Things are only getting worse for Kim Soohyun (김수현). Recent reports suggest that the controversial actor may face a hefty fine from Disney+ Korea for putting one of its most expensive projects on hold.
To recap, Kim Soohyun is facing heavy backlash from the public because of his alleged relationship with late actress Kim Saeron (김새론). The actress’ aunt also suggested that the actor had caused Kim Saeron emotional distress, driving her to take her own life. Since the allegations broke out, the actor has been in the news for his attempts to defend himself and his image.
Recently, new outlets reported about Disney+ Korea’s “Knock-Off (넉오프)”, which is now on hold because of Kim Soohyun’s scandal. The project stars the actor and Jo Boah (조보아) and was already in production. It’s one of the streaming service’s most expensive projects, with a production budget of KRW 60 billion (approximately RM184 million). The actor’s salary for the project also reportedly reached a whopping KRW 9 billion (approximately RM27 million).
As such, the delayed production means Kim Soohyun is now facing a hefty fine for breach of contract. The exact penalty is still in discussion, but industry experts speculate that the fine could be as high as KRW 180 billion (approximately RM553 million), roughly three times the show’s budget. The speculated fee is based on the cost of production and the potential loss the drama faces if the project needs a recast, or worse, gets shelved.
Unfortunately, the actor also faces more breach of contract penalties because of his scandal. There were previously reports that Kim Soohyun was also facing a KRW 20 billion (approximately RM60 million) penalty fee for breaching the contract of his brand endorsements. After his scandal broke out, the actor was dropped from all his endorsements, including with brands like Cuckoo, Jo Malone and Prada.
Since Kim Soohyun’s scandal remains unresolved, there’s no telling what will happen to “Knock-Off”. For now, the production team can only wait to see how the actor’s legal matters unfold – but what are your thoughts on this?
Source: Koreaboo
