Fantagio Paid $1.4M to Steal Kim Seon-ho from Song Joong-ki and Replace Cha Eun-woo? Fans Outraged

On March 6, an exclusive media report revealed that entertainment agency Fantagio recently secured actor Kim Seon-ho by offering him a staggering 2 billion KRW (approximately 1.4 million USD) as a sign-on fee.

In the entertainment industry, signing bonuses are becoming increasingly rare, making Fantagio’s hefty offer an unusual move. According to industry insiders, the decision was made in anticipation of singer-actor Cha Eun-woo’s upcoming military enlistment, ensuring the agency retains a strong presence in the acting industry.

Initially, Kim Seon-ho was reportedly in discussions to sign with Song Joong-ki’s agency, High Zium Studio. According to an industry insider, the reason High-Zium Studio and Kim Seon-ho had a meeting regarding an exclusive contract at the time was because of their connection with Song Joong-ki. Song Joong-ki, who is close with Kim Seon-ho, proposed an exclusive contract with his agency.

However, at the last moment, Kim Seon-ho reconsidered and accepted Fantagio’s lucrative offer instead. This bold move by Fantagio has sparked debate among netizens, many of whom question the agency’s judgment. Additionally, this has led to accusations that Kim Seon-ho has shown his obsession with money. Some industry insiders also claimed that the reason he needed a particularly large deposit was because he wanted to buy an apartment. It is said that Kim Seon-ho expressed to many people that he needed funds to buy an apartment in the Seoul area. In fact, Kim Seon-ho had visited real estate listings before announcing his exclusive contract with Fantagio.

On the other hand, Kim Seon-ho rose to international fame in 2021 with his role in “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha,” but later that year, his career was overshadowed by a controversy when his ex-girlfriend accused him of coercing her into an abortion.

Following the news of his recruitment, many online users criticized Fantagio’s decision, expressing their disbelief with comments such as:

• 2 billion?? Is he seriously worth that much??
• Whoever approved this, that was the wrong move, my dude.
• Wow, am I literally witnessing this dumb company throwing away the money that Cha Eun Woo made in the trash?
• Fantagio, you’ve got to be joking. Who the heck is gonna watch anything with him in it??
• A replacement for Cha Eun-woo???? I’m sorry, what?????
• Okay lol. Apparently, Fantagio wanted to save Song Joong-ki from any more humiliation.
• That sweet and pristine image he built up before that incident came crashing down way too hard. He’s never going to recover from that.

Despite the backlash, Kim Seon-ho remains active in the industry, with several major projects lined up for 2025 and 2026, including Netflix’s “When Life Gives You Tangerines” and “Can This Love Be Translated?,” as well as Disney+’s upcoming drama “Delusion.”