Jun Ji-Hyun Named South Korea’s Highest-Paid Celebrity in 2021

September 07, 2021

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 17: Gianna Jun attends the Premiere of "Rocco And His Brothers" during the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2015 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MAY 27: Jeon Ji-Hyun and Kim Soo-Hyun pose for photographs during the 50th Paeksang Arts Awards at Grand Peace Palace in Kyung Hee University on May 27, 2014 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by ilgan Sports/Multi-Bits via Getty Images)

Cover Gianna Jun attends the Premiere of "Rocco And His Brothers" during the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival (Photo: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)

The Hallyu superstar is reportedly earning one billion won per advertisement deal

Hallyu star, Jun Ji-hyun or Gianna Jun is revealed to be the highest-paid Korean celebrity of 2021, according to Entertainment Live. The model and actress reportedly received 100 million won per episode from her drama, My Love from the Star, which is also one of the most expensive Korean dramas ever made.

Since making the chart-topping drama in 2013, Jun’s fortune and value skyrocketed. She earns about a billion won per advertisement deal annually. This year alone, Jun endorses 16 different including Alexander McQueen and recently appointed as Fila’s new ambassador. She’s also reported to be paid 17 hundred million won per appearance, although it didn’t specify if the fee is for an entire drama or just an episode.

Jun has yet to appear in any full-length Korean drama this year, though she recently starred in the 90-minute special episode of Kingdom: Ashin of the North, a side-sequel to the Kingdom series. She will be making her small-screen comeback later in the year for Mount Jiri which will see a Kingdom reunion of sorts as she stars opposite Kingdom actor, Ju Ji-hoon and work with Kingdom writer, Kim Eun-hee.

Above Jun Ji-Hyun and Kim Soo-Hyun pose for photographs during the 50th Paeksang Arts Awards (Photo: ilgan Sports/Multi-Bits via Getty Images)

The report also revealed that former highest-paid celebrity, Kim Soo-hyun is now in second place with a 13 billion won talent fee, comedian Yoo Jae-suk in third place with 10 billion won, Vincenzo star Song Joong-ki earns about eight billion won, actor Lee Seung-gi has about seven billion won, comedian Shin Dong-yup gets about five billion won and actress Song Hye-kyo has about four billion won.

It's interesting to note that both Jun and Kim starred in My Love From the Star and are now ranked as the highest-paid stars in South Korea. Jun rose to superstardom after starring in My Sassy Girl, which earned her the title of Nation's First Love.

She made her Hollywood debut in 2006’s Blood: The Last Vampire and became the first Korean actress to appear on Vogue's US edition. She further raised her pan-Asia status with movies such as The Thieves and The Berlin File.