Skyrocketing Top Actor Salaries Strain K-Drama Industry, Says Veteran Actor Lim Hyung Joon

The rising salaries of top actors are reportedly taking a toll on the K-Drama industry, according to veteran actor Lim Hyung Joon. Speaking on Lee Ji Hye’s YouTube channel, Gwanjong Un-ni, Lim opened up about the challenges caused by high-profile paychecks and their impact on production budgets.

Lead Actors’ Salaries Creating Production Strains

Lim, who is currently involved in the Disney+ series Fine, shared that despite the media focus on actor salaries, his own pay has remained unchanged over the past 20 years. “Honestly, only the lead actors are expensive; my pay is about the same as it was 20 years ago,” he explained. According to Lim, these high salaries are adding financial pressure across the industry, creating difficulties in managing production costs.

“There’s a lot of talk about pay these days. People seem to think the production slump is due to actors’ high fees. Honestly, only the lead actors are expensive; my pay is about the same as it was 20 years ago.”

— Lim Hyung Joon

Call for Transparency in Actor Salaries

Lim also raised the idea of publicly disclosing the salaries of top-billed actors, similar to how athlete paychecks are open to the public. He believes this would allow viewers to assess if these paychecks are reflective of actors’ performance and value to their shows. He pointed to the example of Son Heung Min, a prominent athlete whose salary is known widely, allowing fans and the public to weigh his performance against his earnings.

Some lead actors might not like hearing this, but I think their fees should be made public.

Look at athletes like Son Heung Min; everyone knows his salary. People can then judge if they’re really performing at that level, right? The public evaluates them: ‘Is that all he can do with that kind of pay?’ And if that’s the case, then maybe they don’t deserve that pay.

I agree that those who can command high pay should receive it, but it shouldn’t be the norm just because of some people.

— Lim Hyung Joon

Lim acknowledged that high salaries are justified for certain roles, but he cautioned against making these elevated paychecks a norm that affects the entire industry’s budget landscape.

Declining Production Numbers in K-Drama Industry

This ongoing salary hike has also reportedly affected the number of K-Drama shows produced annually. Veteran actor Ryu Seung Soo previously mentioned that the industry, which once produced around 120 shows each year, now produces only about 50 due to budget constraints. Supporting actors are particularly affected, with some reportedly needing to take up side jobs due to limited pay in their field.

“While the industry once produced around 120 shows annually, the count has dwindled to about 50 due to budget constraints,” explained Ryu Seung Soo.

For many in the industry, this decline raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of K-Drama productions, particularly for lesser-known actors and crew members who rely on stable work opportunities.

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