Highest Paid Korean Actresses
Highest paid Korean actresses; The world audience has definitely fallen in love with endless Korean dramas. The Korean film industry has created credible dramas and comes up with some stunning films. besides the amazing plot and storyline, we know for sure there are those talented actors and actresses who always pull out the best role and deliver a believable portrayal of their characters. here, we’ve rounded up the highest-paid Korean actresses in 2020.
Highest paid Korean actresses;
Park Shin-hye was born on February 18, 1990. She is the youngest actress on the highest paid Korean actresses list. Park Shin-hye made her first appearance in the music video “Flower” by singer Lee Seung-hwan. After that, she underwent formal training in singing, dancing, and acting. After graduating from Youngpa Girls’ High School, Park Shin-hye attended Chung-Ang University. Park Shin-hye received a service award at the convocation ceremony for her achievement as an artist ambassador for the university.
Park Shin-hye gained recognition for starring in the melodrama Stairway to Heaven as she played the younger version of Choi Ji-woo’s character in that popular Korean drama in 2003. Thereafter she received several supporting roles in various Kdramas. Most notably as a rebellious teenager in the drama special Very Merry Christmas in 2004.
Park Shin-hye has cast her first adult leading role in the South Korean-Japanese melodrama Tree of Heaven (2006), where she received praise from critics for her performance. The series was also aired in Japan, thus giving Park Shin-hye more exposure abroad. It makes Park Shin-hye the highest paid Korean actresses. Park Shin-hye made her film debut in the movie Evil Twin (2007), a summer horror flick where she portrayed two roles: one as the main character, and the other as the ghost of the main character’s sister, who haunts the other sister after her death.
Aside from acting, Park also hosted the variety program, Fantastic Partner, from 2006 to 2007, for which she was awarded Best Newcomer in a Variety Show at the MBC Entertainment Awards. Consider one of the most prolific actresses of her age, Park Shin-hye received further recognition for her roles in the Korean dramas; You Are Beautiful, The Heirs, Pinnochio, Doctors, and Memories Of The Alhambra. Also, Park Shin-hye was rewarded with many awards and it helps to her become one of the highest paid Korean actresses.
Park Shin-hye was also featured in the comedy-drama film, Miracle In The Cell Number 7, which became one of the highest-grossing Korean films. she is making roughly 17,000 $ per drama episode.
Highest paid Korean actresses;
9. Park Bo-young
Park Bo-young made her official acting debut in the 2006 high school television series Secret Campus alongside fellow newcomer Lee Min-ho. Among the notable projects during the early stage in her career are the historical epic The King and I and Peabody Award-winning teen drama Jungle Fish with Kim Soo-hyun, based on a true story that depicts the pressures placed on students to achieve and gain admission to prestigious colleges and universities.
Park Bo-young is best known for her leading roles in the hit Movies Scandal Makers, the romantic movie A Ware Wolf Boy, and the romantic comedy movie On Your Wedding Day. The comedy movie Scandal Makers, which drew 8.3 million viewers to become number one in the top grosser film list of 2008. It increases Park Bo-young’s market value as the highest paid Korean actresses. Still, Scandal Makers remain one of Korean Cinema’s biggest hits.
She has been rewarded as “Nation’s Little Sister” because of its success. However, in 2010 she became involved in a series of legal disputes with her then-management agency and a film production company, causing the actress to be tied up in lawsuits and unable to work for the next few years. But her comeback, Park Bo-young gets more popular through fan-favorite Korean dramas like Oh My Ghost and Strong Girl Bong-Soon.
In her successful comeback Park Bo-young again breaks into the highest paid Korean actresses. Park Bo-young charges 25000 $ per one Kdrama episode.
Highest paid Korean actresses;
8. Shin Min-ah
Shin Min-ah began her carrier as a model for teen magazine KiKi in 1998. since then she became one of the most in-demand and highest-paid commercial endorsers in South Korea before she became one of the highest paid Korean actresses. Notable among her forays into branded entertainment is the 2008 multi-episode Summer Days opposite Hyun Bin and Ryoo Seung-bum for LG Xnote featuring music by You Hee-yeol.
In 2009, Shin Min-ah went to Milan, Italy to shoot a photo spread for Elle Korea with Calvin Klein model Jamie Dornan. In 2011, she was chosen as the first Asian model for the DIY Project ad campaign of American clothing brand Rag & bone, then Shin Min-ah was subsequently featured in The New York Times‘s T Magazine. Shin Min-ah appeared in several music videos for K-pop boyband g.o.d, until her acting debut in 2001 with a supporting role in popular melodrama, Beautiful Days.
The newcomer quickly rose to stardom, through the high school martial arts comedy film Volcano High. Shin Min-ah gains popularity when she engages in the lead female role in the Korean drama A Love To Kill as Rain’s opposite. As Shin Min-ah entered her mid-twenties, she began showcasing more maturity in her choice of roles. In Go Go 70s, Shin Min-ah played a sexy counterculture singer and won numerous accolades for her portrayal.
Shin Min-ah then acted as an unfaithful wife in The Naked Kitchen, and a cynical young woman in search of her father in Sisters on the Road, a critically acclaimed indie film that also stars fellow actresses and close friend Gong Hyo-jin. But Shin Min-ah became best known for her portrayals of supernatural horror icons revamped into endearingly innocent yet spunky heroines in the rom-com My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox (2010), and the historical drama Arang and the Magistrate (2012).
Also her appearances in Tomorrow With You and the romantic comedy series Oh My Venus with So Ji-sub helps’ increase her popularity. These notable performances of Shin Min-ah establish her as one of the highest paid Korean actresses. Shin Min-ah is making 25000 $ per episode.
Highest paid Korean actresses;
7. Gong Hyo-jin
When she was a kid, Gong Hyo-jin loved acting. however, when she was a junior in high school, her family moved to Australia. Due to that reason in 2011, she was designated as one of the goodwill ambassadors for “Year of Friendship,” the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between Australia and South Korea. After three years in Australia, the Gong family moved back to Korea in 1997.
Upon her return to Korea, On the road to becoming one of the highest paid Korean actresses, Gong Hyo-jin began working as a model. She appeared in advertisements. After success in modeling, Gong Hyo-jin made her acting debut in a supporting role in Memento Mori. At first, Gong wasn’t serious about acting and couldn’t wait for filming to be over, but Memento Mori’s critical success encouraged her to continue acting, and she followed that with a role in the 2000 sitcom My Funky Family.
The young actress had her breakthrough year in 2002, landing lead roles in Emergency Act 19 and A Bizarre Love Triangle. Even though Gong Hyo-jin clicking 40’s her market value or beauty doesn’t fade away. She remains the highest paid Korean actresses over the years. She gains the audience recognize the first time for her leading role in the 2008 movie Crush And Blush. As well as her popular Korean drama series Sang Doo, Let’s Go to School, The Greatest Love, Master’s Sun, Don’t Dare to Dream, It’s Ok That’s Love, The Producers.
Last year’s critically acclaimed romantic comedy thriller When The Camellia Blooms helps increase her popularity much more. She is considered to be the queen of romantic comedies. Because of her numerous success in the romantic comedy genre. The actress charges 33500 $ per episode in Korean dramas.
Highest paid Korean actresses;
6. Kim Tae-hee
Kim Tae-hee was born on 29 March 1980. She is often involved in various charities to help out under-served youths and broken families in the Ulsan area where she was born. Kim Tae-hee moved to Seoul and attend the Seoul National University where she graduates as a fashion designer. she became the president of the University women’s Ski Club. In 2000, unexpectedly an advertising executive saw Kim Tae-hee riding the subway, and offered her a modeling job.
Kim Tae-hee appeared in television commercials and print ads. Kim Tae-hee starts her acting career in the early 2000′. She making her acting debut with a small role in the 2001 melodrama Last Present. She rose to stardom in 2003 via her portrayal of the evil stepsister in the popular Korean drama series Stairway to Heaven. Starting in 2004, Kim Tae-hee has cast leading roles in her succeeding projects, including the supernatural KBS series Forbidden Love, and campus romance Love Story in Harvard.
It helps to increase Kim Tae-hee’s popularity over Kdrama viewers around the world and she breaks into the highest paid Korean actresses list. Riding the big success of Stairway to Heaven and Love Story in Harvard, Kim Tae-hee became one of the most sought-after faces in the TV commercial industry. She was picked by Korea Broadcast Advertising Corporation as the top advertising model of the year in 2008, earning her title of “CF Queen”.
Kim Tae-hee considers as South Koreas’ most beautiful woman over the last few years. It helps’ increase her commercial value. However, Kim Tae-hee expressed her desire to be valued properly as an actor, preferring to succeed based on her acting skills rather than her image. That’s why Kim Tae-hee establishes as one of the highest paid Korean actresses. She broke her silent period with the return as the lead role of the family drama Hi Bye, Mama in 2020. She charges roughly 34000 $ per episode.
Highest paid Korean actresses;
Song Hye-kyo had a difficult childhood. Because she was born a sick girl and her parents divorced when she was a young girl. Then she was raised alone by her mother. At school ages, Song Hye-kyo trained as a figure skater. Song Hye-kyo attended college at Sejong University, where she majored in Film Arts. In 1996, the 14-year-old Song Hye-kyo, won first place in the SunKyung Smart Model Contest, and she made her entertainment debut as a model for the school uniform company.
This led to her being cast in a small role in her first Kdrama, First Love. She would continue to appear in a string of various dramas and sitcoms. She gains international popularity through her leading role in the 200o Korean drama series Autumn In My Heart. followed that 2003 Full House Kdrama became a blockbuster and helps increase Song Hye-Kyo’s popularity even further. Soon after she became one of the highest paid Korean actresses.
As well as the 2013 romantic melodrama That Winter, The Wind Blows, and the 2016 mega-hit romantic comedy series Descendants of the Sun, and much more. In 2017 Song Hye-kyo ranked 7th in Forbes magazine’s Korea power celebrity list, and 6th in 2018. The success of Song Hye-kyo’s television dramas internationally established her as a Hallyu star. She is making nearly 42000 $ per episode in a Kdrama as the highest paid Korean actresses.
Highest paid Korean actresses;
Choi Ji-woo (aka Choi Mi-hyang) was the first time that came to recognition when she won a talent audition organized by MBC in 1994, then made her acting debut in the drama series War and Love in 1995. Afterward, she changed the stage name Choi Ji-woo. She was cast in her first major role in The Gate of Destiny (1999). Her Korean drama series like First Kiss with Ahn Jae-wook and The Romantic President with Ahn Sung-ki establish her portrayals on TV of tragic heroines with a pure and innocent image.
After that her casting in Truth and Beautiful Days boosted her rising popularity. Choi Ji-woo considered South Korea’s most beautiful woman over the years. She has received critical acclaim for her work in a wide range of melodramas. It makes Choi Ji-woo one of the highest paid Korean actresses.
Her most famous performance comes in the 2001 Korean drama series Beautiful Days (2001), Winter Sonata (2002), Stairway to Heaven (2003), The Suspicious Housekeeper (2013), and Temptation. As well as the romantic comedy series Twenty Again and Women with a Suitcase. As the highest paid Korean actresses. Choi Ji-woo charges 42000 $ per episode in Kdrama.
Highest paid Korean actresses;
Ha Ji-won debuted in 1996 in a teen drama named Adults Don’t Understand Us. But she only received supporting roles in the early period of her career. she gained audience attraction the first time When she cast a supporting role in School 2 1999. In 2000, Ha Ji-won made her film debut in the thriller, Truth Game, alongside Ahn Sung-ki. She received in 2001 drama series Beautiful Life.
Ha Ji-won’s signature role came in Empress Ki historical drama in 2003. As well as the gained popularity through the melodrama Something Happened In Bali, the romantic comedy series Secret Garden and the 2017 medical drama Hospital Ship. Her recent appearance came in Chocolate 2019. Ha Ji-won is famous as a versatile actress thanks to her various type of characters in different kinds of dramas.
She charges 42000 $ per episode. Ha Ji-won is one of South Korea’s most sought-after critically acclaimed actresses, particularly known for her versatility in pulling off roles in various genres such as action, comedy, horror, drama, sports, romance, and medical. Ha Ji-won‘s multi-talented skills confirmed she is one of the highest paid Korean actresses.
Highest paid Korean actresses;
Lee Young-ae made her debut as a model in 1991. then she turned into a television commercial actress. after that she debuted as an actress in the 1993 drama How’s Your Husband?, which won her Best New Actress at the SBS Drama Awards.
In 2000, she starred in the mystery thriller film Joint Security Area, which became the highest-grossing Korean film at that time. She followed this with melodrama Last Present, where she received acclaim for her performance as a young woman facing the realities of early death. Lee Young-ae is known for her appearance in the 2003 Korean historical drama Dae Jang Geum and as a revenge-seeking single mother in Park Chan-wook’s crime thriller film Sympathy For Lady Vengeance.
However, Da Jang Geum’s worldwide success gives her above level than other actresses in her generation. Then she became the highest paid Korean actresses. More specifically the fame of Dae Jang Geum launched Lee Young-ae into pan-Asia stardom as one of the biggest Hallyu stars. She is making roughly 83000 $ per Kdrama episode.
Highest paid Korean actresses;
1. Jun Ji-hyun
Jun Ji-hyun also started her acting career as a TV commercial model. She made her debut in the movie White Valentine in 1999. But it isn’t gained much success. But a year later she appeared in the melodrama Ganghwa Island which gives her audience recognition.
Jun Ji-hyun rose to fame for her role as The Girl in the romantic comedy My Sassy Girl (2001), one of the highest-grossing Korean comedies of all time. Jun Ji-hyun’s success in film and television has established her as a top Hallyu star. She is referred to as one of “The Troika” along with Kim Tae-hee and Song Hye-kyo was collectively known by the acronym “Tae-Hye-Ji”. Jun Ji-hyun remains over the years as the highest paid Korean actresses list.
Jun Ji-hyun’s other notable films include Windsruck, The Thieves, The Berlin File, and Assassination. She also starred in the Korean drama series My Love From The Star and Legend of The Blue Sea. The success of her films and Kdramas internationally established her as a top Hallyu star. The actress charges nearly 84000 $ per episode as the highest paid Korean actresses.