| Actor Kim Soo-hyun reportedly will establish his own agency. Courtesy of KEYEAST |
By Dong Sun-hwa
Top-tier actor Kim Soo-hyun will set up his own agency with his cousin, according to reports, Wednesday.
Kim reportedly will not renew his contract with KEYEAST, which has been representing him since his debut in 2007. KEYEAST is the management company founded by actor Bae Yong-joon.
Kim will team up with his cousin, filmmaker Lee Sa-rang. He featured in Lee's action flick “Real” in 2017, before serving obligatory military service. They are known to have a strong friendship.
The name of Kim's new agency is not known, but reports said actress Seo Ye-ji and Kim Sae-ron are likely to join it. Seo, in particular, will play opposite Kim in the tvN drama “Psycho, But It's Okay,” which is set to premiere early next year.
But KEYEAST denied Kim's departure, saying it is in talks with the actor over the contract renewal.
“We haven't heard any news about Kim's establishment of his agency,” a spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Kim, 31, was catapulted to fame after appearing in the dramas "Dream High" (2011), "Moon Embracing the Sun" (2012) and "My Love from the Star" (2013-14). In 2015, at 27, he became the youngest winner of the KBS Drama Awards. He returned to civilian life in July after 21 months of military duty.