Kim Soo-hyun & Kim Seon-ho Drama Delays Spark Rumors of Industry Fallout

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The release schedule for large-scale Disney+ productions featuring popular Korean actors is now clouded with uncertainty due to the indefinite postponement of Kim Soo-hyun's drama series and the unscheduled release of Kim Seon-ho's new series, "Hobbit."

Disney+ Hobbit
Disney+ Hobbit Naver

A Disney+ representative told TenAsia on February 3, "A specific release date has not been confirmed yet. We will let you know if there are any updates."

The series "Hobbit" is a mystery horror period drama that revolves around painter Yoon I-ho (played by Kim Seon-ho), who is commissioned to paint a portrait of Song Jeong-hwa (played by Suzy), a woman who is shrouded in rumors and has been absent from the world for over fifty years. The series is directed by Han Jae-rim, who directed "Emergency Declaration" and "The Eight Show."

According to Naver, "Hobbit" was added to the list of Disney+'s upcoming releases following the "Disney+ Original Preview 2025" event in Hong Kong, but Disney+ has not set a confirmed release schedule yet. It was reported that the recent tax scandal involving Kim Seon-ho has led to speculations that the series may be delayed.

Regarding the controversy, Kim Seon-ho's current agency, Fantagio, clarified, "The corporation in question was established for the purpose of theater production and related activities," adding that there was no intentional tax evasion.

Kim Seon-ho Start Up
mydramalist.com

TenAsia reported that it was later revealed Kim Seon-ho had received a settlement payment through a one-person corporation from his former agency, Salt Entertainment, in January 2024. Salt Entertainment stated, "We simply deposited the payment into the account requested by the actor."

Kim Seon-ho, who left Salt Entertainment after signing with Fantagio last year, is also preparing other projects, including "Unfriend" on TVING and "The Assemblyman's Care."

Disney+ release schedules have recently been affected by similar controversies. Kim Soo-hyun, for instance, previously halted activities amid allegations regarding his relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron, resulting in his Disney+ series "Knockoff" being postponed indefinitely.

Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron
Instagram/soohyun_k216, ron_sae

TenAsia added that both actors remain active in production, but their releases are now subject to review by the platform amid ongoing controversies. Disney+ has emphasized that no official dates will be announced until further notice, reflecting a cautious approach to high-profile releases in the current climate.

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