Celebrities rake in cash from ads
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From top, Jun Ji-hyun (left) and Kim Soo-hyun, Lee Young-ae, Suzy, Lee Min-ho and Big Bang
Advertisements are a rich source of income for many Korean celebrities, media reports reveal.
Actors Kim Soo-hyun and Jun Ji-hyun, stars of TV series “My Love from the Star” (2013-14), each earns 1 billion won ($840,000) a year, on average -- the most among Korean celebrities -- from ads. The stars, popular in China where the TV series was a big hit, also have been hired for Chinese ads.
Actress Lee Young-ae is on par with the pair, earning 800 million won ($670,000) to 1 billion won a year from ads.
Singer Suzy, K-pop boy band Big Bang, actors Lee Min-ho, Hyun Bin and Won Bin earn 700 million won ($580,000) to 800 million won a year.
There are more top actresses who earn more than their male counterparts, with Kim Hee-ae, Song Hye-gyo, Son Ye-jin, Shin min-ah earning 500 million won ($420,000) to 600 million won. Actors Lee Jung-jae, Ha Jung-woo, Lee Seo-jin, Ryu Seung-ryong and comedian Yoo Jae-seok earn 400 million won ($330,000) to 500 million won.
Rising ad stars include actor Yoo Ah-in, who has had success with recent theater hits “Veteran” and “The Throne,” and actor Cha Seung-won, whose popularity jumped with TV entertainment show “Three Meals a Day” on tvN.