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Lee Byung-hun's Acting Fee Dwarfs Industry Guideline

Controversy is building over news that actor Lee Byung-hun is being paid W100 million per episode for appearing in the KBS drama "IRIS" (US$1=W1,158).

A newspaper reported on Wednesday that Lee was guaranteed at least W100 million for each episode of the spy thriller, considering a W25 million per episode performance fee and a W1.5 billion advance. The figure is well above the W15 million per episode guideline set by the Corea Drama Production Association (CODA), and the third highest in the industry history.

The record is a whopping W250 million per episode paid to actor Bae Yong-joon for the MBC drama "The Legend" (The Four Guardian Gods of the King), followed by W100 million per episode promised to Park Shin-yang for four extra episodes of "War of Money".

"In Lee's case the amount includes a combination of things, such as proceeds from sales of domestic and overseas broadcast rights, so it's not clear that his fee exceeds the guideline", said CODA head Shin Hyun-taik.

Lee's co-stars in "IRIS", Kim Seung-woo and Jung Jun-ho, are reportedly paid W15 million per episode.

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