Latest news with #LeeJungJae
News18
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Lee Jung Jae To Song Hye Kyo: Top 8 Highest-Paid Actors From South Korea
Last Updated: While we're swept up in the twists and romances of K-dramas, the stars behind them are making headlines with record-breaking paychecks. South Korean dramas, popularly known as K-dramas, have experienced a global boom in recent years. Their distinctive storytelling, combined with the on-screen charisma of their actors, has transformed these shows into worldwide sensations. From the intense, high-stakes survival of Squid Game to the heart-melting romances of Crash Landing on You and Queen of Tears, K-dramas continue to captivate audiences across the globe. While we're caught up in the unexpected twists, emotional highs, and heart-fluttering romances of K-dramas, the stars behind these shows are making headlines of their own, with record-breaking paychecks. Reportedly, Squid Game star Lee Jung Jae is currently the highest-paid actor in South Korea. Curious to know who else ranks among the top earners in 2025? Look no further. Lee Jung Jae The actor behind the popular Squid Game character Player 456, aka Seong Gi Hun, is the highest-paid in the lot. According to Forbes, Lee Jung Jae got a whopping $1 million paycheck per episode for seasons 2 and 3 of Netflix's survival game show, directed by Hwang Dong Hyuk. Kim Soo Hyun Kim Soo Hyun, who is currently embroiled in a dating controversy, is second on the list of highest-paid actors in South Korea. As per Tatler Asia, the actor took home a hefty $423,000 fee per episode for his role in One Ordinary Day. Meanwhile, a report by The Korea Times suggested that he took $3.7 million for his role in Queen of Tears, which is approximately $231,250 for each of the 16 episodes. Song Joong Ki Song Joong Ki, known for his roles in Descendants of the Sun and Vincenzo, has carved a niche for himself in the K-drama industry. Given his popularity all across the world, the actor is bound to get a hefty paycheck. As per Bollywood Life, Joong Ki gets around $219,923 per episode. Hyun Bin The actor, who left everyone impressed with his outstanding performance in Crash Landing On You, alongside his now-wife Son Ye Jin, is the fourth on the list. As per a report by Hyun Bin earns around $167,000 per episode. Lee Min Ho Known for dramas like The King: Eternal Monarch and Legend of the Blue Sea, Lee Min Ho has a global fan base. Given his popularity, the actor also takes home a staggering fee for each of his dramas. He earns around $167,000 per episode, as per Jun Ji Hyun One of the most popular names in Korean showbiz for over a decade now, Jun Ji Hyun's per-episode fee is reportedly somewhere between $99,900 to $83,500. My Love From The Star, Kingdom, Legend of the Blue Sea and My Sassy Girl are some of her best dramas. Lee Young Ae Lee Young Ae is best known for her roles in K-dramas such as Dae Jang Geum and Lady Vengeance. One of the most respected faces in the South Korean showbiz, the actress' fee is $90,700 per episode. Song Hye Kyo Over the years, Song Hye Kyo has acted in some of the best K-dramas. With The Glory, Descendants of the Sun and Autumn in My Heart in her filmography, the actress reportedly earns $54,400 per episode for her roles. First Published: June 16, 2025, 09:54 IST
The Independent
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Squid Game concludes after six years and three seasons
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk expressed mixed feelings at the London premiere of Squid Game season three, noting "happiness", 'relief', and 'sadness' as the show concludes after six years of his life dedicated to it. Lee Jung-jae, who plays Seong Gi-hun (Player 456), shared that returning to the dormitory set evoked intense memories, while new cast members expressed awe at being on the iconic set. Lee Jung-jae teased that season three will explore whether Gi-hun will revert to his old, kind self or succumb to the "dark side" after hitting rock bottom in season two. Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed the difficulty in creating new games for the final seasons, confirming that the last game of season three will be a completely new one. Park Gyu-young discussed the challenges of portraying a pink guard, highlighting the discomfort of the costume and the emotional depth of her character, Kang No-eul, who represents someone who has lost something important.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Squid Game 3 Final Trailer: Finally, a show that knows when to quit; fans all in for Lee Byung Hun and Lee Jung Jae's showdown
Netflix dropped the final trailer for Squid Game Season 3, with Lee Jung Jae's Gi Hun gearing up for an epic showdown against Lee Byung Hun's Front Man to end the deadly games once and for all. The new trailer, out two weeks ahead of the June 27 premiere, sets a grim but satisfying tone, hinting that the story is moving in the right direction, regardless of its ending. Jun Ho (Wi Ha Joon) is still looking for the escape, unaware that the traitor is hiding in plain sight. Season 3 follows Gi Hun's last shot to save the contestants, with revenge driving the game and jaw-dropping twists waiting at every turn. Also read: Squid Game season 3 trailer: Fans say, 'our mental health isn't ready' as Netflix teases twisted games, traitors, and a tortured Gi Hun The trailer takes audiences on a stroll down memory lane. With sombre music, the footage opens with a voiceover from Player 149 (played by Kang Ae Shim), who says to Player 456: 'Are you blaming yourself for everything that happened? No matter how you look at it, life is just unfair.' She continues, 'Bad people do bad things, but they blame others and go on to live in peace. Good people, on the other hand, beat themselves up about the smallest things. I still believe that you came here to save us all.' Fighting the violent flashbacks and the arrival of the VIPs, Gi Hun, with a determined look, says, 'I'm trying to put an end to it.' The final season of the South Korean series, inspired by a real-life game (minus the deadly twist), follows Gi Hun as he makes one last attempt to save the players, after failing the first time. This season, Im Si Wan's unborn child is likely going to be a game changer, as maker Hwang Dong Hyuk teased earlier. The trailer ends with Gi Hun being summoned by the Front Man, and for the day, he dresses up in a tuxedo, ready to battle it out. The trailer also teases the return of Red Light, Green Light robot, only this time, in its creepiest avatar yet. Fans are fully sold on the upcoming season, and it's not just because of the nerve-wracking trailer. Many viewers are praising the creators for choosing to end the story on a high note, rather than stretching it endlessly. One fan wrote, 'Honestly, I'm super glad they try not to extend the series as long as they can, but they actually want it to end. That's a good series.' Another said, 'Respect for the creators to not extend the show to infinity. Ending it here is the right call.' Viewers are also excited about the emotional weight of the trailer, especially Player 149's monologue, which struck a chord with many. Some are calling it 'the best 'don't gamble ad' I've seen in a while,' while others say the intense scenes, Gi Hun's shoelace moment, and the final showdown have them hooked on the series. Also read: Squid Game S3 gets brutal with new poster: A baby born into hell tests how low humanity can sink Season 1 of the show introduced viewers to the deadly survival game where citizens were forced to gamble their lives. Within 1.65 billion views within 28 days, Squid Game went on to become Netflix's most-watched series. Lee Jung Jae even made history as the first Asian actor to win Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series at the 2022 Emmys. Meanwhile, Hwang Dong Hyuk also became the first Asian to win an Emmy for directing a drama series.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Streaming successes: What's coming to your screens later this year
'Squid Game' season 3 For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-joon Where: Netflix When: June 27 The final season of the South Korean survival thriller about a game show where the rewards are enormous but loss means death, Seong Gi-hun (or player 456, as you might know him) and his friends must fight for survival in ever-more fiendish challenges. The VIPs — the wealthy individuals who fund the games — return to the island once again, perhaps setting the stage for a vengeance-fueled finale and a showdown between the Front Man and his brother, police officer Jun-ho. 'Ironheart' Starring: Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross Where: Disney+ When: June 25 This Marvel miniseries is a spinoff from the 'Black Panther' movie franchise and follows MIT student and genius inventor Riri Williams, aka Ironheart, who was responsible for creating the vibranium detector that sparked the events of 2022's 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,' in which she also invented an exoskeleton to rival that of Tony Stark/Ironman so that she could fight alongside the Wakandans. Now Williams has returned home to Chicago, where she meets Parker Robbins, aka The Hood, who is able to access dark magic, setting Williams on a 'path of danger and adventure.' 'The Bear' season 4 Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri Where: Disney+ When: June 26 The first two seasons of the horribly tense kitchen-based drama 'The Bear' were fantastic TV. The third? Not so much. (Although it should be said that even weak episodes of 'The Bear' are still better than the vast majority of shows.) But hopefully season four finds super-talented chef Carmy Berzatto and his crew back on form as they try to make a success of the titular family restaurant which they've shifted from run-down sandwich shop to fine-dining venue. And after a wait of almost a year, we'll finally get to find out what that all-important review said. 'Wednesday' season 2 Starring: Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzman Where: Netflix When: August 6 Wednesday Addams is back at Nevermore Academy for another year. And this time around, the rest of her spooky, kooky family will be spending a lot more time there, too — much to Wednesday's chagrin — and not just because her brother Pugsley has enrolled. Co-showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar have promised a 'darker, more complex' series. And at Netlix's live Tudum event last month, it was announced that Lady Gaga will be guest starring as the 'mysterious and enigmatic' Nevermore teacher Rosaline Rotwood. 'Slow Horses' season 5 Starring: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas Where: Apple+ TV When: Sept. 24 Former British super-spy Jackson Lamb and his unfortunate crew of misfit spooks return for another series of this excellent, darkly humorous espionage drama. This time around, the trouble starts when Slough House's resident tech nerd Roddy gets a glamorous new girlfriend, who everyone — or, at least, everyone except for Roddy — can see is well out of his league. The show is an adaptation of Mick Herron's 'Slough House' novels, and this season is based on 'London Rules.' 'Ted Lasso' star Nick Mohammed is perhaps the biggest new name to join the cast; he'll be playing an ambitious London mayoral candidate. 'Stranger Things' season 5 Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown Where: Netflix When: November 26 The final (really?) season of the phenomenally successful Eighties-set sci-fi horror drama has a lot to live up to. Once again, psychokinetic Eleven and her pals in Hawkins, Indiana, must fight to save the Earth from the alternate dimension known as the Upside Down. Since its arrival on our screens in 2016, 'Stranger Things' has been one of the world's most talked-about and beloved series. Showrunners The Duffer Brothers have got pretty much everything right so far. Can they stick the landing?
Pink Villa
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Squid Game Season 3 teases fierce ‘final face-off' between Lee Jung Jae and Lee Byung Hun ahead of release, check out poster
With anticipation building for the climactic end of one of Netflix's most iconic Korean series, Squid Game is back in the spotlight. The streaming giant has unveiled an official poster for its third and final season, set to premiere on June 27, 2025. And fans are already dissecting every detail! Lee Jung Jae vs Lee Byung Hun The poster, shared by Netflix across its official channels, features a striking dual-image composition: half the face of Seong Gi Hun, portrayed by Lee Jung Jae, and the other half belonging to The Front Man, played by Lee Byung Hun. Both characters wear equally intense expressions. It suggests a final, inevitable collision between two deeply scarred men. In the backdrop looms the infamous pig-shaped money tank, stuffed to the brim with stacks of prize money that once lured hundreds to their doom. Surrounding it are lines of the faceless, pink-uniformed guards who enforce the deadly rules of the arena. Below the image, the caption reads: "Masks off, for this face-off." A simple line, yet one loaded with meaning. In a series that has consistently used masks and anonymity as metaphors for control and power, the phrase hints at a final reckoning. The facade is about to shatter. What happened in Season 2? Netflix's teaser is the latest in a string of promotional material designed to keep the Squid Game fandom fed. Fans were left stunned as Gi Hun, who had spent much of Season 2 plotting from within, tried to subvert the brutal system. Just when it seemed he might succeed in sparking an internal revolt, The Front Man intercepted him. He effectively collapsed his plans and reminded viewers of just how tightly the Game's hierarchy still holds. Now, as Season 3 looms, the narrative seems poised to bring everything full circle. Gi Hun is forced to re-enter the games. Whether driven by revenge, guilt, or a burning desire to end the bloodshed once and for all, his return is no accident. It sets the stage for what may be Squid Game's most morally complex chapter yet. No stone unturned Netflix is going all-in with its marketing strategy. From cryptic teasers to detailed behind-the-scenes interviews with director Hwang Dong Hyuk, the platform is crafting a carefully layered build-up to the finale. The newly released poster adds another piece to the puzzle, reigniting fan theories and social media speculation. Global release and fan expectations The final season will premiere globally on Friday, June 27, 2025, with all six episodes available for streaming at once. Squid Game Season 3 is expected to pack an emotional and psychological punch. As the countdown begins, fans across the world are bracing for an unforgettable conclusion. The Game isn't just about survival anymore; it's about the truth, justice, and unmasking what lies beneath. And this time, the masks are coming off.
