2025 has been a turbulent year for the Korean entertainment industry. With top stars embroiled in scandals ranging from legal battles to past criminal records, networks and streaming platforms have been forced to hit the brakes on several major productions.
From Disney blockbusters to popular variety shows, here are 5 works that are facing an uncertain future due to controversies surrounding their lead stars.
Knock-Off
Disney’s highly anticipated series Knock-Off has been indefinitely postponed. The drama, which follows a man’s rise from office worker to counterfeit kingpin after the 1997 Asian financial crisis, was initially set to release in the first half of 2025.
The delay comes after allegations raised by the late actress Kim Sae Ron’s family, who claimed she had a relationship with actor Kim Soo Hyun while she was a minor. Kim Soo Hyun’s team strongly denied the allegations and explained that their relationship began only after both were adults. However, negative public sentiment forced Disney to delay the release.
Although filming for Season 2 has already been completed, the ongoing legal disputes suggest Knock-Off will remain on hold for the foreseeable future.
Second Signal
The long-awaited sequel to the hit crime thriller Signal faced a major crisis when lead actor Cho Jin Woong’s past as a juvenile offender came to light. Reports revealed he had received juvenile protective dispositions for serious crimes, including theft and sexual assault, and had used a stage name to conceal his past.
Although his agency denied the sexual offense allegations, Cho announced his sudden retirement from the industry. This posed a massive problem for Signal 2, as Cho plays an honest and righteous detective—a character image now at odds with reality. To preserve the integrity of the show and find a solution, tvN has pushed the release target to the summer of 2026.
Paik Jong Won’s Variety Show
Celebrity chef Paik Jong Won has faced a string of controversies this year that have directly impacted his broadcast schedule. While Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars 2 aired despite the noise, MBC’s Chef of Antarctica has been indefinitely postponed. Additionally, the status of his other flagship program, The Genius Paik 3, remains uncertain as the network monitors public opinion.
Park Na Rae’s Variety Shows
Comedienne Park Na Rae has suspended all activities following allegations of mistreating her managers and receiving illegal medical procedures. As a result, she has stepped down from her regular spots on I Live Alone and Amazing Saturday.
The fallout from these controversies has also led to the cancellation of Palm Oil Trip (working title), a highly anticipated spin-off variety show featuring Park Na Rae, Jun Hyun Moo and Lee Jang Woo. The project has been effectively scrapped.
Additionally, I’m Excited Too (working title), a travel variety show featuring a strong lineup of female comedians including Jang Do Yeon, Shin Ki Roo and Heo Anna, has also been canceled. With Park Na Rae facing investigations and significant public backlash, the scandal is expected to have a lasting impact on her career for some time.
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