During an unaired segment of the YouTube variety show Have Breakfast Before You Go, hosted by Jang Sung-kyu, the conversation turned to actor fees. Jang Sung-kyu noted, “I heard that some actors are getting ₩700 million (approx. $501,000) per episode these days,” to which Jang Hang-jun cheekily responded, “My wife? She gets ₩2.5 billion per episode.” Though he quickly clarified he was joking, the moment left audiences speechless — and sparked serious discussions about the explosive growth of salaries in the Korean drama industry.
Jang didn’t stop at humor. He confirmed that actor fees have risen dramatically, with insiders reporting some A-list leads now demanding up to ₩1 billion (~$770,000) per episode — fueled by global streaming platforms’ aggressive investments in Korean content. The conversation also highlighted another lesser-known but significant perk in the industry: royalties.
According to Jang Sung-kyu, entertainers typically receive around 10% of their original fee for reruns, but writers may receive 50%, and sometimes even 100%, depending on a show’s success. Jang Hang-jun agreed, sharing a personal anecdote: “One day, I was just going about my day when a large deposit suddenly appeared in my account. I had no idea it was coming. I immediately called my mother-in-law and asked, ‘Mom, do you need anything?'”
He credited veteran writer Kim Soo-hyun for securing these benefits: “Back then, there were no rerun fees. It was Kim Soo-hyun who pushed for a writers’ association and negotiated with broadcasters. She was such a force that even networks had to back down.” But with big paychecks come big risks. Jang also reflected on the emotional toll of creative failure: “It takes a film director four to five years to develop a single project. If a farmer fails a harvest after one year, they cry. Imagine failing after four years. It’s devastating. You can’t recover easily.”
As platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and local giants like TVING continue pouring money into Korean content, the stakes — and salaries — have never been higher. Jang’s remarks shed light on the financial high-wire act behind Korea’s drama boom and raise deeper questions about sustainability in an industry racing to keep up with global demand.
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