The jaw-dropping appearance fees of top Korean actors have become a major hot topic! Leading the list is Squid Game star Lee Jung Jae, who is reportedly making 1 billion KRW (around 750,000 USD) per episode for Squid Game 2, setting a new record for the highest drama salary in Korea.

A recent online post titled “A Male Actor Earning 500 Million KRW Per Episode” went viral, revealing that Park Hyung Sik, the lead actor of JTBC’s Doctor Slump, was earning a staggering 500 million KRW (about 375,000 USD) per episode.

Originally debuting as an idol in ZE:A, Park Hyung Sik successfully transitioned into acting, starring in popular dramas like The Heirs, Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, Happiness, and Our Blooming Youth. He is currently leading SBS’s Treasure Island, playing a protagonist consumed by cold-hearted revenge.

With the explosive growth of the OTT streaming market, actor fees have skyrocketed.

Kim Soo Hyun, known for his massive earnings, reportedly received 500 million KRW per episode for Coupang Play’s One Ordinary Day and 300 million KRW (about 225,000 USD) per episode for tvN’s Queen of Tears.

Meanwhile, Park Bo Gum and IU both earned 500 million KRW per episode for Netflix’s highly anticipated drama You Have Done Well.

Veteran actor Choi Min Sik was reportedly paid 350 million KRW (around 262,000 USD) per episode for Disney+’s Big Bet, while Song Kang Ho, one of Korea’s most respected actors, received an impressive 700 million KRW (about 525,000 USD) per episode for Disney+’s Uncle Samsik.

With these jaw-dropping numbers, fans can’t help but wonder—who will be the next actor to break the record?

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Seo Ye Ji is facing major backlash after her surprising appearance on SNL Korea 7.

On April 12, Seo Ye Ji made her long-awaited return to variety shows by guest-starring on Coupang Play's SNL Korea Season 7.

Before the show started, she made jaws drop by joking, "I'll gaslight the SNL crew and make it fun," referencing her own past controversies.

During the "Seo Ye GPT" segment, Seo Ye Ji played an AI that helped Kim Won Hoon nail a company presentation. She then made a sharp comment, saying, "The truly embarrassing thing is sitting quietly and being talked about behind your back. I've experienced that a lot," hinting at the criticism she’s faced.

In the "Eve Hair Salon" skit, Seo Ye Ji acted as a salon director and joked about her past "Kim Ddak Ddak" scandal, where she was accused of controlling her then-boyfriend Kim Jung Hyun. When a character mentioned her stiff neck, she responded, "It's firm," making everyone laugh but also stirring mixed feelings.

Fans were shocked to see Seo Ye Ji using her past scandals as comedy material, especially since it’s been eight years since her last variety show appearance. Many pointed out that joking about serious accusations like gaslighting and academic fraud might have gone too far.

The controversy over Seo Ye Ji’s education also came back into the spotlight. She had previously claimed she studied abroad in Spain, but in 2021 it was revealed she never actually attended the university she mentioned.

Her agency explained she was accepted but didn’t attend because of her career in Korea, but many netizens weren’t convinced.

On SNL Korea, Seo Ye Ji even played a character who lied about her past to impress a boyfriend, making fans think of her real-life academic background scandal.

After the episode aired, reactions online exploded. Some comments included, "Falsifying academic background is a crime," "This was too much," "It was funny though," "Let’s forgive it since it’s black comedy," and "Why was Seo Ye Ji the first guest?"

Seo Ye Ji’s bold jokes have definitely split public opinion, with some calling it brave and others saying it only reopened old wounds.

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