Kim Soo Hyun's Massive Paycheck Sparks Controversy on Set of "Queen of Tears"

Actor Kim Soo Hyun, currently captivating audiences in the hit drama "Queen of Tears," has made headlines once again, this time for his staggering paycheck. Reports reveal that he is earning an eye-watering ₩800 million KRW (about $597,000 USD) per episode, amounting to a jaw-dropping ₩12.8 billion KRW (about $9.55 million USD) for the entire series.

This revelation has sent shockwaves through the industry, particularly as it accounts for a significant portion of the drama's production budget, estimated at ₩40.0 billion KRW (about $29.9 million USD). With such a hefty payout, questions arise about the financial feasibility of the project and the fairness of Kim Soo Hyun's compensation compared to other actors.

Comparisons with other leading actors shed light on the magnitude of Kim Soo Hyun's earnings. While his pay rivals that of global stars like Lee Jung Jae and is on par with renowned actresses Song Hye Kyo and Jun Ji Hyun, it still raises eyebrows for a domestically produced drama.

However, amidst the swirling controversy, Studio Dragon, the production company behind "Queen of Tears," has stepped forward to address the speculation. Contrary to earlier reports, they assert that Kim Soo Hyun's actual salary is significantly lower than the reported amount, putting to rest any misunderstandings over his compensation.

Studio Dragon: It is absolutely not true that he gets paid ₩800 million KRW (about $597,000 USD). He gets paid much less.