Skyrocketing Top Actor Paychecks Are Capsizing The K-Drama Industry, Says Veteran Star
Veteran actor Lim Hyung Joon recently discussed the challenges facing the K-Drama industry due to the rising costs of top actor salaries. Speaking on Lee Ji Hye’s YouTube channel, Gwanjong Un-ni, Lim shared insights into how skyrocketing paychecks for lead actors are straining production budgets and the industry as a whole.
Lim, currently filming for the Disney+ series Fine, was asked about pay in the industry. In response, he claimed that, despite the buzz around actor pay, his own fees haven’t changed much over the last two decades.
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
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Lim went on to suggest that the public should know the salaries of these top-billed actors, similar to how athlete salaries are widely known. He argued that this transparency could let audiences assess if these paychecks align with the actors’ performance and value to a show. While Lim believes high-paying roles should exist, he also warns against creating an industry standard that inflates everyone’s pay.
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 also claimed that this shocking salary hike is impacting the number of shows being produced each year. Veteran actor Ryu Seung Soo also revealed on a previous broadcast that while the industry once produced around 120 shows annually, the count has dwindled to about 50 due to budget constraints. He also noted that supporting actors are struggling, with some taking side jobs to make ends meet, as their pay is a fraction of what lead actors receive.
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What are your thoughts on the situation?
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