The release of the upcoming Korean drama series Knock-Off, starring Kim Soo Hyun, has been delayed as the embattled actor continues to face public fallout following the exposé about his past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae Ron.
Korea JoongAng Daily quoted Walt Disney Company Korea as saying, "After careful consideration, we have paused plans to release Knock-Off," which also stars Cho Bo-ah.
Several other news outlets also reported the story.
Knock-Off was initially slated for an April release and was set to be Kim Soo Hyun's follow-up project after the hit series Queen of Tears.
The production team allegedly invested a substantial budget into the series, aligning with Disney’s strategy to expand its Korean content portfolio and strengthen its foothold in the Asian market.
Knock-Off follows the story of a man whose life unravels in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
Desperate to survive, he becomes entangled in the counterfeit goods trade, finding success but also drawing the attention of his ex-girlfriend—now a police officer determined to take down those involved in the illicit business.
CONTROVERSIAL PAST WITH KIM SAE RON
The postponement of Knock-Off added to Kim Soo Hyun’s troubles, who suddenly finds his rosy career taking an unexpected downturn.
Kim Sae Ron passed away on February 16, 2025, at the age of 24, with authorities ruling her death a suicide.
Her untimely passing reignited past rumors about her alleged romantic relationship with Kim Soo Hyun when she was a minor—a claim supported by her family.
Kim Sae Ron was said to be only 15 years old when she and Kim Soo Hyun, then 27 years old, dated.
Her family accused the actor of distancing himself from the actress after she got involved in a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) case in 2022.
Gold Medalist, the agency also handling Kim So Hyun's career, did not renew Kim Sae Ron's contract following her DUI incident—a move that brought significant financial and emotional stress to the actress, according to her family.
Read: Kim Sae Ron's family demands public apology from Kim Soo Hyun
The actor's camp initially denied the relationship rumor, but later admitted that he dated the late actress when she was already of legal age.
Read: Kim Soo Hyun finally admits past relationship with Kim Sae Ron
“Kim Soo-Hyun and Kim Sae Ron were in a relationship from the summer of 2019, after Kim Sae Ron became a legal adult, until the fall of 2020. It is not true that Kim Soo-Hyun dated Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor,” Gold Medalist said in a statement.
Read: Kim Soo Hyun files lawsuit against Kim Sae Ron's family
Kim Soo Hyun's MOUNTING LOSS
The latest update revealed Kim Sae Ron’s alleged marriage earlier this year to a New York-based South Korean man.
Following this, Kim Soo Hyun filed a lawsuit against her family.
But, the controversy had already delivered a massive blow to his career.
Aside from losing followers on social media, brands, such as Prada Korea, Dinto, Cuckoo China, Jeju Air, Tous les Jours, Shinhan Bank, Eider, and Aekyung Group, also dropped him as their endorser.
Angry fans also called for a boycott of Knock-Off, a demand initially dismissed by Disney+ and the show's producers, who insisted that filming would proceed as planned and the release schedule remained unchanged despite the controversy.
Read: EXPLAINER: What fuels cancel culture in South Korea?
Ultimately, the producers chose to delay the series' release until the public uproar subsides.