Kim Soo Hyun's 'Knock-Off' Drama Halted Amid Controversy; Actor Faces Potential ₩180 Billion Penalty

South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun's upcoming Disney+ series, Knock-Off, has been suspended indefinitely following allegations concerning his past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron. The production team informed the cast and crew of the halt, with no set date for resumption, leaving the drama's future uncertain. 

Knock-Off was poised to be one of Disney+ Korea's most ambitious projects, boasting a reported production budget of ₩60 billion KRW (approximately $42 million USD). Kim Soo Hyun's fee alone was said to be around ₩9 billion KRW (about $6.29 million USD). 

The drama, set against the backdrop of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, follows a man's descent into the counterfeit goods market. Kim was set to star alongside Jo Bo Ah in this 18-episode series. 

Amid the controversy, industry insiders suggest that Kim could face breach-of-contract penalties amounting to ₩180 billion KRW (approximately $126 million USD), though no official figures have been confirmed. 

Furthermore, two companies that had engaged Kim as a brand ambassador have reportedly filed lawsuits seeking a combined ₩3 billion KRW (around $2.1 million USD) in damages. 

Kim's agency, Gold Medalist, has denied these claims, stating that they have not received any lawsuits from the mentioned companies.