Actor Kim Seon-ho has recently been reported to have signed an exclusive contract with Fantagio. On the 1st, Fantagio announced, “We have signed an exclusive contract with Kim Seon-ho.” They added, “Kim Seon-ho is an actor who receives great love for his stable acting skills and unique charm, and we plan to fully support him so he can showcase his abilities in various works and fields. We ask for your continued support and love for Kim Seon-ho, who has become a new member of Fantagio.”
This news has surprised industry insiders, as there was widespread speculation that Kim Seon-ho would sign an exclusive contract with HighZium Studio, Song Joong-ki’s agency. The rumors seemed certain, with multiple news articles supporting the claim. However, Kim Seon-ho suddenly decided to join Fantagio, Cha Eun-woo’s agency, leading to expressions like “HighJium was hijacked” and “Did they get blindsided?”
It seems that Kim Seon-ho was initially leaning towards Song Joong-ki’s agency until Fantagio offered a substantial contract bonus. According to industry sources, Kim Seon-ho was swayed by a contract bonus exceeding 2 billion KRW. Fantagio also may have concluded that they needed a lead actor to guide them after Cha Eun-woo, their current main star, goes into military service.
Nevertheless, offering such a significant contract bonus is considered unusual in an industry where contracts are usually signed without bonuses these days. This suggests Fantagio highly values Kim Seon-ho’s star power.
Meanwhile, Kim Seon-ho’s former agency, Salt Entertainment, is reportedly feeling some regret. Salt had managed his risks and supported him during a crisis when he faced allegations concerning his ex-girlfriend’s pregnancy in 2021, right after the rise in his popularity due to the drama “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.” Although missing the chance to renew the contract is unfortunate for Salt, there’s nothing wrongful as he departed after his contract period ended, not engaging in illegal pre-contract negotiations.
Kim Seon-ho, born in 1986, began his acting career in 2009 with the play “New Boeing Boeing.” He has appeared in dramas such as “Chief Kim,” “100 Days My Prince,” “Start-Up,” “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha,” “The Tyrant,” and films like “The Childe.” This year, he is set to appear in Netflix’s “The Big Hope,” “Can This Love be Translated?” and Disney Plus’s “Enchantment.”