Park Shin-yang

By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter

Actor Park Shin-yang won his lawsuit against a drama production firm for a performance fee.

The Seoul Central District Court ruled Friday that the drama production agency should pay 386 million won ($306,700) to Park for starring in four additional episodes of the hit TV drama ``War of Money'' in 2007.

The 41-year-old filed the suit against the agency last December after it refused to pay the contracted fee for the additional episodes.

The agency alleged Park tried to capitalize on the drama's high popularity by asking for too much money. It also claimed the fee he had received per regular episode be equally applied to the additional episodes because they are part of the drama.

In 2006, Park signed a contract with the company worth 45 million won per episode of the drama, initially made up of 16 episodes. As the drama enjoyed high popularity, the company decided to film four extra episodes. Park agreed to appear in the extra productions in exchange for 155 million won per episode.

Judge Park Gi-joo said in the ruling, ``The two contracts are independent cases, meaning the first one cannot influence the second contract. The new fee set three times higher than original one is legally acceptable.''

Since last December when the suit made headlines, Park has come under fire for demanding too much money from penny-pinching drama production agencies. Corea Drama Production Association banned Park from appearing in any dramas produced by members of the association for an indefinite period.

Following the decision, about 5,600 overseas fans issued a joint protest statement to denounce the decision.

pss@koreatimes.co.kr