Cover With worldwide audiences and multi-billion-dollar streaming competition driving demand, these actors have become some of the highest-paid K-drama stars—on the planet (Photo: Netflix)
With worldwide audiences and multi-billion-dollar streaming competition driving demand, these actors have become some of the highest-paid K-drama stars—on the planet (Photo: Netflix)
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Why do the highest-paid K-drama stars continue to make bank? Korean entertainment has become more than TV. They are global cultural exports
The economics of Korean television have changed dramatically over the past decade. Once limited by domestic advertising budgets, K-dramas now sit at the centre of a global streaming economy powered by Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+. With worldwide distribution deals and massive licensing revenue, top actors are now commanding salaries that would have been unthinkable a generation ago.
Several Korean stars are reportedly earning six-figure fees per episode, putting them in the same financial league as Hollywood television leads. These are the highest-paid K-drama stars whose names alone can greenlight a project and whose salaries reflect the explosive global demand for Korean storytelling.
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1. Lee Jung-jae
Reported salary: up to US$1 million per episode
Lee Jung-jae occupies a category of his own. After the global success of Netflix’s Squid Game, the actor reportedly secured a staggering US$1 million per episode for the show’s continuation, making him the highest-paid actor in Korean television history.
The dystopian survival series became the most-watched programme in Netflix history and elevated Lee into a rare global stratosphere that includes Hollywood films, international awards campaigns and luxury endorsement deals. He only amplified his credibility further with a leading role in The Acolyte. The Squid Game franchise remains one of the most valuable intellectual properties in streaming television, with Lee at its centre.
Don’t miss: 5 things to know about ‘Squid Game’ actor Lee Jung-jae, who plays a Jedi master in ‘Star Wars’ spinoff
2. Park Bo-gum
Rumoured salary: up to US$375,000 per episode
Following his return from military service, Park Bo-gum quickly re-established himself as one of Korea’s most valuable television headliners (not to mention one of the highest-paid K-drama stars). Reports suggest he earned roughly KRW500 million (about US$375,000) per episode for the Netflix period drama When Life Gives You Tangerine, but the show’s production company, Pan Entertainment, denied this.
The popular series—co-starring IU—was one of the 2025’s most expensive productions. Park’s reputation as a global fan favourite, built through hits such as Reply 1988 and Love in the Moonlight, continues to translate into major endorsement revenue across Asia.
3. Lee Min-ho
Reported salary: up to US$200,000 per episode
Lee Min-ho has been a mainstay as one of the highest-paid K-drama stars since his breakthrough role in Boys Over Flowers. Since then, few actors have embodied the global reach of the Korean Wave like him. With a career spanning nearly two decades, the star continues to command salaries estimated at around US$200,000 per episode for prestige streaming productions such as Apple TV+’s Pachinko.
Beyond television, Lee is one of the most commercially powerful celebrity endorsers in Asia, representing luxury fashion houses and global lifestyle brands.
4. Song Joong-ki
Reported salary: US$150,000 to US$200,000 per episode
Song Joong-ki is one of those reliable talents. Everything he does just translates to success. His financial standing rose sharply following the success of the corporate revenge drama Reborn Rich. Industry insiders estimate his salary at approximately KRW200 million per episode, placing him firmly among Korea’s top television earners.
The actor has also diversified into international films, such as My Name Is Loh Kiwan and Bogota: City of the Lost, and streaming projects, ensuring that his influence extends beyond the domestic drama market.
5. Hyun Bin
Reported salary: around US$160,000 per episode
Hyun Bin remains one of the most bankable actors in Korean entertainment. The star of the global hit Crash Landing on You reportedly earns about US$160,000 per episode, reflecting his enduring popularity across Asia and international streaming markets.
In addition to television projects, Hyun Bin continues to headline high-budget products. His 2024 film Harbin, which won the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Film, garnered positive reviews and reached a million filmgoers on its second day of release. Meanwhile, his political series Made in Korea has been greenlit for a second season, which will air later in 2026. In between, he serves as a luxury brand ambassador for several international companies.
See also: 5 best Hyun Bin K-dramas and movies to binge-watch this week
6. Song Hye-kyo
Reported salary: around US$163,000 to US$250,000 per episode
While her per-episode fee for The Glory established a new baseline for actresses, Song Hye-kyo’s 2025 income is powered by a sophisticated multi-stream engine. Beyond the screen, she remains the ultimate “Queen of Endorsements”, expanding her portfolio as the first Asia Pacific ambassador for Maison Guerlain in 2025 and continuing her high-profile global roles with Fendi and Chaumet.
Her appearances at the 2025/2026 Milan Fashion Week and international high-jewellery galas command appearance fees that often rival a month of filming. Additionally, her 2025 return to film in Dark Nuns and steady royalties from Hallyu classics like Descendants of the Sun ensure her financial standing remains evergreen, regardless of her current production schedule.
7. Jun Ji-hyun
Reported salary: US$300,000 to US$400,000 per episode
Jun Ji-hyun has effectively reclaimed her title as the highest-paid actress in Korea with her 2025/2026 spy thriller, Tempest. Starring alongside Kang Dong-won, the Disney+ original reportedly carries one of the largest budgets in K-drama history (estimated at KRW50 to 70 billion), with Jun commanding a premium fee that reflects her status as a guaranteed global hit.
Despite a minor 2025 controversy in the Chinese market over specific dialogue in Tempest, her commercial empire remains intact; her long-standing “Sales Queen” reputation is bolstered by 2026 campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Piaget and La Mer. Her wealth is further solidified by a massive real estate portfolio in Seoul's most exclusive districts, making her as much a titan of business as she is of the screen.
8. IU
Reported salary: US$20.4 million annual payment across music, dramas and endorsements
While rumours of a record-breaking US$375,000 per-episode fee for Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines were formally downplayed by production house Pan Entertainment, IU’s true economic power is found in her unparalleled 360-degree revenue model.
As of early 2026, she remains a financial outlier; an audit of her agency, EDAM Entertainment, revealed artist settlement fees totalling approximately US$20.4 million (KRW30 billion) for the previous fiscal year alone—all thanks to her world tour and her dominant digital discography. Her 2025/2026 valuation is further bolstered by her elite status as a global brand ambassador for Estée Lauder and Gucci, where she serves as a primary bridge to the Gen Z luxury consumer. With a concert film, The Winning, grossing over US$1.4 million in international box offices in early 2025, IU has solidified a legacy where her acting fees are merely a fraction of a multi-industry empire that includes real estate, high-fashion partnerships and record-breaking solo tours.
See more: 7 things you might not know about IU
9. Park Seo-joon
Reported salary: around US$147,000 per episode
Park Seo-joon has become one of Korea’s most recognisable global actors, with blockbuster dramas including Itaewon Class and What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim. Industry estimates place his per-episode salary at roughly US$147,000.
The actor has also expanded into international film projects, including appearances in Hollywood productions, such as The Marvels, while maintaining a robust portfolio of global endorsements.
10. Kim Soo-hyun
Reported salary: US$231,000 to US$423,000 per episode
For over a decade, Kim Soo-hyun has remained the primary benchmark for the K-drama economy, consistently commanding fees that dictate the market's ceiling. While his participation in the 2021 thriller One Ordinary Day set a staggering high of US$423,000 per episode, his 2024 global hit Queen of Tears revealed a more strategic financial approach; Kim reportedly accepted a voluntary pay cut to US$231,000 (KRW300 million) per episode—totalling roughly US$3.7 million for the series—to alleviate the strain on the drama’s KRW40 billion production budget.
However, 2025 proved to be a year of unprecedented volatility for the star. Amid high-profile personal controversies, Kim faced intense public scrutiny that led to the termination of several luxury contracts. Despite these headwinds and the subsequent production delays of his Disney+ venture Knock-Off, his baseline earning power remains historically high.
11. Gong Yoo
Reported salary: US$200,000 to US$250,000 per episode
Gong Yoo is the industry’s master of selective scarcity. By limiting his television appearances to high-concept events like The Trunk (2024) and his recurring role in the Squid Game universe, he maintains a high-demand, low-supply market dynamic that keeps producers and audiences wanting more. His 2026 revenue is heavily weighted toward high-value endorsements; he is a primary face for Chanel Watches and Fine Jewellery and Tom Ford Beauty, ensuring his annual earnings far exceed his acting fees.
His upcoming 2026 collaboration with Song Hye-kyo in the US$60M+ (KRW80 billion) period epic Tantara is projected to be the most expensive K-drama production of the decade.
12. Ji Chang-wook
Reported salary: US$180,000 to US$200,000 per episode
Unlike domestic-heavy stars, Ji Chang-wook is a powerhouse in the Chinese and Southeast Asian markets, where his action-romance hybrid brand drives massive licensing fees. In 2026, he transitions into high-paying Netflix projects with the upcoming drama The Scandal, a move designed to pivot his brand toward high-brow Western streaming audiences.
Apart from his on-screen projects, Ji has become a fixture at Tom Ford and Giorgio Armani international showcases. His net worth is reportedly one of the highest in the mid-career tier, estimated at US$75 million due to his prolific work rate.
13. Lee Byung-hun
Reported salary: around US$150,000 to US$200,000 per episode
Lee Byung-hun has successfully bridged the gap between Korean auteur cinema and Hollywood blockbusters, creating a brand that is effectively recession-proof. His value is driven by global interchangeability, allowing him to anchor both a Park Chan-wook prestige film and a Netflix global franchise simultaneously. Beyond dramas, his wealth is heavily diversified through BH Entertainment and his real estate portfolio. His 2026 outlook is bolstered by his prestige premium in the international market.
14. Jo In-sung
Reported salary: around US$67,000 to US$90,000 (plus backend profit)
While in some highly commercial projects back in the day, Jo In-sung currently operates on a quality-over-volume model. Following the success of Disney+’s Moving, he has leveraged his status to negotiate backend profit-sharing on high-budget films like the 2026 spy thriller Humint. His 2025 launch of Basecamp Company marks his transition into the executive chair, allowing him to control the production pipeline and secure a larger percentage of total project revenue.
Moreover, his 2026 stock is expected to rise thanks to Moving 2, where his role as a series pillar grants him significant leverage in salary renegotiations with Disney+.
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Sasha Lim-Uy Mariposa is a lifestyle journalist who is known for her food writing. Based in Manila, she also covers entertainment and dining, as well as a broad range of topics. She was the former digital editor at Esquire Philippines and was the digital managing editor at Spot.ph, and now writes for the different Tatler Asia markets as a contributing writer for T-Labs.
