Stars fall, productions stall: Korea’s hit shows face uncertain futures after 2025 scandals
From left, Kim Soo-hyun, Park Na-rae and Cho Jin-woong / Xportsnews
South Korea’s television industry ended 2025 with an unwelcome twist — the year delivered some of its biggest global hits, yet several high-profile projects were halted or shelved after celebrity scandals erupted around their lead stars. From streaming blockbusters to major network entertainment shows, productions that had already finished filming are now stuck in limbo, leaving viewers, crews and co-stars frustrated.
The controversies reflect what industry insiders call the growing risk of “star-dependent productions,” where a single casting choice can determine a show’s fate, even after millions have already been spent.
Kim Soo-hyun / Xportsnews
Kim Soo-hyun scandal derails Disney+ series ‘Knock-off’
Actor Kim Soo-hyun is at the center of the most shocking scandal of the year. The Hallyu star was engulfed in controversy in March after the family of the late actress Kim Sae-ron alleged that he had dated her when she was a minor and that she later faced financial hardship after his agency demanded 700 million won ($520,000) in penalty fees related to her drunk-driving scandal.
Kim Soo-hyun’s agency rejected the claims as “clearly false,” but public backlash intensified after the family released photos and messages. The actor later said he dated Kim Sae-ron only as adults and denied ignoring her financial difficulties, yet calls for his removal from programs and advertising contracts continued.
Kim Sae-ron, left, and Kim Soo-hyun / Xportsnews
He was edited out of the MBC variety show “Good Day,” withdrew from overseas events and stepped down from numerous commercials. Attention soon turned to Disney+ series “Knock-off,” which had been slated for an April release and had already completed production.
After weeks of internal review, the streaming platform said it would “put the release on hold,” effectively postponing the project indefinitely. Kim Soo-hyun has stayed out of public view since a March 31 press conference and is currently engaged in a legal battle with Kim Sae-ron’s family.
Park Na-rae / Xportsnews
Park Na-rae exits broadcasts as allegations spread, two new shows scrapped
Variety star Park Na-rae, long a familiar face on MBC’s “I Live Alone,” also halted all activities after former managers accused her of workplace abuse and excessive demands, including alleged incidents involving off-site IV treatment — a controversy that Korean social media has dubbed the “injection aunt” scandal.
The managers filed for a provisional seizure order on Park’s property ahead of a damages suit, saying they feared concealment of assets. Park apologized and announced she would step away from all programs.
Park Na-rae / Xportsnews
As a result, two upcoming shows built around her — the travel-reality program “Palm Oil Trip” and the new series “Nado Shinna,” which had been scheduled to premiere in January — were canceled during or before production. The fallout spread further when another “I Live Alone” cast member became entangled in related discussions, fueling online debate and renewed scrutiny of past episodes in which IV drips were mentioned.
Cho Jin-woong / Xportsnews
Cho Jin-woong retires after past juvenile crime revealed — can ‘Signal 2’ survive?
Actor Cho Jin-woong shocked the industry in December after a media report revealed that he had been sent to a juvenile detention facility in high school for serious offenses, including car theft and an attempted sexual assault. His agency acknowledged he “made mistakes as a minor” but denied involvement in sexual assault; however, Cho announced the next day that he would “accept all criticism” and retire from acting.
Cho Jin-woong / Xportsnews
The announcement immediately threatened tvN’s “Signal 2,” the long-awaited sequel to the 2016 hit crime drama. The show had already finished filming, with Cho reprising his role as veteran detective Lee Jae-han, and was in post-production for a planned 2026 release.
With hundreds of billions of won invested and Cho appearing in scenes that cannot realistically be edited or reshot, producers admitted they are facing a painful dilemma. The production team said they “deeply empathize with viewers’ disappointment” and will take time to search for “the best possible solution” to preserve the value of the franchise — signaling that, like “Knock-off,” the series is now on indefinite hold rather than canceled outright.
The halted projects highlight a systemic vulnerability: Actor fees make up a large share of premium drama budgets, and when a scandal forces a delay or cancellation, penalty costs can soar. Even programs that hadn’t aired yet — such as “Nado Shinna,” which had filmed portions of its first episodes — left production teams demoralized after months of work.
As the debate over accountability and fairness continues, the question remains: Can these high-stakes productions return in 2026 and reclaim public trust, or will they remain cautionary tales about the price of celebrity-centric casting?
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.