Rising Actor Pay Sparks Intense Debate in Korean Film Industry
Korean film actors face backlash over sky-high salaries despite flops
The controversy began with a Korean Film Council (KOFIC) report revealing actor salaries make up about ₩1.8 billion KRW (~$1.24 million USD) per film in 2024.
Overall production costs hit around ₩9.5 billion KRW ($6.56 million USD), with 43% going to labor. Star actors take nearly 19% of that, a figure stable since the pandemic.
This has stirred online criticism, with netizens slamming actors for earning huge paychecks even when their films flop or get bad reviews. Many call out Hollywood-level salaries as unrealistic for the Korean market.
“Actors keep getting endlessly rich even when their projects flop and reviews are bad.”
Netizen comment
“Actors should also switch to running-guarantee pay.”
Netizen comment
“But they always hire the same actors anyway lol, and then complain about salaries.”
Netizen comment
“It’s really weird that they get paid Hollywood-level amounts… something’s wrong.”
Netizen comment
“These discussions have been going on for years, and even with the industry struggling, there’s no effort to adjust or fix things. They just keep repeating the same story over and over.”
Netizen comment
Industry insiders say lowering star salaries is tough because competition between production companies keeps market value high. Staff wages can’t be cut easily due to labor conditions.
The film market itself adds pressure. Theaters still make up 68% of revenues, while streaming revenue has shrunk to just 3%. Rising costs and lower ticket prices make profits harder.
