Is Kim Soo-hyun being paid 18 times more than his previous fee for 'Queen of Tears'?

Kim Soo-hyun, the beloved Korean actor, has graced the small screen once again with his latest drama, ‘Queen of Tears’, where he stars alongside actress Kim Ji-won. Since its release, the series has captivated audiences with its unique and unexpected plot twists, adding to the fervor surrounding Soo-hyun's return to television.

One aspect of the drama that has piqued considerable interest among fans is not just Soo-hyun's character portrayal but also the substantial appearance fees he reportedly received for his role in the project. According to insights from Preview PH, ‘Queen of Tears’ boasts an impressive budget of 40 billion KRW, putting it in the league of high-budget Korean dramas like ‘Mr. Sunshine’ and ‘Bulgasal: Immortal Souls’.

What's particularly intriguing is the revelation that Soo-hyun's paycheck for ‘Queen of Tears’ far surpasses what he earned in his previous project, ‘One Ordinary Day’. Speculations suggest that the actor might have raked in a staggering 9.3 billion Won per episode, a significant leap from his previous earnings. However, neither Kim Soo-hyun nor his agency have officially commented on these reports, maintaining silence similar to their response to previous inquiries about his compensation for ‘One Ordinary Day’, which is believed to be 500 million Won per episode, according to the reports of OSEN. Despite the lack of official confirmation, it remains undeniable that Kim Soo-hyun stands as one of the highest-paid actors in the Korean industry.

‘Queen of Tears’ follows the romantic journey of Hong Hae-in, portrayed by Kim Ji-won, a third-generation chaebol and the ‘queen’ of Queen's Department Store, and Baek Hyun-woo, played by Kim Soo-hyun, the ‘prince’ of a supermarket from Yongdu-ri village. The couple navigates through crises and try to reignite their love in the third year of their marriage.