An excellent way to make use of your time spent on your Korean language course is to get to know more about Korea as a country. In particular, getting to know the country’s celebrities is a great way to pass time and entertain yourself, all the while applying everything you’ve learned.
With that said, there’s no denying that Korean TVs and movies have been an international success. As a result, the actors and actresses who’ve starred in them have pocketed themselves quite the pay.
If you’re curious to know which ones earned or get paid the most, be sure to scroll down below!
1. Kim Soo Hyun
Topping our list is It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’s lead, 32-year-old actor, Kim Soo Hyun. Having previously starred in popular TV series such as Dream High, Moon Embracing the Sun, and My Love From the Star, it’s only natural for a talent like Kim to demand such a high fee.
However, we bet that you didn’t expect him to make 200 million Korean won per episode of his latest show. That’s roughly around SGD$240,000 when converted, by the way.
2. Jun Ji Hyun
Kim’s female lead in My Love From the Star isn’t doing bad herself. Jun Ji Hyun has long been one of the most popular Korean actresses and has managed to stay in the spotlight for the past two decades.
She’s had roles in some of the most iconic Korean films of all time, like My Sassy Girl, Windstruck, and Il Mare. However, it wasn’t until in 2014 after My Love from the Star that she reportedly started netting 100 million Korean won, which is around SGD$120,000 an episode. This is enough to make Jun Ji Hyun the highest-paid Korean actress today.
She also made a real estate expansion in 2017 when she purchased an entire building in Gangnam, a luxurious neighbourhood in Seoul.
3. Hyun Bin
Hyun Bin’s no stranger to being one of Korea’s most popular actors. However, it wasn’t until his most recent project, Crash Landing on You, that Hyun Bin became one of the most popular Korean actors in the world.
As a result of him starring in the third-highest-rated South Korean TV drama in cable television history, Hyun Bin gets paid approximately SGD$112,000 per episode!
4. Lee Young-Ae
This veteran actress hasn’t starred in as many shows as her contemporaries. However, with a salary of 100 million Korean won per episode, she doesn’t need to. Besides, it’s quality over quantity for Lee Young-Ae.
She was so talented with her acting career that she brought home the Best New Actress Award at 1994 SBS Drama Awards. Best known for her role in 2003’s Jewel in the Place, Lee Young-Ae decided to lie low for a while and focus on her family before making her long-awaited return to the small screen with Saimdang, Memoir of Colors, back in 2017.
Conclusion
There you have it, the top few highest-paid Korean actors and actresses today. With salaries of at least 100 million Korean won per episode, these actors and actresses make for some must-watch television.
Come and join us at Sejong Korean Language School if you are interested in picking up Korean. You can supplement what you learn with some Korean television shows and movies – your best bet is to go and watch a show or series with one of these actors and actresses starring in them. Rest assured that you are going to have a good time!