Pan Entertainment President Kim Jong-sik said that compared to 5 years ago, these days actors get paid five to six times more  on average. Wooowww!!
According to the Korea Creative Content Agency, actors’ fees account for 60 percent of the total cost of a TV drama, compared to 20 percent in Japan.
TV production companies argue that the terrestrial networks demand big names, allowing the stars to negotiate exorbitant contracts.

The CEO of a drama production company said, “When I visit TV broadcasters with a business plan for new drama without a star in the cast, they refuse and say we need to get a few huge stars in the cast. If we want to get a place in the program list, we have no choice but to do what they say because they have absolute power.”
Of course, the TV station demands big name, it will make them easier to sell the commercial slot. If a drama fails the TV station will take most of the risk.

So, how much is the big name’ fees?
The record fees hold by Bae Yong Joon who earned W100 million ( equal with USD 84,000) per episode for MBC drama The Legends (2007) and in addition, he was reportedly guaranteed an additional W150 million (USD 126,000 ) per episode based on ratings and overseas sales.
Compare that with W4 million (USD 3,300 ) per episode Bae Yong Joon earned for Winter Sonata.  But we thought it was fair considering the scale of Bae Yong Joon popularity and it proved with the success of The Legends.

Meanwhile, Park Shin-yang (War of Money) made W50 million (USD 42,000) per episode and Lee Byung-hun W25 million (USD 21,000) per episode for “IRIS,” though Lee Byung Hun’s actual earnings added up to W100 million (USD 84,000) per episode considering all the incentives.

For the leading ladies, Son Ye-jin, Kim Tae-hee and Ko Hyun-jung make about W20-30 million (USD 16,000 – USD 25,000) per episode, excluding additional incentives if their dramas get re-aired or sold overseas.

Source : Chosun Ilbo