How Much Do Korean Actors Get Paid? The Compensation Dynamics.
In South Korea’s entertainment industry, there’s a noticeable disparity in actors’ earnings for drama series. While there are variances, top-tier actors certainly command a commendable pay.
Typically, when discussing an actor’s earnings per episode of a TV show series in South Korea, the figures are frequently presented in terms of “one hundred million” of KRW symbolically(approximately equates to $75,000 USD).
Stars like Song Joong-ki, Lee Min-ho, and Kim Soo-hyun, who shine not only in Korea but also across Asia, reportedly pocket around 300 million ㅏKRW per episode. For a 16-episode TV show series, do the math, and we’re talking a cool 5 billion KRW! While the exact figures for stars like Lee Byung-hun and Hyun Bin aren’t entirely clear, word on the street is that they’re in the 200–300 million KRW range per episode. However, this figure can fluctuate based on the length and stature of the TV show series.
Special mention must be made of Lee Jung-jae, known globally for his role in “Squid Game”. For his participation in the sequel, “Squid Game 2”, it’s been suggested that he receives an impressive 1 billion KRW for each episode.
(Note: These figures are culled from Korean media reports between 2021 and 2023. Although not definitive, they have been reviewed by industry insiders and are believed to provide a reasonable representation of the contemporary Korean entertainment scene.)
Switching our focus to actresses, notable names like Song Hye-kyo and Jun Ji-hyun reportedly command approximately 200 million KRW per episode. Kim Hye-soo is reported to receive a remuneration in the ballpark of 150 million KRW per episode. However, this figure also can fluctuate based on the length and stature of the TV show series.
Known for Acting, Earning More from Advertisements.
Beyond acting, endorsements provide an additional lucrative avenue for Korean celebrities. Many are known to secure yearly earnings that fluctuate between 500 million to 1 billion KRW from commercial endorsements alone. Given the strategic alignment with various brands (avoiding product category overlaps), some celebrities can amass substantial figures, with industry leaders like Kim Soo-hyun and Jun Ji-hyun believed to earn in the region of 20 billion KRW(which is equivalent to approximately 15 million USD) annually from endorsements.
Famous actors are known to film an average of 6–7 commercials immediately after a TV show series airs. To be candid, the popularity and earnings from these commercial appearances are somewhat lower than those of K-pop stars. Nonetheless, the income from advertisements is generally recognized as a primary source of revenue for actors, comparable to their TV show appearance fees.
The earnings of these actors, both from their roles and their commercial endorsements, are influenced by their accumulated popularity and fandom. Furthermore, unless specifically positioned as the main model for a particular product, advertising contracts are usually renewed annually, with extensions up to two years at most. As a result, actors tend to seize opportunities to film a wide range of commercials once they gain attention.
Apart from TV show appearances and commercial endorsements, how else do these actors amass their wealth? For Korean actors, it’s not common to directly run or invest in businesses. Compared to musicians or other artists who manage or invest in F&B sectors or beauty brands, actors rarely involve themselves in business ventures outside of their main profession. However, real estate investment is quite prevalent among them. We frequently come across news about prominent actors purchasing buildings in prime areas of Seoul’s Gangnam or acquiring luxury villas and mansions. Many successful actors ultimately amass their wealth through real estate.
However, A Broader Look Reveals Polarization
The aforementioned figures pertain predominantly to the elite of the industry. Data released by Korea’s National Tax Service in 2022 reveals that the median annual income for Korean actors, based on a sample of around 12,000 income declarations, stands at 35 million KRW(which is equivalent to approximately 26,000 USD). Moreover, a significant portion of actors, not belonging to the industry’s apex tier, often split their earnings with both casting and management agencies. This division frequently results in actors retaining only between 5–60% of their original fees.
Nevertheless, actors within the top 10% of the industry can lead a comfortable life, typically earning around 400 to 500 million KRW annually(equivalent to approximately 370K USD). An extrapolation of available data suggests that well-recognized actors in Korea likely see annual earnings between 10–20 billion KRW(equivalent to approximately 7.5 million to 15 million USD). Those who are popular domestically and momentarily gain public attention due to the success of specific projects can possibly exceed earnings of 20 billion KRW. Of course, actors who are globally recognized can achieve even higher revenues.
Hence, a recent trend among some young Korean actors is to aspire for roles in Netflix original series. This elevates their global presence. It also signifies the challenge of climbing the hierarchical ladder in South Korean public broadcasting TV shows and on cable networks. Cases like the Netflix series “The Glory” or “Squid Game” demonstrate how some actors, who played supporting roles, were able to break their long-standing obscurity and rise rapidly to global stardom.
The Evolving Ecosystem of Korean Drama Stars
This narrative pertains to television actors, while the story for film actors is a bit different. Although many actors transition between television series and movies, those who exclusively act in films have a slightly distinct income and ecosystem. Actors who are solely film-oriented often aim to feature in “works of art” and seek acknowledgment as “artists” at various film festivals. The degree of their engagement as commercial models differs, and in contrast, leading actors often generate significant revenue through running guarantees based on movie box office performance.
Do you find the aforementioned figures impressive or modest? Korean dramas, transcending Asian boundaries, are attracting unparalleled popularity worldwide. What’s certain is that this is a growing market, and overall conditions are improving. The competitive surge of OTT media services may have added a touch of inflation to the mix.
We live in an era where “popularity translates to money.” This is true not just for actors but also for streamers, influencers, and many others. What we discussed today is merely a small fragment of this ecosystem. Let’s delve deeper into the intriguing discourse about the Korean drama market in a future conversation :)
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