IU’s Alleged 500 Million Won Per Episode Crazy Paycheck Addressed By “When Life Gives You Tangerines” Team
IU’s alleged sky-high paycheck for Netflix’s most recent hit K-Drama, When Life Gives You Tangerines, has been officially denied by the series’ production team.
Recently, a rumor began circulating online claiming that IU and her co-star Park Bo Gum were each earning around ₩500 million KRW (about $346,000 USD) per episode for the series. The speculation gained traction after a post on an online community also mentioned that actor Park Hyung Sik was reportedly paid the same amount for his role in Doctor Slump, while Squid Game 2 star Lee Jung Jae allegedly received ₩1.00 billion KRW (about $693,000 USD) per episode.
However, on March 18, a representative from When Life Gives You Tangerines’ production company, Pan Entertainment, shut down the claims. A representative for the production team was able to comment for multiple media outlets.
The reports of IU receiving 500 million KRW per episode are completely untrue.
— Pan Entertainment
The Netflix series, starring IU and Park Bo Gum, is a period K-Drama set in 1950s Jeju. It follows the lives of spirited and rebellious Ae Soon and the kind-hearted yet clumsy Gwan Shik. The show was highly anticipated due to the collaboration between director Kim Won Seok, known for Misaeng and My Mister, and screenwriter Im Sang Chun, who wrote Fight for My Way and When the Camellia Blooms.
Since its release, When Life Gives You Tangerines has dominated Netflix rankings in multiple countries, even securing the No. 1 spot in over 10 regions, according to different traffic measuring sites. The 16-episode series releases four episodes every Friday and will conclude on March 28.
