
Kim Soo Hyun’s controversy is growing, and now there are rumors that Disney+ might take legal action against him. If that happens, the financial impact could be devastating.
Kim Soo Hyun recently finished filming Season 1 of the Disney+ original series Knock-Off, a high-budget project co-starring Queen of Tears actress Kim Ji Won.
The drama, with a reported production cost of 60 billion KRW (~$45 million), was planned for a two-part release this year. However, the recent scandal surrounding Kim Soo Hyun’s alleged past relationship with the late Kim Sae Ron has cast doubt on the show’s future.
Initially, the Knock-Off team believed in Kim Soo Hyun’s denial and announced that Season 2 filming would proceed as planned. But after Garo Sero Institute released personal photos of him and Kim Sae Ron, his agency Gold Medalist changed its stance, admitting on the 14th that they had been in a relationship—though only after she became an adult.
Things got worse when Kim Sae Ron’s family revealed on the 17th that her diary contained records stating she had been dating Kim Soo Hyun since 2015, when she was still a minor. They even sent a second legal notice against him.
To add to the suspicions, an old 2017 photo showing Kim Soo Hyun outside Kim Sae Ron’s home resurfaced, making fans question if his statements were true.
Industry insiders believe Disney+ could demand massive financial penalties from Kim Soo Hyun. In most entertainment contracts, there is a “morality clause” that holds celebrities responsible if a scandal negatively impacts a production.
Since Knock-Off had a huge budget, Kim Soo Hyun likely earned over 5 billion KRW (~$3.75 million) for the first season alone. But if Disney+ decides to take legal action, he might have to return his full payment and cover any damages caused by delays or cancellation.
Typically, if an actor breaches their contract, they are required to pay 20-30% of the production budget as a penalty. If Disney+ follows this standard, Kim Soo Hyun could be facing a lawsuit worth hundreds of billions of KRW (~tens of millions of dollars).
Kim Soo Hyun is currently an endorsement model for over 15 brands, including Shinhan Bank, Homeplus, Prada, Jo Malone, and Cuckoo. If Disney+ sues him, other brands might follow, causing even more financial trouble.
Some industry insiders are comparing Kim Soo Hyun’s situation to Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey. After Spacey was removed from Netflix’s House of Cards due to misconduct allegations, Netflix sued him for breach of contract, demanding $30 million (~39 billion KRW).
He lost the lawsuit and had to sell his assets to cover the penalty, leaving him nearly bankrupt.
One entertainment insider stated, "Disney+ is a global powerhouse like Netflix. If they suffer financial losses due to an actor’s personal scandal, they won’t hesitate to take action. How Kim Soo Hyun responds will determine his future."
With the controversy still unfolding, many are wondering—will Kim Soo Hyun be able to recover from this crisis, or is his career in serious danger?
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