Around GMA

Article Inside Page

Song Hye-kyo and Jun Ji-hyun continue to assert their claim as South Korea's top female superstars.

While their place among the country's highest-paid celebrities is no secret, the two's net worth took another leap according to reports.

Local daily Chosun revealed that Song Hye-kyo and Jun Ji-hyun are earning a whopping ₩200 million per episode for their latest series, Now, We Are Breaking Up and Jirisan, respectively.

“Since both of their respective K-Dramas have 16 episodes each, based on the mathematical calculation it can be said that Song Hye-kyo and Jun Ji-hyun will be receiving approximately ₩3.20 billion for their productions,” according to the entertainment website, Pink Villa.

Both stars have significantly boosted their appearance fees over the past couple of years, proving their bankability and enduring appeal to viewers not just in South Korea but worldwide.

Male South Korean actors, however, are still paid more as compared to their female counterparts.

The huge pay discrepancy earned the country's entertainment industry criticisms, putting South Korea's patriarchal culture in the spotlight.

As of September, this year's list of highest-paid K-drama stars was dominated, as in previous years, by male superstars, with Kim Soo-hyun, Song Joong-ki, Hyun Bin, So Ji-sub, and Jo In-sung, occupying the top five spots.

Only female stars Song Hye-kyo and Jun Ji-hyun made it to the top 10 on the strength of their TV appearances and endorsements that include international luxury brands such as Alexander McQueen and Bottega Veneta.

Incidentally, the series that added more to Jun Ji-hyun and Kim Soo-hyun's fame is currently being aired on GMA-7.

The hit K-drama, My Love from the Star, is seen every Monday to Thursday, 11:30 p.m., after Saksi.

Get to know more about Korean superstar Jun Ji-hyun in this gallery.