On September 17, Park Hyung-sik’s agency, Reve Entertainment, issued an official statement: “Speculation about Park Hyung-sik’s per-episode appearance fee is being reported as fact, but this is not true. From Doctor Slump to Twelve, the figures reported by the media regarding Park Hyung-sik’s payment are inaccurate.”
The agency added, “Park Hyung-sik approaches every project with sincerity. We ask for warm support for his future activities,” calling on the public to focus on his work rather than unfounded rumors.
The controversy began on September 16 when an entertainment outlet claimed that Park had earned ₩400 million per episode for Twelve, amounting to over ₩3.2 billion in total. It was also reported that his co-star, Ma Dong-seok, received ₩500 million per episode. Additional speculation suggested Park was paid as much as ₩500 million for Doctor Slump last year.
It is highly unusual for an actor or agency to directly address appearance fees, as such details are typically protected under confidentiality agreements and treated as sensitive business information. However, with inaccurate reports spreading rapidly, Park’s agency chose to clarify the matter publicly to put the rumors to rest.
Meanwhile, Twelve — an action fantasy series inspired by the 12 zodiac guardians — depicted celestial beings taking human form to protect mankind against dark forces. Despite high expectations, the drama started with a respectable 8.1% nationwide viewership but steadily declined, ending with a mere 2.4% according to Nielsen Korea. Amid its disappointing ratings, news of the cast’s rumored exorbitant salaries sparked criticism that the production budget was disproportionately consumed by lead actors’ fees.
Sources: Daum
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