Jo Bo Ah Breaks Silence on Shelved Drama Knock-Off Amid Kim Soo Hyun Controversy; Says She’s Being Very Careful to Avoid Hurting Anyone

Actress Jo Bo Ah has finally spoken about the postponed Disney+ drama Knock-Off, which was indefinitely delayed due to the controversy surrounding her co-star Kim Soo Hyun. The drama, originally set to release in April 2025, faced setbacks after Kim Soo Hyun became embroiled in allegations involving the late actress Kim Sae Ron.

During an interview for her new Netflix series Dear Hongrang, Jo Bo Ah addressed the uncertain status of Knock-Off. She admitted she was being cautious with her words to avoid unintentionally hurting anyone involved in the project.

“I know that a lot of you are curious to know, but I really can’t help but approach [talking about Knock Off] with a lot of caution. Just because what I say could unintentionally hurt someone, so I’d rather hold back on commenting. I will say Knock Off is a project where everyone involved poured a lot of energy and affection into, and I believe that effort will be recognized someday and lead to a good outcome.”

The drama, which reportedly had a massive budget of ₩60 billion KRW (about $42 million USD), was highly anticipated before its postponement. Kim Soo Hyun’s involvement alone drew significant attention, with his fee rumored to be ₩9 billion KRW (around $6.29 million USD). However, the project was halted after serious allegations surfaced against him.

Kim Soo Hyun faced accusations of having dated Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor. The late actress, who died by suicide in February 2025, was allegedly in a relationship with him when she was underage. A YouTube channel, Garo Sero Institute, released photos and chat logs claiming they dated for six years, starting when she was 15.

Kim Soo Hyun later admitted to dating Kim Sae Ron but denied the relationship occurred while she was a minor. In a tearful press conference, he stated:

“Many people are suffering because of me. I also feel sorry that the late actress [Kim Sae-ron] isn’t able to rest in peace. I never dated her when she was a minor. Except for the fact that both of us were actors, our relationship was just like that of any other ordinary couple.”

The scandal led to major disruptions in Kim Soo Hyun’s career. Apart from Knock-Off being shelved, he also faced legal and financial repercussions. Reports suggest he may have to pay a penalty of over $100 million USD if the drama remains unreleased. Additionally, a marketing deal with 7-Eleven Taiwan was canceled, with the company seeking ₩6 billion KRW (around NT$130 million) in damages.

Jo Bo Ah, who was set to make her post-marriage acting return with Knock-Off, will now appear in the historical drama Dear Hongrang instead. She reflected on the challenges of filming a period piece, mentioning the difficulties of wearing traditional hanbok in winter.

“We filmed for about eight months, and it wrapped around May last year. Now that it’s finally being released, it feels special. I was single when we filmed, and now I’m married, so it feels different. They say marriage is the start of a new chapter in life—maybe that’s why, watching it now, it feels like a younger Jo Bo Ah is on screen. A lot has happened since then.”

The future of Knock-Off remains uncertain. Disney+ has not confirmed any plans to resume production or release the series. A representative stated they are still in a phase of “careful deliberation” regarding the drama’s fate. If canceled, the financial losses would be substantial for both the production team and Kim Soo Hyun.

Knock-Off was set against the backdrop of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, with Kim Soo Hyun playing an office worker who turns to counterfeit goods to survive. Jo Bo Ah was cast as a police officer investigating his activities, with their characters sharing a complicated past. The series was directed by Park Hyun-sok and written by Han Jung-hoon, known for Netflix’s Song of the Bandits (2023).

Despite the controversy, Jo Bo Ah remains hopeful that the hard work put into the project will eventually be recognized. Fans of the actors and the drama continue to wait for updates, but for now, its release remains in limbo.

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