Byeon Woo Seok has been confirmed as the lead, Sung Jin Woo, in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the hit web novel Solo Leveling. Fans have been thrilled by the casting news, eagerly anticipating the series. However, reports from OSEN suggest that the actor’s payment might be lower than some expected due to Netflix’s stricter fee policies for Korean actors.
According to the report, Netflix has capped fees for its Korean scripted and unscripted projects, including limited series and films, at roughly 300–400 million KRW per episode (around 220,000–290,000 USD). While still a substantial amount, it is reportedly less than what was anticipated for Byeon Woo Seok, given the high-profile nature of the role.
For context, Lee Jung Jae reportedly earned around 245,000 USD per episode for Squid Game Season 1, although some sources claimed he requested up to 1 million USD per episode—a figure never confirmed. A source close to the Solo Leveling project suggested it would be difficult for Byeon Woo Seok to earn more than 300 million KRW per episode due to Netflix’s current policy.
Netflix responded by clarifying that appearance fees are negotiated flexibly rather than being uniformly capped. The spokesperson said, “Appearance fees are not simply based on the number of episodes but more reasonably reflect the actual time and contribution of creators and cast. Netflix does not enforce a uniform cap. Instead, fees are flexibly negotiated with partners, considering the nature of the project, role, and production period.”
This policy signals that while the platform is managing budgets more carefully, top-tier actors like Byeon Woo Seok still receive competitive compensation reflecting their role and involvement.
