The Korean thriller series Knock Off has been indefinitely postponed, largely due to controversy surrounding one of its lead actors, Kim Soo-Hyun. The scandal involves Kim’s rumored romantic link to the late actress Kim Sae-Ron, which has sparked significant public and media attention. This has led Disney+ to delay the much-anticipated show’s release, despite earlier plans to premiere it this year.
Jo Bo-Ah, the female lead of Knock Off, recently spoke out about the delay during the Netflix premiere of her latest drama, Dear Hongrang. Until now, the cast had stayed silent amid swirling rumors, but Jo Bo-Ah cautiously addressed the situation, emphasizing her desire not to unintentionally cause harm with her words.
She expressed her appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the entire team involved in Knock Off. Jo Bo-Ah hopes that, despite the delay and controversy, the project’s efforts will eventually be acknowledged and lead to a positive outcome for everyone involved.
The series is set against the backdrop of South Korea’s 1997 financial crisis. It tells the story of an office worker named Knock who, after losing his job, turns to selling counterfeit goods to survive. The drama uses dark humor to shed light on the tragic economic collapse and its impact on ordinary people.
Before the series was postponed, Disney+ had already approved a sequel, and filming was complete. With a production budget of around 60 billion KRW, Knock Off was among the platform’s most ambitious Korean originals at the time, generating high expectations among fans and industry watchers.
Jo Bo-Ah’s statement comes after months of silence from the cast, who had refrained from commenting publicly as speculation grew. She chose her words carefully to avoid causing further damage while still showing support for the project and her colleagues.
The controversy surrounding Kim Soo-Hyun’s personal life has overshadowed what was otherwise shaping up to be a major new release for Disney+ in the Korean drama category. The indefinite hold on Knock Off reflects how off-screen issues can deeply affect a project’s trajectory.
- Fans of the show and Korean drama enthusiasts remain hopeful that the series will eventually be released and appreciated for its storytelling and production quality. For now, the focus remains on how the cast and creators navigate the fallout from the ongoing controversy.