Netizens discuss the huge increase in how much K-drama actors earn per episode

Netizens are discussing the sharp rise in pay for K-drama actors per episode.

On an online forum, netizens explored the average earnings of top Korean actors, many of whom now make well over 100 million KRW (approximately 73,778 USD) per episode. This figure applies to regular television dramas, while pay rates are significantly higher for OTT streaming service dramas, starting at around 400 million KRW (approximately 295,111 USD) per episode.

One netizen summarized:

"In a 2015 drama, Kim Tae Hee received 40 million KRW per episode.
In a 2024 drama, Kim Soo Hyun received 400 million KRW per episode.
(In 2021, Song Hye Kyo and Jun Ji Hyun received 200 million KRW per episode.)

Lead actors in regular dramas typically earn 100–200 million KRW per episode (though even this range is being disrupted by OTT platforms).

Lead actors in OTT dramas earn around 400–500 million KRW per episode.

According to producers, there are even cases where actors demand up to 1 billion KRW per episode.

It’s hard to think of another profession where wages have increased this much in the same time span.

Also, the pay gap between male and female actors is seriously huge."

This summary shows that top actor fees per episode have skyrocketed in recent years, with some reportedly asking for as much as 1 billion KRW. In the case of Kim Soo Hyun, his contract for the hit 2024 drama 'Queen of Tears' reportedly totaled 5 billion KRW across 16 episodes. Since January 2024, headlines have also circulated in the K-drama industry regarding actors demanding 1 billion KRW per episode.

Netizens responded with social criticism and debate, especially regarding consumers' spending habits that help sustain such high rates. Others countered that this is simply "normal" in a capitalist economy and shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Reactions included:

"True, celebrity appearance fees are ridiculous. They earn money way too easily. At least in older variety shows, they had to live on 10,000 won a week, skip meals, do hard labor for a day in 'Real-Life Experience,' roll around in mud during comedy challenges on 'Infinity Challenge'—there were shows that looked genuinely tough, and you’d think, 'that must be hard.' But not anymore. Now, variety shows are just celebrities sitting in a studio wearing nice clothes, watching videos, and saying a few words. How does it make sense to get paid tens of millions of won per episode for that? Older travel shows had the celebrities actually go on the trips themselves, but now it’s all YouTubers and influencers doing the work while the celebrities just sit and react in a studio. They make money way too easily."

"Just stop spending. Don’t watch the dramas or movies, don’t stream idol songs, and don’t buy dozens or hundreds of things you don’t even need just because they include photocards. If people stop consuming, companies won’t hire these models."

"Just look at the dramas. Because of the distorted fees actors get, the staff can’t even make minimum wage. There should be legal regulation like in Japan to prevent these absurd salaries."

"If you stop consuming, they won’t be used ㅋㅋㅋ You’re the ones going, 'Oh my god, Wonyoung used that? Wow, I want it too,' and buying it happily. And now you're complaining it’s too expensive? LOL"

"This is the result of you all going 'Our actor! Our actor!' and hyping them up."

"There is nothing abnormal about this in a capitalist society..."

"Wow… it really is a different world they live in."

"In the end, if companies are still making a profit after paying them that much, then that says it all ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ"

"It’s not just dramas—it’s the same for variety shows. I get that they earn a lot because of their popularity or rarity, but the amount is just too extreme. At least with BJs (broadcast jockeys), their fans willingly throw money at them. And with so many celebrity scandals these days, even the products they endorse start to feel off. Fashion or cosmetics make more sense because they’re aesthetic, but still."

"They say IU is the most expensive female celebrity after Song Hye Kyo. Song Hye Kyo got 200 million per episode in 2021, so IU’s probably getting at least that much now per her drama episode. How does that make any sense?"

"It’s a system where only a few selected people out of a 50 million population can earn that kind of money. These days, even actors and celebrities are struggling to survive."

"Entertainers who are popular in Chinese-speaking regions probably get paid even more. If you think about exporting the content, maybe those rates are okay… but the staff must be suffering like crazy."

"It’s actually Netflix that caused the rise. Since they can achieve quality with just 1/5 of the U.S. production cost, massive investment poured in."

What are your thoughts?