The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Lifestyle
  • Jangseogak Archives
Mon, July 4, 2022 | 15:21
Who is the highest paid actor?
Posted : 2013-06-26 17:02
Updated : 2013-06-26 17:02
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Park Shin-yangKo Hyun-jungBae Yong-joon
Park Shin-yang
Park Shin-yangKo Hyun-jungBae Yong-joon
Ko Hyun-jung
Park Shin-yangKo Hyun-jungBae Yong-joon
Bae Yong-joon
By Park Si-soo

As is the case with ordinary salaried workers, TV stars tend to become tight-lipped when it comes to talking about income. But once a year ㅡ in September or October ㅡ the National Assembly offers a glimpse of what they try to keep secret during a parliamentary inspection of government and state-run companies.


The country's biggest broadcaster KBS is state-owned, which means how much money it has paid to individual entertainers is disclosed during this scrutiny. The correspondent data of two other terrestrial broadcasters, MBC and SBS, is made public through an inspection of the Korean Broadcasting Association and other state bodies in the industry.

According to data revealed in recent years, actor Bae Yong-joon is the nation's highest paid star. The 41-year-old was paid a whopping 250 million won ($217,000) in 2007 for appearing in each episode of epic drama "Taewangsasingi," whose English title is "The Legend." The drama was made up of 24 episodes, meaning he earned a staggering 5.7 billion won from it.

Park Shin-yang is the second highest paid actor per episode. The 45-year-old earned 170 million won in 2007 for appearing in each of the four extra episodes of SBS's "War of Money." He received 45 million won for each of the 16 original installments.

The radical increase provoked drama producers, costing him a three-year appearance ban on TV screens, imposed by an association of TV drama producers. He maintained a low-profile even after the ban was lifted and made a comeback in 2011 through SBS drama "Shine" in which he was paid 15 million won per episode.


Actor Jang Dong-gun and Song Seung-hun are known to receive more than 100 million won per episode.

Ko Hyun-jung is the highest paid actress. The 42-year-old received 55 million won per episode of SBS's Daemul or "President," aired in 2010. The previous record was the 48 million won that Choi Ji-woo received for the broadcaster's "Star's Lover," which aired in 2008.

The sum of 55 million won is three times higher than the non-binding limit of 15 million won set by Corea Drama Production Association (CODA) in 2007.

Thirteen actors and actresses are excluded from the financial ceiling for their "outstanding" contribution to the successful export of soap operas to Japan, said a CODA spokesman.

The 13 stars were Bae Yong-joon, Jang Dong-gun, Lee Byung-hun, Song Seung-hun, Rain, Jung Woo-sung, Kwon Sang-woo, Won Bin, So Ji-sub, Choi Ji-woo, Lee Young-ae, Song Hye-kyo and Park Yong-ha.

Emailpss@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
  • Declining approval rating feared to dampen Yoon's political drive
  • Korea's bio industry at turning point after pandemic
  • Can Chinese demand cushion blow of US recession on Asian economies?
  • Concerns grow over COVID-19 resurgence
  • More than six out of 10 South Koreans willing to fight for country
  • Not just another crypto-bubble
  • Umbrella union stages massive rallies in Seoul amid scorching heat
  • Inflation expected to accelerate further in 2nd half
  • Japanese media focuses on Yoon's 'sales diplomacy'
  • Korea loses money in trade with China
  • Cha Eun-woo eyes starring role in 'K-Pop: Lost in America' Cha Eun-woo eyes starring role in 'K-Pop: Lost in America'
  • BTS' J-Hope tops iTunes charts in 84 countries BTS' J-Hope tops iTunes charts in 84 countries
  • Moon Geun-young to make directorial film debut at BIFAN Moon Geun-young to make directorial film debut at BIFAN
  • Lee Jung-hyun returns to big screen after childbirth Lee Jung-hyun returns to big screen after childbirth
  • BLACKPINK's 'Ddu-du Ddu-du' sets YouTube views record for K-pop group BLACKPINK's 'Ddu-du Ddu-du' sets YouTube views record for K-pop group
DARKROOM
  • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

  • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

  • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

  • Poor hit harder by economic crisis

    Poor hit harder by economic crisis

  • Roland Garros 2022

    Roland Garros 2022

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group