Park Hyung Sik has denied claims that the star received ₩400 million (~$290,000) per episode for his role in KBS2’s fantasy action drama Twelve.
On September 17, Park’s agency Réve issued a formal statement responding to media reports about his alleged appearance fee. The agency firmly rejected the figures that have circulated in recent days, saying, “The media reports regarding Park Hyung Sik’s appearance fee are untrue.”
The statement follows a widely publicized report by Dispatch, which claimed that Park Hyung Sik and co-star Ma Dong Seok accounted for the majority of the actor guarantees for Twelve.
According to that report, Ma Dong Seok was paid ₩500 million ($362,000) per episode, while Park Hyung-sik earned ₩400 million ($290,000). With both actors appearing in all eight episodes, Dispatch estimated their combined salaries at ₩7.2 billion, or roughly 34 percent of the drama’s entire production budget.
Réve, however, stressed that such claims misrepresent the truth and risk solidifying as fact if left unchallenged. “From the initial reports about Doctor Slump to the recent drama Twelve, the media reports concerning actor Park Hyung Sik’s appearance fee are not true,” the company stated. They added, “Since these incorrect claims are being taken as fact, we are releasing an official statement.”
The agency also emphasized his commitment to his work, saying, “Park Hyung Sik approaches every project with sincerity. We would be grateful if you continue to watch over his future activities with warm support.”
The issue of actor compensation has been under heavy scrutiny since Twelve faced criticism for allocating a large portion of its budget to leading stars. Industry insiders have argued that when actor guarantees exceed 30 percent of production costs, it inevitably limits spending on critical areas such as post-production, special effects, and writing.
In the case of Twelve, some viewers and critics noted that the visual effects and costumes fell short of expectations. Ratings dropped from a strong 8.1 percent premiere to just 2.4 percent by the finale, which raised questions about the second season.
Despite the controversy, Park Hyung Sik remains one of Korea’s most in-demand actors, especially after the record-breaking success of Buried Hearts. Next, he is in talks to appear in the revenge drama ‘Desparado.’
