The rise of Korean cultural domination has been fascinating to see – from the explosive K-pop ‘Hallyu’ wave which captured the imaginations of teenagers and young adults everywhere, to the slow and meandering appearance of K-dramas on everyone’s screens. OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime have played an enormous role in introducing Korean culture to the masses via the various dramas which have become a familiar guest in many Indian homes.
From Squid Game’s massive success to the heart-wrenching and frankly, life-changing moments witnessed on When Life Gives You Tangerines, K-dramas have touched people’s hearts and managed to connect with them.
At the heart of these K-dramas are the actors themselves who have managed to bond with audiences and built somewhat of a cult following across the world. With Squid Game, Lee Jung Jae became a household name as did IU when she starred in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart. This heightened fame acquired by the actors have not only made them beloved but also very, very rich – landing them brand deals, endorsements and allowing them to command higher payouts for their shows. So, here’s a look at the highest paid Korean drama actors and what they earn per episode.
Lee Jung Jae
Lee Jung Jae’s explosive popularity with the show Squid Game made him one of the highest paid Korean actors in the world. According to Forbes, he was commanding $1 million per episode for seasons 2 & 3. Beyond acting, he has also ventured into the restaurant business with fellow actor Jung Woo-Sung and has a development company called Seorim C&D, putting him at the top spot.
Lee Min Ho
One of the few actors with incredible career longevity, Lee Minho has entranced generations upon generations of people. From his first major appearance on screen as Boys Over Flowers’s Jun Pyo to recent roles in prestige television shows like Apple’s Pachinko, he has come a long, long way and his hard work has really paid off. While earning an impressive $80,000 per episode for K-dramas, Lee Min Ho went on further to earn $700,000 per episode for Pachinko.
Kim Soo Hyun
Kim Soo Hyun was already wildly popular as a heartthrob in South Korea before global audiences caught up to him with Queen of Tears. His roles in shows like My Love From the Star, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay and Dream High have only further cemented his status as an icon despite his relative youth. According to Tatler Asia, he was earning $423,000 per episode (based on his pay per episode of One Ordinary Day) putting him second on the list.
Song Joong Ki
Song Joong Ki has mesmerised audiences with performances in dramas like Descendants of the Sun, Vincenzo, Arthdal Chronicles and Reborn Rich. He was also once a part of the ‘Song-Song’ couple along with actress Song Hye Kyo who he was once married to and that too contributed to his rising fame as fans were obsessed with their pairing. According to the same Tatler report, he earned a fee of $228,500 per episode for Reborn Rich so it is safe to say, that he is doing quite well for himself.
Hyun Bin
Despite being in the industry for a long time, Hyun Bin truly broke out as a global fan favourite when he starred in the 2019 drama Crash Landing On You. According to Hindustan Times, he earns $167,000 per episode. He also has several deals with luxury brands like Loro Piana, Tom Ford and Omega according to Prestige Hong Kong. With an impressive net worth of $21 million, as reported by Times of India, he has truly accepted success with his arms wide open.