Top 5 richest Korean actresses who are ruling the world

The Korean entertainment industry has been steadily expanding in recent years, producing a number of stars and well-known figures internationally who have all made considerable amounts of money. The ranking that follows places female actresses in order of how much money they have made from box office successes, endorsement and advertising deals, as well as other royalties and investments.

Our list of 5 richest Korean actresses

1) Song Hye-kyo

Among the highest-paid actors in Korean dramas, Song is one of the most renowned female actors of her time. She is a timeless beauty best recognized for co-starring with Song Joong-ki in Descendants of the Sun as the main character (2016). She made a cameo in the drama Now, We Are Breaking Up in 2021. She earned somewhere in the range of USD 160,000 per episode, making her joint-highest paid television actress in her nation with Jun Ji-hyun, according to Hankook Ilbo, The Korea Times’ sister publication. Since the 1990s, Song has received accolades for her television appearances.

Autumn in My Heart (2000), Full House (2004), That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013), and Encounter are just a few of the notable roles she has played (2018-19). She has starred in great films including Wong Kar-The wai’s Grandmaster (2013) and John Woo’s two-part epic The Crossing, and is also incredibly well-known in China (2014 and 2015). In addition to her professional career, Song represents upscale clothing companies like Bottega Veneta. Her fees for product endorsements and paid Instagram posts are expected to be roughly USD 760,000 and USD 460,000, respectively, in 2021, according to the Korean entertainment media TMI News.

2) Jun Ji-hyun

One of the most well-known figures in Korean entertainment is Jun, also known as Gianna Jun. Most recently, she played the grim Ashin in Kingdom: Ashin of the North (2020–21), the sequel to the critically acclaimed Netflix horror film Kingdom (2019). With the classic romantic comedy My Sassy Girl (2001), for which Jun won her first Grand Bell Award for Best Actress, she established herself as the first Korean representative of high-end clothing brand Alexander McQueen. Her roles in Il Mare (2000), The Thieves (2012), The Berlin File (2013), and Assassination brought her great acclaim (2015).

She received her second Grand Bell Award for Best Actress for Daisy (2006). Although she made her television debut in 1999, Jun didn’t make an appearance in a TV series until the hit drama My Love from Another Star (2013-14). She then read Legend of the Blue Sea (2016-17). She portrayed a park ranger in the TV series Jirisan in 2021. Hankook Ilbo reported that Jun earned about USD 160,000 per episode for the show.

3) Lee Young-ae

One of the most popular actors in the Korean entertainment industry is Lee. She portrayed a former police officer turned insurance investigator in 2021 who became involved in a homicide investigation. She apparently made almost the same amount from the 12-episode K-drama as Song Hye-kyo and Jun Ji-hyun, or about USD 160,000 per episode.

What is more amazing is that Lee, despite taking a sabbatical from performing for close to 12 years, is one of the highest-paid celebrities in Korea in terms of net worth.

Since the beginning of her career, Lee has become well-known around the world thanks to films like Joint Security Area (2000), One Fine Spring Day (2001), and Park Chan-critically wook’s acclaimed thriller Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005), for which she received awards including the Grand Bell Award and the Blue Dragon Film Award. The Korean drama Jewel in the Palace, which she produced in 2003, is credited with sparking interest in Korean dramas throughout Asia.

4) Go Hyun-jung

An experienced South Korean actress is Go Hyun-jung. She made her debut in the entertainment industry in 1989 as Miss Korea’s runner-up, and she later starred in Hourglass, one of the most popular and well-regarded dramas in Korean television history. She gave up acting in 1995 after getting married to chaebol Chung Yong-jin, but she did it again in 2003 following their divorce. After the popularity of her TV shows Queen Seondeok and Daemul, Go has now recovered her position as a top celebrity in Korea, becoming the highest-paid actress on television. She will be paid 60 million won (about $49,000) every episode of her forthcoming drama “Dear My Friends,” which will debut in May. Of all the drama’s actresses, this is the most.

5) IU

IU is a South Korean actress and singer-songwriter. She began her career as a singer at the age of fifteen with her album Lost and Found after signing a trainee contract with Kakao M (previously LOEN Entertainment) in 2007.

Along with acting and hosting radio and television shows, IU has also pursued a career in music. After having minor roles in a few television series and a supporting role in the teen drama Dream High, IU went on to star in You’re the Best, Lee Soon-shin, Pretty Man, The Producers, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, My Mister, Persona, and Hotel del Luna.

Several publications and reports estimate that IU’s net worth will be between $35 and $45 million in 2022. The singer made her professional debut at the tender age of 15 with the Kakao Entertainment short album Lost and Found. With the help of the single Good Day from her 2010 album, Real, IU achieved mainstream recognition years after making her debut.