal
SHARE
