Kdrama's Wealthiest Child Actors
With so many flashbacks in kdramas, there are plenty of opportunities for child actors to work. And growing up on set means a few favored actors will also make a smooth transition to adult roles.
Park Shin Hye and Jang Geun Suk are examples of actors who started working young and easily transitioned into adult roles. Park Shin Hye had her first role in "Stairway to Heaven" when she was only seven. Jang Geun Suk began modeling at age five and first acted in the sitcom "Selling Happiness" when he was only 10.
There are plenty of gifted child and teen stars working in dramas today but three stand out, not only for their long resumes and sure transition to leading roles but for their paychecks, which were recently made public on MBC's "Good Day." While child actors don't make as much as adult actors, often only appearing on screen for limited amounts of time, they do earn more than the average allowance.
The three child actors you have probably seen in a drama role are Kim Yoo Jung, Kim So Hyun and Yeo Jin Goo.
Kim Yoo Jung may be the best-known child actress in Korea. Currently appearing as the young Uee in "Golden Rainbow," she played the young Han Ga In in "Moon Embracing The Sun" and the young Han Ji Hye in "May Queen." It was recently revealed on an episode of MBC's "Good Day" that the actress currently makes more than $5000 for each episode of "Golden Rainbow.
Kim So Hyun, who played Kim Yoo Jung's young rival in "Moon Embracing The Sun," had a very busy year. She played the young Yoon Eun Hye in "Missing You" and the young Lee Bo Young in "I Hear Your Voice." She also appeared as the young Lee Da Hae in "Iris II" and the young Sung Yu Ri in "The Secret of Birth," recently finishing a role as Lee Sung Jae's teen daughter in "The Suspicious Housekeeper." She also receives about $5,000 per episode.
Equally well known is Yeo Jin Goo, who is also taking on adult roles for the first time. He played Kim Yoo Jung's childhood love interest in "Moon Embracing The Sun," the young Park Yoochun in "Missing You."He played teen Hong Hye Sung in "Potato Star" and had a leading role in "Hwai," as a boy who is raised by gangsters. He has appeared in several movies, including "A Frozen Flower" and "Mr. Perfect."
Although his drama earnings are comparable, he averages between $10,000 and $50,000 for his movie roles. These three actors can expect to make much more as their successful careers continue.
