Kim Soo Hyun to pay 100 billion KRW in penalty? Rumours swirl as Disney+ halts Knock Off amid actor's dating scandal
Kim Soo Hyun¡¯s career faces uncertainty as Disney+ halts Knock Off amid allegations of an underage relationship with actress Kim Sae Ron. The actor may face steep financial penalties if the series is cancelled while Disney+ shifts focus to its broader 2025 K-drama slate.
One of South Korea¡¯s most bankable stars, Kim Soo Hyun, is facing intense public scrutiny after allegations surfaced that the actor dated Kim Sae Ron when she was just a minor. After growing backlash, the spotlight has shifted to his career, with Disney+ announcing an indefinite halt to production on the upcoming K-drama Knock Off, a major project in which Kim was cast as the lead.
Disney+ pulls the plug on Knock Off¡ªfor now
Kim Soo Hyun's first look in Knock Off| Credit: X
On April 23, Disney+ informed the cast and crew that filming for Knock Off would be halted indefinitely. The streaming platform had already postponed the series¡¯ planned release in response to the controversy but has now escalated its response by freezing production entirely.
Kim Soo Hyun to be charged for damages?
According to the industry insiders as reported by K-media reports, if the series gets canceled, Kim Soo Hyun might have to pay penalties ranging from 20 to 100 billion KRW ($15 to $75 million USD) due to breach of contract clauses tied to his personal conduct.
Disney+ moving ahead with ambitious lineup
Disney+ Korea is pushing forward with a robust content slate for 2025, despite the delay of Kim Soo Hyun's series Knock-Off. Following a successful year in 2024, where nine out of the top 15 most-watched non-US Disney+ originals globally were Korean productions, the platform is set to release several highly anticipated titles.
The new slate includes titles like Nine Puzzle, a crime thriller starring Kim Da Mi and Son Seok Ku; Fine: Country Bumpkins, a comedy starring Ryu Seung Ryong and Im Soo Jung; Polaris, starring Kang Dong Won, Jeon Ji Hyun, and John Cho; The Murky Stream, a historical drama with Rowoon and Shin Ye Eun; The Manipulated, a crime-action series featuring Ji Chang Wook and Do Kyung Soo; and Made in Korea, starring Hyun Bin and Jung Woo Sung.
Meanwhile, Kim Soo Hyun has long been considered a household name, known for dramas like My Love from the Star, It¡¯s Okay to Not Be Okay and Queen of Tears. His role in Knock Off was seen as his new innings, as it was his first major return to a darker character since his earlier projects.
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As an Entertainment Content Writer with 3+ Years of experience, I have been keeping a keen eye on who wore what. A self confessed Koreaboo, I am your fangirl next door. Ps: I take pride in saying that I grew up watching "It's Controversial" as a kid.
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