It's no secret that Korean actors command high salaries for their roles in dramas. Some top actors can even earn billions of rupiah per episode. However, recent reports reveal that some stars' salaries have actually decreased due to Netflix's budget cuts.
Netflix has reportedly lowered the pay ceiling for actors starring in Korean dramas and films on the platform. The change is considered surprising considering K-Drama actor salaries have skyrocketed significantly over the past few years.
The cost cuts mean that crew and cast members aren't able to take home the same salaries as before. According to OSEN, top Korean actors were previously paid up to 1 billion KRW per episode. However, according to industry insiders, the new salary cap has now dropped to around 300 million KRW.
Overall, Netflix lowered the pay ceiling for its Korean shows and films from 400 million KRW to 300 million KRW. Internal sources noted that this move reflects growing concerns over soaring production costs.
Actor Byeon Woo Seok, who plays Lovely Runner, has been confirmed to star in his first Netflix series, Solo Leveling. Since its announcement, his salary has been a hot topic. However, a report from an industry source has been less than expected.
"Although Byeon Woo Seok's sudden rise in popularity suggests he could command a high salary, based on Netflix's current policies, it will be difficult for him to earn more than ₩300 million KRW)," the source said. However, the "limit" itself isn't absolute. The costs involved can remain flexible.
"For example, in multi-season series, actors typically receive a pay increase of around 40% the following season; that can be an exception," "Acting fees aren't based solely on the number of episodes, but rather reflect the actual time and contributions of the creators and cast.
Netflix doesn't impose a uniform cap. Instead, fees are flexibly negotiated with partners, taking into account the nature of the project, the role, and the production period," the source added.
There was talk that large-capital global OTTs were increasing stars' salaries and causing overall production costs to spike. As a result, the domestic industry was burdened with rising costs and experienced a sharp decline in the number of dramas produced.
It is said that 141 dramas were produced in 2022 while only around 80 were produced. Previously, foreign media reported that actor Lee Jung Jae was paid $1 million USD per episode for Squid Game Season 2.
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