Kim Soo Hyun’s upcoming Disney Plus series Knock-Off finds itself in the crosshairs of controversy as allegations surface that the A-list Korean star dated the late Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor.
Set for release in April, Knock-Off follows a man whose life is upended during the IMF crisis as he transforms from an ordinary office worker into a global counterfeit market kingpin. The big-budget series, which stars Kim Soo Hyun alongside Jo Bo Ah, has already wrapped its first season and is currently filming its second.
Initially positioned as Kim’s triumphant follow-up project after cementing his “ratings king” status with the hit tvN series Queen of Tears, Knock-Off now faces an uncertain future due to the mounting controversy surrounding its leading man.
The allegations claim Kim Soo Hyun, born in 1988, dated Kim Sae Ron, born in 2000, from 2015 to 2021, beginning when she was just 15 years old. Multiple past photos of the two have circulated online as purported evidence, creating widespread backlash.
Knock-Off reportedly carries a production budget of 60 billion KRW (approximately 41 million USD), leaving Disney Plus in a precarious position. Industry watchers are also speculating about potential contract penalties Kim might face should the series encounter distribution problems.
Netizens have expressed divided opinions on the matter. Some are rallying behind Jo Bo Ah while condemning Kim: “I really support Jo Bo Ah… but Kim Soo Hyun needs to be removed,” “Make him pay the penalty and recast the male lead for reshoots.” Others directed their criticism at Disney Plus: “Disney, wake up. You’re selling dreams and hope to young children; are you planning to bury pedophilia?” and “It’s not just any channel, it’s Disney.”
Some fans have begun sending protest emails directly to the platform.
Others, however, urge caution: “There’s nothing definitive, don’t send someone to rock bottom,” and “They’ve already finished filming season one; how can they change things now?”
Despite multiple statements from Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, the controversy remains unresolved. With advertisers already showing signs of cutting ties, all eyes are on Disney Plus as the industry awaits their decision.
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