From Tune Joong-ki to Tune Hye-kyo, these are the highest-paid Ok-drama actors of 2024.
Korean tv actors are insanely standard all over the world. Their fan following has solely grown over time with the steadily increasing viewers of Korean reveals, which is also called Ok-drama. And this has, in flip, helped enhance the value of a number of Ok-drama stars, making them the highest-paid actors within the trade.
Many Ok-dramas are actually among the many most watched content material on this planet. Take as an illustration Netflix’s Squid Sport, which set unprecedented streaming information for the platform. And it is only one instance. Actually, hundreds of thousands all over the world are hooked to Korean reveals — binge-watching one drama after the opposite.
Actors making more cash as Ok-drama surges in recognition
The extraordinary success of Korean dramas has resulted within the emergence of among the greatest names in leisure. The actors are usually not restricted to tv alone; they depart their mark in extensively profitable movies, too.
In fact, with an ever rising market it’s apparent that the actors headlining the reveals are raking in hundreds of thousands. Nevertheless, how a lot do they make per episode? That’s a query on everybody’s minds.
So, from Kim Soo-hyun to Tune Hye-kyo and Lee Jung-jae to Hyun Bin, check out among the highest paid Ok-drama actors in tv.
Highest-paid Korean drama actors per k-drama episode in 2024:
Kim Soo-hyun
Winner of two Grand Bell Awards — South Korea’s equal of the Academy Awards, Kim Soo-hyun is likely one of the greatest names on this planet of Korean drama.
In 2021, he starred in One Extraordinary Day, the Korean remake of the acclaimed BBC sequence Prison Justice. He was paid round USD 423,000 per episode for the hit present, making him the highest-paid Ok-drama actor.
Kim started his profession with the Korean drama Kimchi Cheese Smile in 2007 and gained industrial in addition to essential success with reveals like Dream Excessive (2011-12), Moon Embracing the Solar (2012), My Love from the Star (2013-14) in addition to movies akin to The Thieves (2012) and Secretly, Tremendously (2013).
After finishing his obligatory army service, Kim made cameo appearances in hit dramas Lodge del Luna (2019) and Crash Touchdown on You (2020) earlier than charming all along with his splendid efficiency within the well-received It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020), for which he was reportedly paid round USD 155,000 per episode.
Lee Jung-jae
Although extra famend as a film star, Lee shot to worldwide stardom in 2021 with Netflix’s Squid Sport. He’s additionally set to star within the soon-to-air Star Wars’ The Acolyte. The unbelievable recognition of the present, and his efficiency made him the primary Korean to win the respective greatest actor awards on the Critics Alternative, Display screen Actors Guild Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards.
Lee was reportedly paid USD 248,000 per episode for the nine-episode drama. He’s set to reprise his function within the second season of the sequence, which has been confirmed by Netflix. The outstanding success of the primary season has assured that Lee goes to earn extra within the second, preserving his title as one of many highest-paid Ok-drama actors in 2024.
Even with out Squid Sport, Lee would nonetheless be probably the most profitable actors in Korean leisure trade. His movies have virtually constantly recorded industrial success and he has received quite a few honours over a three-decade lengthy profession for his memorable performances in movies.
Amongst his greatest recognized films are Il Mare (2000), Over the Rainbow (2002), New World (2013), The Face Reader (2013) and Ship Us from Evil (2020). In 2022, he made his directorial debut with the movie Hunt, during which he co-starred with Jung Woo-sung.
Tune Joong-ki
In simply over a decade, the South Korean actor has grow to be the toast of Ok-drama followers all over the world. He’s internationally famend for enjoying a South Korean particular forces soldier within the extremely profitable Descendants of the Solar (2016).
Just lately, he tasted essential and industrial success with Netflix’s Vincenzo (2021). The identical 12 months, he wowed critics with the epic sci-fi Netflix movie, Area Sweepers.
Phenomenally standard amongst folks of all ages due to his performances, beauty and clear picture in actual life, Tune Joong-ki was reportedly paid round USD 170,000 per episode for Vincenzo, making him one of many highest-paid Korean Ok-drama actors of the 12 months.
A few of his different well-known dramas and movies embody Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010), A Werewolf Boy (2012) and The Battleship Island (2017) and Arthdal Chronicles (2019). He wrapped filming for his subsequent film, Bogotá, in late 2021 and appeared because the lead character within the critically acclaimed Ok-drama Reborn Wealthy in late 2022.
Tune Hye-kyo
Tune Hye-kyo is likely one of the most celebrated feminine Korean actors of her technology and among the many highest-paid Ok-drama actors.
An ageless magnificence, she is greatest recognized for enjoying the lead reverse Tune Joong-ki in Descendants of the Solar (2016).
In 2021, she appeared within the drama Now, We Are Breaking Up. In keeping with Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Occasions, she was paid someplace round USD 160,000 per episode, making her the joint highest incomes tv actress in her nation with Jun Ji-hyun.
Tune has been profitable laurels for her performances on tv for the reason that Nineties. Amongst her notable appearances are Autumn in My Coronary heart (2000), Full Home (2004), That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013) and Encounter (2018-19).
She can also be remarkably well-known in China and has appeared in acclaimed films akin to Wong Kar-wai’s The Grandmaster (2013) and John Woo’s two-part epic movie The Crossing (2014 and 2015).
Aside from her performing profession, Tune can also be the face of luxurious vogue manufacturers akin to Bottega Veneta. In 2021, Korean leisure present TMI Information estimated that her prices for product endorsements and sponsored Instagram posts hover round USD 760,000 and USD 460,000, respectively.
Jun Ji-hyun
Jun, who’s popularly referred to as Gianna Jun, is likely one of the greatest stars in Korean leisure.
Worldwide audiences noticed her most not too long ago because the gritty Ashin in Kingdom: Ashin of the North (2020-21), the sidequel to the acclaimed Netflix horror-thriller Kingdom (2019–).
Jun, the primary Korean ambassador of luxurious vogue label Alexander McQueen, is extensively credited for placing Korean leisure on the world map with the traditional romantic movie My Sassy Lady (2001), for which she earned her first Grand Bell Award for Greatest Actress.
She garnered immense fame with Il Mare (2000), The Thieves (2012), The Berlin File (2013) and Assassination (2015). For Daisy (2006), she received her second Grand Bell Award for Greatest Actress.
Although her first look on the small display screen was in 1999, Jun didn’t seem in a TV sequence till the favored drama My Love from One other Star (2013-14). She adopted it up with Legend of the Blue Sea (2016-17).
In 2021, she performed the function of a nationwide park ranger within the present Jirisan. As per a report by Hankook Ilbo Jun made round USD 160,000 per episode for the present.
Lee Younger-ae
Lee is likely one of the most profitable actors within the Korean leisure scene. In 2021, she performed the function of a cop-turned-insurance investigator who’s drawn right into a homicide case. The 12-episode Ok-drama reportedly earned her someplace across the charges charged by Tune Hye-kyo and Jun Ji-hyun per episode, which is round USD 160,000 per episode.
However extra exceptional is the truth that Lee is likely one of the richest stars by web value amongst Korean celebrities, although she took an extended break from performing for round 12 years.
Lee has been internationally well-known for the reason that early years of her profession with famend movies akin to Joint Safety Space (2000), One Wonderful Spring Day (2001) and Park Chan-wook’s acclaimed thriller Sympathy for Girl Vengeance (2005), for which she received a Grand Bell Award and a Blue Dragon Movie Award amongst different accolades.
Her 2003 drama Jewel within the Palace is taken into account the present that triggered curiosity in Korean dramas throughout Asia, and followers can be happy to know that she’s set to reprise her function in a sequel.
Hyun Bin
One of many highest-paid Korean actors, Hyun Bin is counted among the many greatest performers of his technology, having starred in among the hottest Ok-dramas of all time. No surprise Crash Touchdown on You (2019-20), during which he performed the main function, is likely one of the highest-rated Korean dramas in South Korean cable tv historical past.
From enjoying small roles in his early profession, Hyun shot to fame with the 2005 romantic-comedy Ok-drama My Beautiful Sam-Quickly (also called My Title Is Kim Sam-soon). Two of his different acclaimed Ok-dramas embody Secret Backyard (2010-11) and Reminiscences of the Alhambra (2018-19).
So how a lot does the 38-year-old earn? In keeping with estimates, he instructions upwards of USD 113,000 per episode. That is certainly a speedy rise from the USD 27,000 per episode he earned for Secret Backyard.
Hyun Bin has additionally established his identify as a significant star within the Korean leisure trade, with hits akin to A Millionaire’s First Love (2006), Late Autumn (2010), Confidential Project (2017) and its sequel Confidential Project 2: Worldwide (2022).
Actually, Confidential Project 2: Worldwide is the third-highest-grossing movie on the Korean field workplace with a gross of over USD 53 million.
Go Hyun-jung
After setting a scores file with the drama Sandglass (1995), Go Hyun-jung, a former Miss Korea runner-up, stop performing to marry right into a wealthy enterprise household. Following a messy divorce, she got here out of retirement in 2003 and rapidly climbed to the highest of Korean leisure.
Her most notable works after resuming her performing profession embody dramas Queen Seondeok (2009) and Daemul (2010).
In 2021, Go starred in Reflection of You alongside actress Shin Hyun-bin. She is believed to have been paid round USD 85,000 per episode for the 16-episode sequence.
Lee Min-ho
Taking part in the lead function of Gu Jun-pyo, a younger chaebol inheritor, within the Korean drama Boys Over Flowers (2009), Lee Min-ho turned a heartthrob of hundreds of thousands throughout Asia.
The South Korean actor is likely one of the most notable contributors to the cementing of the Hallyu wave, or Korean cultural wave, all over the world. With over 31 million followers (as of 6 December 2022), Lee is probably the most adopted Korean actor on Instagram.
His best-known Korean dramas embody Metropolis Hunter (2011), Religion (2012), The Inheritor (2013), Legend of the Blue Sea (2016) and The King: Everlasting Monarch (2020). Lee’s movie appearances are scarce, however he received the Grand Bell Award for Greatest New Actor for his wonderful portrayal of a rising gangster in Nineteen Seventies South Korea in Gangnam Blues (2015).
In 2022, he made waves internationally for his main function within the Apple TV+ net sequence Pachinko, which relies on the novel of the identical identify by acclaimed Korean-American novelist Min Jin Lee.
Earlier than the discharge of Pachinko, Lee’s per-episode wage was reportedly round USD 80,000. It’s not clear how a lot he was paid for the Apple TV+ sequence, which, as per a 2018 report by The Hollywood Reporter, had a finances as excessive as that of Netflix’s The Crown (2016–) — probably the most costly TV reveals in historical past.
(Predominant picture: songjoongki official/@hi_songjoongki/Instagram; Featured picture: Tune hyekyo/@kyo1122/Instagram)
