Kim Soo Hyun, the award-winning South Korean actor, is making headlines for more than just his stellar performance in the new tearjerker drama “Queen of Tears.” His pay per episode has become a hot topic, leaving many to wonder.

Kim Soo Hyun’s Pay per Episode

Kim Soo Hyun currently stars alongside actress Kim Ji Won in “Queen of Tears,” a melodrama about a couple who reignite their lost love after the female lead receives a terminal illness diagnosis. Recently, reports revealed the eye-watering amount he’s being paid for each episode, and let’s just say it’ll leave you speechless!

According to sources, Kim Soo Hyun is pocketing a cool ₩800 million KRW (around $597,000 USD) per episode! With 16 episodes planned for the series, this translates to a staggering total of ₩12.8 billion KRW (approximately $9.55 million USD) by the drama’s finale.

Breaking Down the Numbers

This hefty price tag has many scratching their heads. After all, reports suggest the total production budget for “Queen of Tears” is only ₩40.0 billion KRW (around $29.9 million USD). This means Kim Soo Hyun’s salary alone is nearly a third of the entire budget! With the remaining funds, the producers still have to cover expenses like staff salaries, the female lead’s pay, supporting actors, and more.

For some context, this isn’t the first time Kim Soo Hyun has commanded a high fee. Back in 2021, he reportedly received ₩500 million KRW (about $373,000 USD) per episode for the drama “One Ordinary Day.” That means his pay for “Queen of Tears” represents a significant 60% increase, or an extra ₩300 million KRW (around $224,000 USD) per episode.

Kim Soo Hyun Among Korean A-List

Industry insiders reveal that Kim Soo Hyun’s pay is on the higher end for Korean-produced dramas. To compare, Lee Jung Jae, the star of the global phenomenon “Squid Game,” is expected to earn between ₩1.30 billion KRW (around $970,000 USD) and ₩1.50 billion KRW (about $1.12 million USD) per episode for the upcoming second season. However, it’s important to remember that “Squid Game” is backed by the enormous budget of streaming giant Netflix.

Kim Soo Hyun’s pay places him among the top Korean actresses like Song Hye Kyo and Jun Ji Hyun. This signifies his status as one of the most bankable stars in Korean entertainment.

While some may be surprised by the hefty price tag, there’s no denying Kim Soo Hyun’s proven track record of success. He consistently delivers high ratings and boasts a large, devoted fanbase. Only time will tell if “Queen of Tears” lives up to the hype and whether Kim Soo Hyun’s hefty salary proves to be a wise investment for the producers.