Kim Soo Hyun Could Face A Potential Massive Lawsuit from Disney+ Over Knock Off… Industry Insiders Weigh In
Actor Kim Soo Hyun is now facing allegations regarding a past relationship with the late Kim Sae Ron during her minor years, as well as pressure related to debt repayment. As a result, there is speculation that Disney+ may pursue a massive penalty lawsuit against him if the situation remains not addressed or is poorly addressed, all eyes are on Kim Soo Hyun and how he’ll further address the allegations.
Kim Soo Hyun recently completed filming for season 1 of the Disney+ original series Knock-Off and was set to begin shooting for season 2. He stars alongside Jo Bo ah and the production has a budget of 60 billion won [$41,392,152]. Knock-Off is scheduled to be released in two parts, with season 1 airing in the first half of this year and season 2 in the latter half.
Knock-Off trusted Kim Soo Hyun… but now, suspicions arise over his false statement
However, as claims surfaced that Kim Soo Hyun was in a relationship with the late Kim Sae Ron while she was a minor and that he pressured her over her DUI-related debt, the project has been thrown into uncertainty.
After Kim Soo Hyun denied the relationship allegations, the production team of Knock-Off initially announced on the 12th of March that filming for season 2 would proceed as planned.
But soon after, Garo Sero Research Institute (hereafter Gaseyeon) escalated its accusations, releasing a series of private photos of Kim Soo Hyun and the late actress. On the 14th, Kim Soo Hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, changed its stance, admitting that he had dated Kim Sae Ron—but only after she became an adult.
Then, on the 17th of March, Kim Sae Ron’s family claimed that her diary contained an entry stating she had been dating Kim Soo Hyun since 2015, when she was still a minor. They also revealed that two legal notices had been sent regarding this matter.
Further fueling suspicions, an old photo resurfaced from 2017, allegedly showing Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun together in front of a house. This has led to growing speculation that Kim Soo Hyun may have been dishonest about the timeline of their relationship.
Disney+ Knock-Off may file a massive penalty lawsuit against Kim Soo Hyun
As the controversy intensifies, there is growing speculation that Disney+ may pursue a significant breach-of-contract lawsuit against Kim Soo Hyun.
Contracts for advertisements, dramas, and films often include a “morality clause” that requires celebrities to maintain a positive public image. If they cause a scandal, they may be required to pay damages, as a celebrity’s image directly impacts a project’s success.
The production budget for Knock-Off is 60 billion won, with lead actors typically earning 10–20% of the total budget. Kim Soo Hyun’s reported fee per episode is between 500 million and 800 million won, meaning he could have received over 5 billion won [around $3,449,322] for the 8-episode drama.
If Disney+ proceeds with a lawsuit, Kim Soo Hyun may not only have to forfeit his earnings but also compensate for production delays and potential cancellation costs. Since damages are typically calculated at 20–30% of a production’s budget, he could be facing tens of billions of won in penalties [10s of millions of dollars].
When global OTT giants sue… even Hollywood actors go bankrupt
There is precedent for streaming platforms taking legal action over scandals. Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey was nearly bankrupted after Netflix sued him for violating their contract due to sexual misconduct allegations.
In 2018, he was removed from Netflix’s House of Cards following the controversy, and the streaming giant filed a lawsuit demanding $30 million in damages. A U.S. court ruled in Netflix’s favor, forcing Kevin Spacey to sell off assets to pay the massive penalty.
At the time, he admitted in an interview with a British broadcaster, “I even had to sell my house. The legal fees and massive penalty payments due to the scandal have left me nearly bankrupt.”
An industry insider commented, “Disney+ is a global OTT powerhouse, just like Netflix. If they suffer financial losses due to a celebrity’s personal scandal, they are likely to take legal action. Kim Soo Hyun’s response will be a crucial factor in how this unfolds.”
All eyes are now on how Kim Soo Hyun will navigate this crisis and what decision Disney+ will ultimately make. Gold Medalist has yet to issue a new response to address the growing allegations and criticisms aimed at them and at Kim Soo Hyun.
Source: (A)
