Lee Jung-jae Addresses $1 Million Per Episode Rumors for ‘Squid Game 2’: “It’s True I Earned a Lot”
On January 2, OSEN conducted an interview with Lee Jung-jae, the lead actor of the Netflix original series Squid Game Season 2, at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno, Seoul.
Due to the immense popularity of Season 1, the salaries of the cast significantly increased for Season 2, with reports claiming Lee Jung-jae received $1 million per episode. If accurate, this would make him the highest-paid actor in Korean television history.
When asked about the rumors surrounding his fee, Lee Jung-jae stated,
“I’m not upset about the rumors, but I felt that one day I would need to explain things properly. In today’s world, it’s better to address misunderstandings when the time is right, and I felt this interview was a good opportunity.”
Regarding the claim that he received a record-breaking salary, he candidly admitted,
“There are some misunderstandings, but it’s true that I was paid a lot.”
He added,
“I’m not sure if it’s the highest ever. Since Squid Game is a global project, my U.S. agency handled the negotiations with Netflix headquarters. They suggested a fair amount. For me, maintaining good relationships is the most important thing. If the relationship sours, no work can happen afterward. My agency managed the details well, and I’m satisfied with the agreement.”
Squid Game 2 premiered on Netflix on December 26, and Season 3 is scheduled for release this summer.
On October 4, at the “Next on Netflix: 2025 Korean Films” event held at Park Hyatt Busan, Netflix’s Seoul Office Director of Film and Series Content Kim Tae-won expressed concerns about the rising actor fees. He commented, “K-content is doing well and receiving global love, but as production costs increase, this will eventually come back like a boomerang.“
The high fees demanded by actors have been frequently pointed out as a significant factor in the rise of production costs. Particularly, there has been buzz surrounding rumors that Lee Jung-jae, who will appear in the upcoming “Squid Game” Season 2, is set to receive as much as 1 billion won per episode.
Director Kim stated, “We’re currently thinking about how appropriate budgets and fees are good for both actors and the projects.”
He added, “While we don’t have specific guidelines or regulations in place, we believe it’s important to provide a budget and fees that suit the project. We’re talking about the same thing when discussing projects with producers.”
Source: Daum
