Kim Soo-Hyun To Song Hye-Kyo: The Highest-Paid Korean Actors Right Now

Korean dramas are increasingly popular throughout the world. With South Korean actors amassing fans from all over the globe, it is no surprise that their net worth has grown tremendously alongside their expected salary. Given the slew of K-dramas being released each year, the South Korean media is constantly keeping tabs on how much these actors and actresses are paid for their onscreen appearances. You might have even heard of actors voluntarily taking pay cuts because of their exorbitant salaries! 

Coupled with critically acclaimed shows like Squid Game topping the US Netflix chart, it is undeniable that the Korean entertainment industry is rapidly growing. The extraordinary success of these dramas catapulted many K-drama stars into international fame, leading to a huge salary jump. Here are some of the highest-paid Korean actors right now!

Kim Soo-Hyun 

As one of the biggest names in Korea at the moment, it is no wonder that Kim Soo-Hyun is one of the highest-paid actors. Born in 1988, the actor debuted in 2007 but only became internationally famous after starring in the 2011 high school musical drama, Dream High. Since then, he continued to work on other hit dramas such as period drama Moon Embracing The Sun in 2012, My Love From The Other Star in 2014 and more. 

In 2017, he enlisted in the South Korean army and completed the mandatory military service in 2019. After returning, he acted in dramas,  It’s Okay To Be Not Okay in 2020, One Ordinary Day in 2021, and Queen Of Tears in 2024. 

While it was reported by South China Morning Post that It’s Okay To Be Not Okay paid Kim Soo-Hyun a dizzying amount of 200 million won (approximately 190,000 SGD) per episode, his salary only continued to rise. For his next project, One Ordinary Day, he was allegedly paid 500 million won (approximately 591,000 SGD) per episode which is more than twofold his previous salary. This year, Kim Soo-Hyun’s salary made the headlines again after it was reported that he was paid a staggering amount of 800 million won (approximately 785,000 SGD) for each episode of Queen Of Tears. While this has been debunked by production company Studio Dragon, many predicted his actual salary to be around 300 million won. This pay cut was allegedly because of his close relationship with the writer Park Ji-eun which made him lower his fees out of respect for her. 

Lee Jung-Jae 

Even if you are not a fan of typical Korean dramas, you definitely would have heard of “Squid Game”. This Korean Netflix original series was so popular that it became the most-watched title on Netflix one month after its release. Lee Jung-Jae played protagonist Seong Gi-Hun, a divorced gambler who wanted money to gain custody of his daughter. His portrayal of Seong Gi-Hun won him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and he became the first ever non-English speaking actor to win that award. He reportedly earned 248,000 USD (approximately 335,000 SGD) per episode for season one and according to South Korean tabloid Dispatch, he requested an amount of 1,000,000 USD (approximately 1,300,000 SGD) per episode for season two. 

Song Joong-Ki

Next on the list would be Song Joong-ki. With two Baeksang Arts Awards and two Blue Dragon Film Awards, the actor’s stellar career is attested by his large domestic and international fanbase. In recent years, he is best known for his work in Descendants of the Sun (2016), Vincenzo (2021) and Reborn Rich (2022).

He shot to international fame in 2016 after playing the charismatic captain Yoo Si-jin in Descendants of the Sun. Captivating fans globally, he instantly became South Korea’s new heartthrob. While it was not revealed how much he was paid for Descendants of the Sun, South China Morning Post reported that he was paid a sum of 180 million won (approximately 176,000 SGD) per episode for Arthdal Chronicles that aired from 2019 - 2023. It was also estimated that his fees rose to more than 200 million won (approximately 196,000 SGD), for Vincenzo and other series that came after it. 

During an episode of KBS’ Entertainment Company Live on Jan 12, 2023, it was revealed that Song Joong-Ki was worth about 50 billion won (approximately 49 million SGD) — almost double the previous estimation of 34 billion won (approximately 33 million SGD). This huge jump was believed to be because of the release of Vincenzo and Reborn Rich. 

Jun Ji-Hyun (Gianna Jun)

Another popular actress is Jun Ji-Hyun. She started a career in 1997 and first rose to fame on the big screen with the film My Sassy Girl in 2001. Known for her versatile characters and expressive acting, she has acted across a wide variety of genres, ranging from romantic comedies to intense thrillers. While she mostly worked on movies, she finally returned to television in 2013. Starring alongside Kim Soo-Hyun in My Love From The Other Star, she achieved huge success, earning the Daesang (grand prize) at the 50th Baeksang Awards in 2014.

While it was widely believed that she was one of the highest-paid actresses, this confirmation came in 2021 when she starred in Jirisan. Journalist Ahn Jin-Yong estimated that she made around 163,000 USD (approximately 220,000 SGD) per episode, making her the highest-paid actress in South Korea. 

Song Hye-Kyo 

While the Song-Song couple might no longer be together now, they really were a power couple even in terms of salary! Alongside Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo is also a top earner. A household name since the early 2000s, she is now one of Korea’s most recognisable actresses. She is best known for her leading role in dramas such as Full House in 2004, That Winter, the Wind Blows in 2013, and Descendants of the Sun in 2016.

In 2023, she won the Baeksang award for best actress for Netflix's psychological thriller drama, The Glory. It was reported in a YouTube video by South Korean newspaper Munhwa IIbo’s journalist Ahn Jin-Yong, that she was paid 220,000 SGD per episode. In a separate article by The Korea Times, she was reported to have received around 160,000 USD (approximately 216,000 SGD) for the drama Now, We Are Breaking Up (2021). 

Lee Young-Ae 

Lee Young-Ae has made her mark in both television and film since her debut as a model in 1991. Best known for her portrayal of Dae Jang-Geum in Jewel in the Palace in 2003, the period drama achieved international recognition. It is seen as one of the main contributors to the Hallyu Wave and helped to spread Korean culture abroad. 

In 2021, she acted in the drama Inspector Koo and it was reported by Lifestyle Asia that she was paid around 160,000 USD (approximately 216,000 SGD) per episode. Despite taking a 12-year break from the industry, she remains on the list of top-paid actors in South Korea due to her legendary status as an actress.

While there are no reports of her salary in her latest drama, Maestra, it is speculated that she might be earning more than what she was paid in Inspector Koo. 

Hyun Bin

Another prominent actor in the industry would be Hyun-Bin. As expected, his level of fame also matches his salary, making him one of the highest-paid actors in South Korea. He first achieved stardom in the 2005 romantic comedy TV series, My Lovely Sam Soon. The 2005 series was a hit with viewers, winning him his first award at the MBC Drama Awards. After that, he continued taking on other projects such as Secret Garden in 2010, which solidified his status as a renowned actor. 

In 2019, he portrayed North Korean captain Ri Jeong-hyeok in the hit drama Crash Landing On You, which became the highest-rated Tvn series. The series stayed on Japan’s Netflix top 10 titles for 69 consecutive weeks, showcasing its widespread popularity. According to Koreaboo, Crash Landing On You reportedly earned him a sum of 100 million won (approximately 97,000 SGD) for each episode. 

Go Hyun-Jung

As a runner-up in the Miss Korea beauty pageant in 1989, Go Hyun-Jung managed to launch her acting career shortly after. Her journey to stardom began in 1995 when she starred in the popular Korean drama series Sandglass. The series was so widely received that it was said that people would rush home to catch a new episode. However, soon after she married Samsung’s heir, Chung Yong-jin, and retired from the industry. After leaving her marriage in 2003, she made a comeback in 2005 with the melodrama Spring Day. 

Soompi reported that while starring in Dear My Friends she was paid a sum of 60 million won (approximately 58,000 SGD) per episode. The 16-episode series would have given her about 935,000 SGD in total. 

Lee Min-ho

The 2009 drama Boys Over Flowers starring Lee Min-ho, Koo Hye-sun, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Bum and Kim Joon achieved international popularity which helped propel Lee Min-ho into fame. Since then, he gained a large following from across Asia and continued to act in popular dramas such as City Hunter in 2011 and The Heirs in 2013.

After his return from the military, he starred in The King: Eternal Monarch which did relatively well in terms of international viewership. His salary has been speculated to be around 80,000 USD (approximately 108,000 SGD) per episode. With the release of Apple TV+ web series Pachinko in 2022, some have predicted that his per episode revenue would most likely have increased due to the large budget production cost. A report by The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Pachinko had a production budget equivalent to The Crown, which has one of the highest expenses for Netflix TV shows.