In the aftermath of the Queen of Tears era, Kim Soo Hyun is poised to return to the K-drama scene with the Disney+ series Knock-Off. However, following allegations concerning a previous relationship with the late Kim Sae Ron, who may have been underage at the time, along with claims that his agency pressured her regarding debt repayment, both industry experts and audiences are expressing concerns about potential challenges ahead for him.

Recent reports from Korean media indicate that filming for Season 1 of Knock-Off has recently concluded, with production for Season 2 already in progress before the series' debut. Set against the backdrop of the Asian financial crisis, this Disney+ black comedy also features Jo Bo Ah. Initial announcements have stated that the first season is expected to premiere in the first half of 2025.

Knock-Off production budget and Kim Soo Hyun's K-drama fee

In light of the current circumstances, Kim Soo Hyun's reputation is at risk, and the K-drama is also in jeopardy of being canceled. Reports from AllKpop and Koreaboo indicate that the production budget for Knock-Off is approximately 60 billion KRW (around 41 million USD). The actor, known for his role in Queen of Tears, is reportedly earning between 500 million and 800 million KRW per episode, which totals over 5 billion KRW for the entire eight-episode season.

Initially, the production team was committed to continuing with the filming of Season 2 as scheduled. However, recent updates suggest that the release timeline for Kim Soo Hyun's new K-drama is now uncertain and experiencing delays. This is largely due to the YouTube channel HOVERLAB (Garosero) intensifying its scrutiny of the actor, presenting increasing amounts of evidence and previously unseen photographs that allege Kim Soo Hyun had a relationship with Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor.

Industry insiders are convinced Disney+ will sue Kim Soo Hyun over alleged underage dating

As the controversy escalates daily, industry experts are considering the potential for Disney+ to take legal action against the actors of The Producers for breaching the "morality clause" in their contracts, as the once-stellar public image of Soo Hyun is now tarnished.

Soo Hyun's situation has even prompted Prada to terminate his role as brand ambassador. With insiders predicting a challenging future for him, one remarked, “Similar to Netflix, Disney+ is a major global OTT platform. If they conclude that Kim Soo Hyun’s scandal has resulted in financial losses, they are likely to pursue legal action. His forthcoming response will be crucial in shaping the outcome.”

The scandal surrounding Kim has drawn parallels to Netflix’s lawsuit against Kevin Spacey following allegations of sexual misconduct in 2018, which led to his removal from the acclaimed series House of Cards. Spacey faced a $30 million lawsuit for damages, which forced him to liquidate assets and brought him to the edge of bankruptcy.

As viewers, we can only observe how this controversy continues to develop, and how Disney+ will navigate what was once anticipated to be another successful project, now overshadowed by criticism since March due to Kim Soo Hyun’s involvement.

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