Hit K-dramas and movies contribute massively to the rising net worth of Kim Soo-hyun. Here’s taking a closer look at the ever-growing fame and fortune of the Queen of Tears actor.
Kim Soo-hyun, who has been included in Forbes Korea’s Power Celebrity 40 list for three years, has delivered some of the best movies and TV shows in the last few years. So much so that the actor was honoured with his wax figure at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong and Musée Grévin, Seoul in 2015. Standouts from his portfolio include Dream High (2011), Moon Embracing the Sun (2012), The Thieves (2012), My Love from the Star (2013), The Producers (2015), Real (2017), It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020) and One Ordinary Day (2021).
Talking about his role in the 2024 Netflix K-drama Queen of Tears, Kim said in an interview with TheKoreaTimes, “I’ve been diligently searching for the right project. In my pursuit, I came across ‘Queen of Tears’ … Despite this being my first married role, I felt a strong desire as an actor to infuse myself and Baek’s inherent charms, including his delicate nature, intelligence and so on, to resonate with audiences.”
All details about Kim Soo-hyun: Net worth, career and other earnings
Kim Soo-hyun’s net worth
According to multiple media outlets, Kim has an estimated net worth of around USD 117 million, as of 2024.
While it is difficult to quote an exact figure, it goes without saying that Kim, who has had multiple leading roles to his credit, earns quite handsomely from his acting projects, advertisements, social media and brand endorsements.
Career and filmography
Be it the hit heist thriller The Thieves or the popular Netflix series It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, Kim Soo-hyun has long entertained K-drama lovers with great films and shows. Deemed by the media as Korea’s Ocean’s Eleven, The Thieves became the second highest-grossing movie in Korean film history with over 12.9 million ticket sales, after its release in 2012.
According to Box Office Mojo, Kim’s debut film amassed USD 87,129,910 at the worldwide box office. Meanwhile, written by acclaimed South Korean screenwriter Jo Yong, the romantic K-drama It’s Okay to Not Be Okay was deemed one of The Best International Shows of 2020 by The New York Times.
Kim Soo-hyun made his television debut in 2007 with a supporting role in the family sitcom Kimchi Cheese Smile. His performance was widely appreciated, and in 2008, Kim landed a lead role in KBS’s critically acclaimed teen Korean drama Jungle Fish. Based on a true story, the show tackles issues related to cheating in exams and unrealistic competitive academic standards in Korea.
In 2009, Kim starred in the short film Worst Friends. A Namkoong Sun directorial, it won the Best Film in Social Drama award at the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival. The same year, Kim also landed the hit SBS drama special Father’s House, co-starring veteran actor Choi Min-soo.
However, it was only in 2011 that The Jungle Fish actor became a household name. His role in the teen musical drama Dream High alongside Bae Suzy earned him widespread popularity in Korea. Kim was a dedicated performer and even underwent idol training for three months at JYP Entertainment for his role. Not just that, Kim also recorded two songs for the drama’s soundtrack. These include his solo OST “Dreaming” and the title track “Dream High”.
Kim’s popularity skyrocketed after his promising performance in the historical drama Moon Embracing the Sun. The drama recorded a nationwide rating of 42.2 per cent, according to Nielsen Korea, and further solidified Kim’s status as one of the best K-drama actors. According to KDramaStars, Kim earned USD 500,000 from his TV shows by the end of 2012.
Over the years, Kim Soo-hyun has starred in various hit Korean dramas and movies. These include Secretly, Greatly (2013), My Love from the Star (2013), The Producers (2015) and Real (2017). The actor has also given memorable K-drama cameos in popular shows like Hotel del Luna (2018) and Crash Landing on You (2019). According to KDramaStar, after the end of his military service in 2019, Kim Soo-hyun’s fee per episode doubled from USD 83,000 to USD 165,000.
The actor delivered his career-best performance with the Netflix show It’s Okay to Not Be Okay in 2020. The show received eight nominations at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, winning two — Best Supporting Actor (Television) and Technical Award for costume design. It also received a nomination at the 49th International Emmy Awards in the Best TV Movie or Miniseries categories. Additionally, it earned Kim the Daesang (Grand Prize) at the 5th Asia Artist Awards in the television category.
After the massive success of the drama, Kim topped the list of the highest-paid K-drama actors by surpassing Crash Landing On You star Hyun Bin. He reportedly earned a whopping USD 165,000 per episode and received a total of USD 2.6 million by the end of the hit K-drama.
In 2021, Kim landed the crime television series One Ordinary Day, where he aced the role of a college student whose life turns upside down when he unexpectedly gets involved in a murder case. Based on the British show Criminal Justice, One Ordinary Day is directed by Lee Myung-woo and earned the Best Original Digital Drama Series at the APAN Star Awards in 2022.
Kim Soo-hyun essays the role of Baek Hyun-woo, the legal director of the South Korean company, Queens Group — in the Netflix romantic K-drama Queen of Tears.
Luxury brand endorsements
Besides K-dramas and movies, Kim Soo-hyun also has earnings of about USD 6.6 million per year from luxury brand endorsement, adding to his massive net worth.
Considered by fans and media the “King of Commercials”, Kim Soo-hyun reportedly signed 17 brands and appeared in over 30 ads in 2014 alone, according to Preview.
Moreover, after the success of My Love From The Stars in 2014, his fee climbed from USD 550,000 to USD 720,000 – 900,000 per advertisement. Before that, Kim along with Bae Suzy were announced as the Ambassadors of the 16th Korea Goyang International Flower Festival in 2011. Additionally, in April 2012, the Korea Tourism Organization appointed Kim as the Honorary Ambassador for Korean tourism.
In 2021, he was appointed as American luxury fashion house Tommy Hilfiger’s new ambassador. As the brand’s face, he led its autumn 2021 menswear collection. The same year, Kim also became Swiss watchmaker Mido’s ambassador in Asia.
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Furthermore, in June 2022, Y.O.U Beauty officially announced its collaboration with Kim Soo-hyun. The same year, Dunkin’ Donuts also revealed that Kim is their newest product endorser.
In 2023, Mido renewed its collaboration with the actor. As the brand’s ambassador, the Korean actor endorsed the watchmaking brand’s new creation — the Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer.
On 17 August 2023, Kim was titled the new brand ambassador of outdoor fashion brand Eider.
With over 14.5 million followers, Kim is also one of the most followed Korean actors on Instagram. The Producers star who often shares his photoshoots, project updates and sponsored posts on social media, reportedly earns around USD 10,000 to USD 100,000 per post on Instagram.
Expensive things owned by Kim Soo-hyun that add to his net worth
One of the richest Korean actors, Kim Soo-hyun is known for spending most of his wealth on prime real estate investments.
According to multiple K-media sources, Kim acquired a 297.09-square-metre Galleria Foret property in Seongsu-dong for USD 3.5 million in October 2013. The G Apartment offers a beautiful view of the Han River in Seoul and was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. It was considered to be the second most expensive real estate property in South Korea that year.
Following this, Kim bought another luxury residence at the same location for around USD 2.6 million in 2014.
According to Korea’s real estate industry, considering the market value of Galleria Foret apartments ranging from USD 5.4-8.2 million of late, Kim’s real estate assets are currently estimated to be priced at about USD 25.4 million.
Kim Soo-hyun is also fond of luxury wheels. In a 2019 episode of KBS 2TV’s variety show Entertainment Relay, it was revealed that the Dream High star had preordered a BMW i8 — the same car Tom Cruise drove with Paula Patton during the famous chase scene in Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol. The car approximately costs USD 186,000.
Personal life
Born on 16 February 1988, Kim Soo-hyun was raised by his mother for most of his childhood. His father Kim Chung-hoon, who used to be the lead singer of the 80s band Seven Dolphins, divorced Kim’s mother when the former was a child and had no involvement in his upbringing.
Kim found out about his half-sister Kim Ju-na around 2015 through news outlets and since then has wished the best for her.
The actor began his mandatory military service in South Korea on 23 October 2017. Kim was assigned to a military camp in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, where he further received a self-deployment to the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. He later enjoyed an early promotion as a Sergeant for his exceptional conduct in the military. Kim was discharged on 1 July 2019.
As for his relationship status, Kim Soo-hyun is currently single (at the time of writing). Despite speculations and rumours, there is no concrete evidence to substantiate any information about his dating life.
(Hero and featured image Courtesy Kim Soo-hyun/Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Is Kim Soo Hyun the richest Korean actor?
Yes, according to multiple media outlets, Kim Soo-hyun is South Korea’s richest actor, as of March 2024.
– Who is Korea’s highest-paid actor?
Some of the highest-paid actors in Korea are Kim Soo-hyun, Hyun Bin, IU, So Ji-sub, Ji Chang-wook, Lee Min-ho, Park Seo-joon, Song Joong-ki, Lee Seung-gi, Son Ye-jin, Son hye-kyo and Bae Suzy.
– Who is the richest actor in Korea?
Some of the richest actors in Korea are Kim Soo-hyun, Hyun Bin, IU, Song Kang, Choi Woo-shik, So Ji-sub, Ji Chang-wook, Lee Min-ho, Park Seo-joon, Song Joong-ki, Lee Seung-gi, Son Ye-jin, Son hye-kyo and Bae Suzy.
A PhD research scholar, Sushmita is a full-time writer and a part time poet. Notepads are Sushmita's one true love -- the unbothered victims drowned in the ink of her pen. An avid fan of K-pop and K-dramas, she mostly writes about Korean culture and entertainment. When not writing, Sushmita is dancing, reading, collecting books, learning about fashion, art, motion pictures, and appreciating BTS.
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