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Many of the top Korean actresses today have done Korean dramas. However, Korean dramas still face the same challenges as other workspaces in Korea in regards to bias and inequality. Korean Dramas in regards to the pay gap has been getting a lot of attention over the years and has helped bring much-needed attention to the problem. Now the pay gap is not as wide as it used to be but there is always room for improvement. Most of the Korean dramas are lead by lead actresses who have played an indispensable role in the rise of Kdramas. Some of the most recognized Kdrama stars are women. Also, some of the richest Kdrama actresses on this list have been working in the industry for decades. Who are the richest male actors in Korean dramas? You can check out that article here.
Lee Young Ae
Lee Young Ae is the richest Kdrama actress of all time. She has been working since 1993 and been very active ever since. She does very few films and mostly sticks with Korean dramas. Her most famous role has to be in the MBC drama Jewel in the Palace. That was not only her best drama until her comeback in 2017 for SBS’s Korean drama Saimdang, Memoir of Colors. She commands one of the highest fees per episode. It is unknown when she will do another Korean drama as she seems to be focusing more on Korean films moving forward.
Fee Per Episode: $83,000
Estimated Total Earnings from KDramas: $18 million
Choi Ji Woo
The most famous Korean drama of all time could be Winter Sonata. It stars one of the richest Kdrama actresses of all time in Choi Ji Woo. She made her debut back in 1996 and is still working today. Some of her best Korean dramas include Woman with a Suitcase, Second 20s, and The Suspicious Housekeeper. Recently she made a cameo on the hit Korean drama Crash Landing on You. She recently had her first baby in mid-2020. Therefore, don’t expect her to be doing a Korean drama anytime soon.
Fee Per Episode: $42,000
Estimated Total Earnings from KDramas: $17 million
Song Hye Kyo
Not only is Song Hye Kyo considered one of the most beautiful Korean drama actresses of all time. She has also made a lot of money making Korean dramas. Song Hye Kyo has won many awards and most of her dramas have gotten positive reviews from critics. She has worked on many dramas but some of the ones you should check out include Full House, Descendants of the Sun, and Encounter. She has not done a Korean drama since her divorce from her husband Song Joong-ki in mid-2019.
Fee Per Episode: $42,000
Estimated Total Earnings from KDramas: $11 million
Jun Ji Hyun
Jun Ji Hyun is on our list of the most beautiful Korean actresses working today. While Jun Ji Hyun is the highest-paid Korean actress today, she does not do a lot of Korean dramas. She has a very successful Korean film career but she has done some memorable Korean dramas such as My Love From the Stars and The Legend of the Blue Sea. If she had a longer Korean drama filmography she would quickly rise to the top of these rankings. She will be starring in the Korean mystery thriller drama Cliffhanger which should air in 2021. This will be her Korean drama comeback after 5 years away.
Fee Per Episode: $84,000
Estimated Total Earnings from KDramas: $10 million
Gong Hyo Jin
Gong Hyo Jin is known as the “Queen of the romantic comedy”. She has proven herself in genres such as romantic comedies, black comedies, and even mystery dramas. She started out as a model but got into acting quickly after. Some of her best Korean dramas include Hello My Teacher, Pasta, and When The Camellia Blooms. She also starred in Crazy Romance which was a huge commercial success in 2019.
Fee Per Episode: $33,000
Estimated Total Earnings from KDramas: $8.5 million
Ha Ji Won
Ha Ji Won might be most known for her role in the hit Korean drama Secret Garden. She has entertained audiences with her action movie stunts but she has always found time for Korean dramas as well. She has so far won 4 Baeksang Arts Awards and 2 of those were for her role in What Happened in Bali and Secret. Recently, she has focused more on Korean movies.
Fee Per Episode: $42,000
Estimated Total Earnings from KDramas: $8 million
Park Shin Hye
Park Shin Hye has it all, not only is she beautiful but is an award-winning actress. She started out as a child actor but now is a K-drama veteran. She has done many leading roles in Korean dramas. Some of her best works include Prince Hours, You’re Beautiful, and Heartstrings. We don’t know when she will return to the small screen as her recent Korean films, #Alive and The Call were huge hits not just in Korea but around the world.
Fee Per Episode: $17,000
Estimated Total Earnings from KDramas: $6 million
Kim Tae Hee
When you think of the most beautiful Korean drama actress, many think of Kim Tae Hee. She has been in the Korean entertainment industry since 2001. She married the super Kpop star Rain and has not done many Korean dramas since. Kim Tae Hee gave birth to her first child in October of 2017 and had her second child in September of 2019. Hi Bye, Mama! is her first Korean drama in 5 years.
Fee Per Episode: $34,000
Estimated Total Earnings from KDramas: $5.5 million
Shin Min-a
Shin Min-a first started out as a model, then went on to star in music videos before starting her acting career. She is considered the “sweetheart” of Korean dramas. She brings a lot of personality and sassiness to her roles which makes many of her characters very memorable. Her latest Korean Drama is Here where she stars alongside Lee Byung-hun. Some of her best work in Korean dramas can be found in My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Arang and the Magistrate, and Oh My Venus. Her latest Korean drama is Here.
Fee Per Episode: $25,000
Estimated Total Earnings from KDramas: $3.5 million
Park Bo Young
Park Bo Young is one of the cutest and most beloved Korean actresses today. She has a lot of range as she does both romantic comedies and horrors equally well. Some of her best Korean dramas include Strong Girl Bong-Soon, Oh My Ghost, and The Silenced. Expect to see her rise in these rankings with more work. It won’t be a shock to see Park Bo Young break into the top 5 of the richest KDrama Actresses list within the next few years. You can see her latest work in the Korean fantasy romance series One Day Destruction Came Through My Front Door.
Fee Per Episode: $25,000
Estimated Total Earnings from KDramas: $3 million
4 comments
What about Park Min-Young? She is one of the absolute best and prettiest actresses!
What about Son Ye Jin? Or is she more identified with movies than drama? I’d say all her movies were successful in the box office, so its impossible that she wont command a high pay through the years. but why is she not in the list of highest paid?
The amount Son Ye Jin gets per episode is difficult to find. Once we have that number she will be added to the list and I am sure she will be high on the list.
Yes though her agency did not discuss or mention her talent fee, looking back 2006 when she top the list as the highest paid actress per episode.