Korean actor Lee Chang-hoon recently opened up about his earnings during his peak years on the MBN show 'Altoran,' which aired on the 12th.
Lee, who rose to fame as a youth star in the 1990s, shared, “During my school days, I received many business cards on the streets. I felt guilty asking my mother for tuition money, so I thought I should get a part-time job,” explaining how he began his acting career.
He continued, “I called one of the numbers on the business cards, and they offered 300,000 to 400,000 won per commercial. Luckily, I debuted in a famous beer commercial,” detailing his entry into the entertainment industry.
Lee further revealed, “Without studying, I shot over 70 commercials in a year and a half.” He also passed the MBC open recruitment for actors on his first try, reflecting, “It seems like it was destiny for me to become an actor.”
During his prime, Lee's influence was significant. He mentioned, “I sometimes worked on four dramas simultaneously,” highlighting his busy schedule. As a cover model for a monthly magazine alongside Ko So-young, Lee recalled, “They called it the 'Star Academy.' They said if you met me, you’d become a star,” referencing his impact on fellow stars like Kim Hee-sun, Song Hye-kyo, and Lee Young-ae.
At the height of his career, Lee's earnings were astonishing. He stated, “I did a lot of commercials. I always had 100 million won in my wallet,” adding, “About 70 million won in checks because I didn’t have time to go to the bank.”
Lee also shared personal stories about his family, including his wife, who is 17 years younger. He mentioned that maintaining his health became important, saying, “I got married at 42, and there’s more than a 10-year age gap with my daughter’s friends’ fathers. That became a motivation for me to stay fit.” He added, “I lost 16kg for my daughter and have kept it off.”
Reported by Na-yeon Cho, TenAsia nybluebook@tenasia.co.kr