Kim Seon Ho Paid 2 Billion Won to Replace Cha Eun Woo
Kim Seon Ho is expected to take over Cha Eun Woo’s star position at Fantagio as the singer-actor prepares for military enlistment.
On March 1, Fantagio announced that it had signed an exclusive contract with actor Kim Seon Ho. According to Sports Chosun on March 6, the industry reacted with surprise to Kim Seon Ho’s decision.
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This shock stemmed from ongoing rumors in the entertainment industry that Kim Seon Ho was set to sign an exclusive deal with HighZium Studio—the agency representing Song Joong Ki and Kim Ji Won.
The speculation had gained significant traction, even appearing in multiple media reports suggesting, “Kim Seon Ho is exploring a partnership with Hwang Ki Yong, CEO of HighZium Studio, whom he met while working together on the drama ‘Start-Up.’”
However, in a sudden turn of events, Kim Seon Ho opted to sign with Fantagio, the agency managing stars such as Cha Eun Woo (from boy group Astro), Kang Tae Oh, and Seo Kang Joon.
Sports Chosun reported that while Kim Seon Ho had indeed been considering HighZium Studio, Fantagio ultimately secured him with an enormous signing bonus. Industry insiders revealed that the deal was worth over 2 billion won .
“It’s believed Fantagio offered such a massive amount to recruit Kim Seon Ho because they need a top-tier actor to fill the void left by singer-actor Cha Eun Woo, the agency’s representative face, who is preparing for enlistment,” the article stated.
The piece also noted that while most exclusive contracts don’t require large upfront deposits, such a hefty signing fee was unusual. “This shows how highly Fantagio values Kim Seon Ho’s star power,” wrote Sports Chosun.
Meanwhile, Salt Entertainment—Kim Seon Ho’s former agency—is reportedly left with deep regret.
Kim Seon Ho’s popularity skyrocketed after starring in the 2021 drama “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.” However, just as the series ended, he was suddenly hit with a scandal involving his ex-girlfriend. Although he was later cleared by Dispatch, Kim Seon Ho went into a long period of self-imposed exile, while Salt Entertainment scrambled to handle the fallout. Thus, his decision not to renew with Salt at the end of last year was seen as unfortunate.
Still, Sports Chosun noted there was no sign of foul play in his departure. There was no indication of “tampering” (illegal contact before the contract expired), and Kim Seon Ho left the agency smoothly after his contract naturally ended.
Kim Seon Ho rose to fame through dramas like “Start-Up” and “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.”
Born in 1986, he began his career in 2009 as a stage actor with the play “New Boeing Boeing.” In 2016, producer Lee Eun Jin saw one of Kim Seon Ho’s performances by chance and cast him in a supporting role as Sun Sang Tae in the drama “Good Manager,” which aired in January 2017. The show’s success helped him gain recognition.
He went on to appear in several dramas such as “Strongest Deliveryman,” “100 Days My Prince,” “Start-Up,” and “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.”
In 2023, after a two-year hiatus following his scandal, Kim Seon Ho made his big-screen debut with a lead role in “The Childe.” That same year, he also starred in Disney+’s action film “The Tyrant.”
This year, Kim Seon Ho is set to return with a lead role in the Netflix romance film “Can This Love Be Translated?” alongside Go Yoon Jung. In addition, rumors suggest he is in talks to star in the mystery thriller “Delusion,” which would reunite him with Suzy following “Start-Up.”
