Reports say that South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun is getting closer to making a comeback in the industry, almost a year after the death of actress Kim Sae Ron. This has led to a lot of criticism from international fans and online commenters.

Last March, Disney+ put off the release of "Knock-Off," an original series starring Kim Soo Hyun, for an indefinite amount of time. The show cost ₩60.0 billion KRW (about $41.7 million USD).

There was a lot of talk about Kim Sae Ron's death and accusations made by her family, which led to the decision. The delay effectively stopped what had been one of the most anticipated Korean dramas on the platform and put the actor's next big project on hold.

Koreaboo says that Disney+ is reorganizing its 2026 content lineup and moving the release date for "Knock-Off" to the first half of the year. The outlet said that investor briefings in early March are likely to go over the last details of production and streaming plans. This means that the high-budget series is being thought about again.

People who watch the industry say that Kim Soo Hyun's global fan base and financial problems could be behind the reported change. Since the production costs are already sunk into the project, putting the series on hold indefinitely would be a big loss. Reports say that stocks in the entertainment industry that are related to K-dramas have also been going up because of rumors about a possible K-drama revival.

TheFairNews's coverage showed how big the backlash was, saying that online criticism grew as news of the possible rescheduling spread on social media.

People who use social media have said they are angry in very clear terms.

A user wrote in a post that went viral, "I'll block everyone i see watching or posting about this pedo's show."

In a follow-up message, the same user said, "I dont care if you are my mutual, if you support pedos, you are out."

Another person who commented on Kim Sae Ron's death talked about her career problems before she died. They wrote,"Mind you kim saeron was literally exiled from the industry and had to start working a 9 to 5. Men really have it so easy."

More criticism came in other posts. Someone said,"STILL A PEDO Fk him Fk his show Fk his supporters Fk Disney."

Another person said, "Fck him and everyone who supports this show."

As of this writing, neither Kim Soo Hyun nor Disney+ has said anything publicly about the most recent wave of criticism. As investors and viewers wait for official word on the future of "Knock-Off," the situation continues to develop.