Highest-Paid Celebrities
Top 10 Highest-Paid Korean Actresses
Are you a lover of K-drama? This article is for you as it details the top 10 highest-paid Korean actresses. Is your fave on the list?
In recent years, Korean dramas popularly known as K-dramas have been winning the hearts of many and so are their actors and actresses. Korean dramas are now part of the most-watched, and the industry is one of the most patronised movie industries in the world due to a large number of engagements on all platforms (especially social media). No doubt, these improvements have paved the way for a huge inflow of profits into the industry and actors and actresses are steady earning heftily. Knowing that it might interest you to know how much your favourite actresses earn, here is a listicle compilation of the top 10 highest-paid Korean actresses.
These actresses get paid huge sums per episode, especially when they are wholly successful and famous. We definitely should know that it isn’t easy being in the face of many and appearing in film projects to help the projects gain more success. Hence, the hefty rewards for successful and famous actresses. It’s time for K-drama lovers to know how much their favourite actresses earn, thus, let’s get to it.
READ: Top 10 Richest Korean Actors (2022)
Highest-Paid Korean Actresses
1. Jun Ji Hyun
Jun Ji Hyun who first rose to fame with her role in My Sassy Girl film, is the hight-paid Korean actress. She made her first appearance on the small screen in 1999 and didn’t appear in a TV series again until her appearance in My Love From Another Star (2013-2014). Afterwards, she starred in Legend of the Blue Sea alongside Lee-Min-Ho, and then in Cliffhanger (a series about rangers in a national park).
Apart from being the highest-paid actress, she is also being credited for putting Korean entertainment on a good world interest-list with her role in My Sassy Girl film (2001). Her role also earned her first Grand Bell Award for Best Actress. Afterwards, her roles in For Daisy (2006) earned her a second Grand Bell Award for Best Actress.
Jun Ji Hyun reportedly earned around $85,000 per episode in 2020 as the first Korean Ambassador of luxury fashion label Alexander McQueen. It was also reported that she scored 200 million KRW per episode appearances fee which summed up to $2.7 million for 16 episodes. She recently starred as Seo Yi-kang in the iQiyi original drama Jirisan and is currently endorsing more than 15 brands in Korea.
2. Song Hye Kyo
Song Hye Kyo is the second highest-paid Korean actress. In 2018, Song Hye-kyo was placed sixth on Forbes’ list of Korean Powerful Celebrities. She is the brand ambassador for high-end companies including Chaumet, Fendi, and Sulwhasoo. Also, she is paid $650,000 for a single Instagram endorsement and roughly $170,000 every drama episode.
Song Hye Kyo is most recognised for her work on All in, My Brilliant Life, Descendant of the Sun, and Now, We Are Breaking Up. Also, she became one of the well-known Korean actresses in Asia in 2004 via her role in the comedy-romantic series Full House, which also helped her develop a pan-Asian fan base.
READ: Top 10 Richest Musicians in Korea (2022)
3. Lee Young Ae
Apart from being one of the highest-paid Korean actresses, Lee Young Ae is also one of the richest Korean celebrities. Lee Young Ae earns approximately $91,000 every episode and has a net worth of $40 million. In 1991, Lee Young Ae entered the entertainment industry as a commercial film mode. Then, she made her acting debut in the K-drama How’s Your Husband?, for which she won the Best New Actress award at the SBS Drama Awards in 1993.
Afterwards, she featured in several other films and series and later took a break. After a four-year break, 50-year-old Lee Young Ae returned to the big screen in the Netflix drama Inspector Koo as the endearing and funny insurance investigator, Koo Kyung-yi.
4. Go Hyun Jung
Go Hyun-jung, a seasoned actress, is one of the few Korean celebrities that receives more than 100 KRW every episode. She was Miss Korea 1989’s runner-up and made her acting debut in the K-drama Love on a Jujube Tree in 1990. She is currently one of the highest-paid Korean actress.
The 1995 SBS drama Sandglass, which was regarded as the highest-rated Korean drama in history (from the 1970s through the 1990s), was where she had her first major appearance. The 51-year-old actress married Chung Yong-jin, vice-president of Shinsegae Group and surprisingly announced her retirement afterwards.
After divorcing Korea Chaebol in 2003, she made a comeback into Hallyuwood with the 2005 drama Spring day. Excellently, she recovered her status in the Korean industry with the historical drama Queen Seondeok despite playing a supporting role, Lady Mishil, and she went on to become the Highest-paid Korean actress on TV. Thereafter, she went on another break, a two-year break and returned in JTBC Reflection of You in 2021, earning $1.4 million for 16 episodes.
READ: The Best Korean Movies of 2022 (Top 10)
5. Choi Ji Woo
After being discovered by MBC’s Talent Agency in 1994, Choi Ji Woo made her acting debut in 1995’s drama series War and Love. However, it wasn’t until 2009 that the actress became popular with her role in the drama Star’s Lover, for which she was paid handsomely at the time—48 million won for each episode—becoming the highest-paid Korean actress. Currently, Choi Ji Woo charges $46K for each drama episode.
6. Hai Ji Won
Hai Ji-won (formerly Jeon Hae-rim), is one of the highest-paid Korean actresses, earning $45,000 each episode in her own country. Before ultimately making her acting debut in the teen drama New Generation Report: Adults Don’t Understand Us in 1996, the 43-year-old Korean actress had to sit out more than 100 auditions. For many that know her story, they do not just love her or watch her as one of their favourite K-drama actors, but as a motivation too.
READ: 10 Highest-Paid Female Athletes in the World (2022)
7. Kim Tae Hee
Kim Tae Hee is regarded by internet users and fans especially as one of the most attractive celebrities. She makes about $37,000 every episode, making her one of the highest-paid Korean actresses.
Since they were seldom ever seen together, her secret marriage to K-pop idol Rain in 2017 stunned the whole fandom. The couple now has two kids, and they recently bought a $2 million home in California (fueling the rumours about her Hollywood debut.)
8. Gong Hyo Jin
Since her debut in 1999, Gong Hyo-jin has received accolades for her performances on television, and she also started her career as a commercial model, just like some other stars.
Gong Hyo-jin, popularly known as the Queen of Romantic Comedies, with a salary of $36.5,000 per episode, makes it to the list of the top highest-paid Korean actresses.
9. Park Bo Young
During middle school, Park Bo Young made her acting debut with a short film called Equal. However, she made her professional acting debut in the 2006 high school drama Secret Campus alongside the world-famous Lee Min Ho. Currently, she charges more than $27,000 per episode, making her one of the highest-paid Korean actresses.
10. Shin Min A
In South Korea, Shin Min A is among the most sought-after and highest-paid commercial models. She charges $27,ooo for a single episode of a Korean drama while now endorsing high-end companies like Gucci, Didier Dubot, Givenchy Beauty, The North Face, etc. No doubt, she is one of the current highest-paid Korean actress.
Highest-Paid Korean Actresses
Below is a recap of the list of the highest-paid Korean actresses:
- Jun Ji Hyun
- Song Hye Kyo
- Lee Young Ae
- Go Hyun Jung
- Choi Ji Woo
- Hai Ji Won
- Kim Tae Hee
- Gong Hyo Jin
- Park Bo Young
- Shin Min A