Hallyu Wave (also known as K-Wave) is defined as the expansion of Korean culture and its popularity around the world. South Korean celebrities from Korean actors to K-Pop Idols are trending everywhere nowadays. Their movies, songs, and series are the main reasons that everyone knows about korean culture, colour and cuisines. Since all these celebrities are getting a dedicated fanbase, they are also making huge amounts of money. Here we will talk about all K-actors and K-actresses in the category of Richest Korean Celebrity.
Highest Paid Hallyu Stars 2022
Now this list is long enough, we know there are so many Korean actors and actresses. If we talk about overall Korean celebrities, then we have to include K-pop idols, Entertainment companies, CEOs of companies, political leaders and business people but here we will focus on the acting industry specifically.There is not just one richest Korean Celebrity who is responsible for the expansion of the Hallyu wave at international level. Let’s talk about all these leading K-celebrities:
K-actors
Top Korean actors which are impacting the fans with their acting and aura are listed below :
1. Kim Soo Hyun
With $117 Million as his net worth, Kim Soo Hyun is leading the K-drama industry. His most famous drama ‘My Love from another star’ gained him immense popularity. Recently his K-drama ‘It’s Okay To Not Be Okay’ made him top leading hallyu star and richest Korean celebrity.
2. So Ji-sub
So Ji-sub is earning around $41 Million and stands second in this list. His most popular drama ‘Oh My Venus’ made him gain his fanbase. Recently his drama ‘What happened in Bali?’ made him rise to fame globally.
3. Lee Jong Suk
Actor and Fashion model, Lee Jong Suk has a net worth of around $32 Million. He has been modelling since he was a teenager. With modelling projects, he was offered film and drama projects. His TV series ‘Hot Young Bloods’ which is a teen comedy released in 2014.
4. Lee Min Ho
Lee Min Ho has been famous since his manga based k-drama ‘Boys Over Flowers’. His earning is estimated to be around $26 Million. His other dramas ‘The Heirs’, ‘The Legend of the Blue Sea’ and ‘The King : Eternal Monarch’ made him the one who has been leading the Hallyu wave since late 2000s.
5. Song Joong-Ki
He became one of the richest hallyu stars with his k-drama ‘Descendants of the Sun’. He is estimated to be earning a net worth of $24 Million.
K-actresses
With their charisma and performance, Korean actresses are leading this Korean movie and TV industry.
1. Lee Young-ae
With net worth estimated to around $52 Million, Lee Young-ae is the leading hallyu star and richest Korean celebrity. She has been in this industry since the early 90s and starred in many popular movies and k dramas : ‘Dae Jang Geum’ and ‘Lady Vengeance’ is one of her most loved works.
2. Song Hye-kyo
Song Hye-kyo rose to become a hallyu star with the global success of her k-drama ‘Descendants of the Sun’. She is estimated to be earning around $37 Million. Her most anticipated k-dramahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_drama ‘The Glory’ will be released soon.
3. Go Hyun Jung
With her net worth $34 Million, Go Hyun Jung is one of the top richest hallyu stars. She rose to fame with her k-drama ‘Hourglass’. She is a former Miss Korea runner up from where she was offered acting projects.
4. IU
IU is already a prominent singer in the K-pop scene and has established herself in the list of highest paid hallyu actresses is estimated to be earning around $31 Million. She started as a supporting actress in ‘Dream High’ and later gave many hit k-dramas : ‘Moon Lovers : Scarlet Heart Ryeo’, ‘My Mister’ and ‘Hotel Del Luna’.
5. Bae Suzy
Bae Suzy is one of the most beautiful and richest Hallyu celebrities who is an actress, singer and k-pop band member earns around $30 Million. She is the face of many big brands. Her k-dramas ‘Vagabond’, ‘Dream High’, ‘Uncontrollably Fond’, ‘Start-Up’ and ‘Anna’ are her hit dramas.
Why are K-dramas taking over the world?
K-dramas not only show the plot and characters but makes the watchers feel like they are part of this drama storyline. K-dramas are not only based on Love, romance and fight but have a vast genre with focus on moral and social issues like Bullying, Discrimination, Class division, Slice of life, Mental Health, Disabilities which are part of real life. Anyone will feel like it is based on their own life and gets connected to the characters. Even side characters have their own stories. Apart from this, K-dramas fully promote their culture, traditions, history and values through their art, food, music, books and so on. From the storyline to cinematography, every element of these series are made with perfection. The way these dreams are shot and add the plot twists in the end makes the watcher stay till the end and even search for the whole cast and know about them.