Disney+ Korea may be staring down a massive PR disaster, as one of its most anticipated K-drama projects has reportedly been halted, and leading star Kim Soo-hyun is now facing a jaw-dropping ₩180 billion KRW (approx. $130 million USD) penalty — sending shockwaves through the Korean entertainment industry.
🎬 The Drama That Sparked It All
The halted series, tentatively titled Knock Off, was set to be a high-stakes action thriller with Kim Soo-hyun playing a complex anti-hero. With a big budget, global streaming rights, and sky-high fan expectations, it was poised to become one of Disney+ Korea’s flagship titles for 2025.
But now, everything has come to a grinding halt — and no one saw it coming.
💥 The Shocking Penalty
According to insider reports, production was suddenly suspended amid disputes over script issues, budget escalations, and alleged conflicts between creative teams and Disney+ executives. Caught in the middle? Kim Soo-hyun — whose exclusive contract reportedly holds him liable for penalties if production fails due to “non-performance or breach.”
“The number is staggering — ₩180 billion is unheard of, even for a top-tier Hallyu star,” one industry insider revealed.
“This could become the biggest contractual dispute in Korean drama history.”
😱 Fans React: “This Can’t Be Real!”
News of the cancellation and penalty sent fans into full meltdown on social media, with hashtags like #JusticeForKimSooHyun and #DisneyPlusMess trending within hours.
“Why should he pay for the platform’s mismanagement?” one user raged.
“If this is true, Disney+ Korea just nuked their own future,” another wrote.
📉 What It Means for Disney+
This controversy comes at a difficult time for Disney+, which has already faced criticism in Asian markets for lackluster content performance and internal restructuring. A failed blockbuster like Knock Off could deal a serious blow to its credibility and viewer trust in South Korea — one of the world’s fastest-growing K-drama markets.
As legal battles loom and production crews remain in limbo, one question echoes across the industry: is this a Disney+ flop, or something far more explosive?
