As the K-drama business expands, South Korean actors become in demand. According to the list released by "All Year Live," these famous and A-list Korean stars are being paid millions per drama episode.
Jun Ji Hyun
"Kingdom: Ashin of the North" star Jun Ji Hyun is the highest paid South Korean actress. She received more than 100 million won per drama episode in "My Love from the Star" and "The Legend of the Blue Sea."
In fact, Ji Hyun and actress Lee Young Ae are the only artists who can have 100 million won as an appearance fee. Aside from the series, Jun Ji Hyun was able to earn 20 billion won in advertising alone and is being paid more than 1 billion won in advertising fees.
The "My Sassy Girl" star's estimated income this 2021 is 17 billion won.
Kim Soo Hyun
Following her on the list is her previous "My Love from the Star" co-star Kim Soo Hyun. He earned 520 million won during his appearance in a Chinese entertainment show once. Meanwhile, Kim Soo Hyun's talent fee in "It's Okay Not to Be Okay" reached 200 million won per episode and his upcoming series to be released soon is expected to cost 500 million won per episode.
He has also been busy doing lots of advertisements which cost 100 million won per brand. Kim Soo Hyun is said to have an income of 13 billion won this year.
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Yoo Jae Suk
The ever-humble and dubbed as the National MC in South Korea, Yoo Jae Suk comes in third place. Since he has various projects, the "Running Man" host's entertainment fee alone is said to be 10-15 million won per episode and 20-25 million won over the air television. Yoo Jae Suk's annual income is 2.7 billion won.
Song Joong Ki
Making it in the fourth spot is the A-list actor Song Joong Ki. Since he appeared in the hit romantic-comedy drama "Descendants of the Sun" in 2016, Song Joong Ki's talent fees has increased.
A known cosmetic company in China offered 4 billion won for advertising to the Korean star. He received 180 million won per episode from his 2019 series "Arthdal Chronicles" and in his latest drama "Vincenzo" which became a global success, Song Joong Ki earned 200 million won per episode.
The K-drama star is also doing advertisements and according to "All Year Live," Song Joong Ki's fee for a year is more than 1 billion won.
Lee Seung Gi
"Mouse" star Lee Seung Gi came in fifth spot. As an all-rounder artist, Seung Gi has been doing variety shows and drama projects almost every year.
As he continues to become prominent in the industry, Lee Seung Gi is said to receive 70 million won per drama episode in 2016 and increased to 100 million won in his previous series "Hwayugi." For his K-drama "Vagabond" and "Mouse" the singer-actor earned higher than 100 million won per episode.
Song Hye Kyo
Beautiful actress Song Hye Kyo also made it to the list and "All Year Live" revealed that the female star earned a total of 960 million won for an appearance fee of 60 million won per drama episode in her 2016 K-drama "Descendants of the Sun."
Her Instagram advertising cost 500 million won per post and her model fee is said to be 900 million won.
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Written by Shai Collins.
