How Much Did Kim Soo-hyun Earn per Episode for Queen of Tears? Japanese Star’s Pay Difference Sparks New Controversy

Kim Soo-hyun's massive per-episode fee has sparked debate after comparisons with Japanese stars like Oguri Shun, highlighting a stark difference in pay across the entertainment industries.

Actor Kim Soo-hyun's high appearance fees are once again drawing attention. On the 10th, an online post compared the per-episode pay of Kim Soo-hyun and Japanese actor Oguri Shun.

The post revealed the per-episode fees of actors in the 2022 Japanese NHK historical drama and Kim Soo-hyun’s per-episode pay for the tvN drama Queen of Tears.

The post compared the pay of actors in the Japanese historical drama Kamakura-dono no 13 aired by NHK in 2022. Japanese actor Oguri Shun, who played the lead role, reportedly received about 500,000 yen (approximately 500,000 KRW) per episode. Additionally, actor and model Komatsu Nana’s husband, Masaki Suda, also starred in the drama and was reportedly paid around 200,000 yen (approximately 200,000 KRW) per episode.

However, the pay for Korean actors differed significantly, both in the amount and the currency used. Kim Soo-hyun, who starred in Queen of Tears, is said to have earned 300 million KRW per episode. However, some media outlets reported that Kim Soo-hyun’s per-episode fee for Tears Queen was actually lower compared to his previous works.

Upon reading this, the public reacted with mixed emotions. Some expressed surprise, saying, "What’s the difference? Why is the entertainment industry in our country so obsessed with celebrities?" Others commented, "When a drama does well, they earn a lot from endorsements, but the appearance fee is too much," and "When a lot of the production budget goes to the actors, other expenses get cut, which lowers the quality. It’s frustrating, especially since the actors don’t take any responsibility if the drama fails."

On the other hand, some defended the high pay, stating, "In Japan, it’s ridiculously low," and "Why compare to Japan? If we compared with China or other Asian countries, Korean actors would be paid less."

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