• Lee Jung Jae is now the Highest-Paid Korean Drama Actor - Here's How Much He is Paid per Episode

    The jaw-dropping appearance fees of top Korean actors have become a major hot topic! Leading the list is Squid Game star Lee Jung Jae, who is reportedly making 1 billion KRW (around 750,000 USD) per episode for Squid Game 2, setting a new record for the highest drama salary in Korea.

    A recent online post titled “A Male Actor Earning 500 Million KRW Per Episode” went viral, revealing that Park Hyung Sik, the lead actor of JTBC’s Doctor Slump, was earning a staggering 500 million KRW (about 375,000 USD) per episode.

    Originally debuting as an idol in ZE:A, Park Hyung Sik successfully transitioned into acting, starring in popular dramas like The Heirs, Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, Happiness, and Our Blooming Youth. He is currently leading SBS’s Treasure Island, playing a protagonist consumed by cold-hearted revenge.

    With the explosive growth of the OTT streaming market, actor fees have skyrocketed.

    Kim Soo Hyun, known for his massive earnings, reportedly received 500 million KRW per episode for Coupang Play’s One Ordinary Day and 300 million KRW (about 225,000 USD) per episode for tvN’s Queen of Tears.

    Meanwhile, Park Bo Gum and IU both earned 500 million KRW per episode for Netflix’s highly anticipated drama You Have Done Well.

    Veteran actor Choi Min Sik was reportedly paid 350 million KRW (around 262,000 USD) per episode for Disney+’s Big Bet, while Song Kang Ho, one of Korea’s most respected actors, received an impressive 700 million KRW (about 525,000 USD) per episode for Disney+’s Uncle Samsik.

    With these jaw-dropping numbers, fans can’t help but wonder—who will be the next actor to break the record?

    Source (1)

  • Yook Sung Jae and Bona’s new drama ‘The Haunted Palace’ dominates Netflix charts and beats all SBS shows with double-digit ratings from the start

    SBS's new fantasy historical drama The Haunted Palace is already making waves both in South Korea and around the world.

    Starring Yook Sung Jae and Bona, the show exploded in popularity during its very first week — topping Netflix charts in multiple countries and hitting double-digit TV ratings straight out of the gate.

    On Korean television, The Haunted Palace shocked viewers with a strong start. Episode 1 pulled in a peak nationwide rating of 10.7%, instantly breaking the double-digit barrier.

    The Seoul area rating and the national average were both 9.2%, making it the highest-rated premiere of any SBS drama in 2025 so far.

    It also beat out other SBS dramas like Love Scout and Buried Hearts, and even took the #1 spot among all mini-series aired that week, showing that this drama isn’t just trending — it’s leading the pack. (According to Nielsen Korea)

    And the success didn’t stop on TV.

    As soon as The Haunted Palace dropped on Netflix, it jumped straight to #1 on “Today’s Top 10 TV Shows in South Korea”, proving its massive popularity on streaming platforms.

    Globally, it also ranked #1 in the TV series category in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, showing that international fans are just as hooked.
    (According to FlixPatrol, April 21)

    The drama is also doing incredibly well on South Korea’s own streaming trend charts. On KinoLights — a platform that tracks trends across all streaming services — The Haunted Palace ranked #1 overall, beating both films and dramas. (As of April 19)

    Fans are loving the unique story, which mixes fantasy, comedy, and creepy mystery. The drama follows Yeori, a shaman who denies her fate, and Kang Cheol I, a mythical Imoogi spirit trapped inside her first love’s body. Together, they face off against a terrifying ghost called Palcheok Gui — who has a dark grudge against the royal family.

    Episode 2 added even more excitement, with Kang Cheol I hilariously struggling to live like a normal human after 1,000 years.

    At the same time, Yeori starts hearing the voice of Yoon Gap’s spirit and tries to save him. By the end of the episode, it’s revealed that Prince Wonja (played by Park Jae Joon) is going mad due to Palcheok Gui — and that the ghost has already consumed Yoon Gap’s soul. The showdown between Kang Cheol I, Yeori, and the evil spirit is just getting started.

    With high ratings and top OTT rankings, The Haunted Palace is quickly becoming one of the biggest drama hits of the year.

    Episode 3 of The Haunted Palace airs on Friday, April 25 at 9:50 PM KST on SBS.

    Source: [1]