How Kim Soo Hyun Became the Highest-Paid Korean Actor of 2020
Having good looks, amazing talent, and being an all-in-one package, it's no wonder that Korean celebrity Kim Soo Hyun is admired by millions of people worldwide. He has proven that his talents and visuals are worth investing anywhere, from TV shows to movies to commercial ads.
And because he has tons of fans across the globe and has plenty of successful projects, it makes us wonder: How much does a popular Hallyu star like Kim Soo Hyun earn?
Kim Soo Hyun has been listed thrice on Forbes' Korea Power Celebrity list in an overview of the 40 most Powerful Celebrities in South Korea, based on their professional achievements, popularity, and how much they annually.
How Kim Soo Hyun Became the Highest-Paid Korean Actor of 2020
In 2007, Kim Soo Hyun started his career as he debuted through the sitcom titled "Kimchi Cheese Smile." Five years later, and with a more established name in the Korean entertainment industry, he landed the lead role in the hit drama "Moon Embracing the Sun," with a highly successful 20-episode period drama peaked at a 42.2% on the rating chart.
At the end of 2012, the actor reportedly gained a 600 million won paycheck (approximately USD 499,000). From this, he was able to move his family into a new home.
But wait, there's more!
Upon the success of "Moon Embracing the Sun," the actor received eight billion won (approximately USD 6,663,529) from his numerous commercials and advertisements.
Then, his talent fee jumped to 800 million won or so after his two successful films, namely "The Thieves" and "Secretly, Greatly." In 2013, after his drama "My Love From the Star," which was also a great success that made his name more known internationally, it was expected that his net worth had a steady climb. According to several media outlets, his salary rose to 800 million to one billion won!
The following year (2014), Kim Soo Hyun was already tagged as the "King of Commercials" as both local and international brands wanted to get him as the face of their products. The actor was also expected to have made 6.5 billion won (approximately USD 5,412,765.15) from his 2014 Asian tour, where he visited and greeted his fans from nine cities in seven countries.
How Kim Soo Hyun Became the Highest-Paid Korean Actor of 2020
In the same year, he was also reportedly paid 500 million won (approximately USD 416,174.50) for a one-time appearance on the Chinese variety show "Biggest Brain." By 2015, His talent fee in modeling in China cost around 2 billion won after the success of "The Producers" in China.
So, the biggest question is, what do you think makes the actor so profitable? TV commercial agent Kwak Eun Jung shared that the positive side of Kim Soo Hyun is that he has a wide fan base, unlike other young stars whose fans are usually teenagers or young adults. Kim Soo Hyun is loved by both young and old people. His appearance and talent conquer all ages.
Kim Soo Hyun's talent fee even doubled after his dismissal from the military in 2019. According to the prediction of the media outlets, his per-episode appearance is already at around 100 million won by 2018. The new estimation shows that the actor is now being paid the hefty amount of 200 million won (approximately USD 166,473.96) per episode in his 2020 romantic drama "It's Okay to Not Be Okay," his first project since being discharged from the military.
To sum it all up, the series is 16 episodes, which totals the earnings of Kim Soo Hyun from this drama to 3.2 billion won (approximately USD 2,663,627). This makes him the highest-paid Korean actor in 2020.
