Netflix Addresses Rising Actor Fees Amid Expanding K-Content Market

Netflix has expressed concerns over the escalating fees for actors.

On the evening of the 4th, the 'Next on Netflix: 2025 Korean Films' event was held at the Park Hyatt Busan. Attendees included director Yeon Sang-ho of 'Revelation', director Kim Byung-woo of 'The Great Flood', director Kim Tae-jun of '84 Square Meters', director Nam Koong-sun of 'History of Confession', director Lee Tae-sung of 'Mantis', director Han Ji-won of 'What This Planet Needs', director Byun Sung-hyun of 'Good News', and Netflix content director Kim Tae-won. The event was an opportunity to introduce Netflix's film lineup for 2025.

During the event, questions arose about the continuous rise in actor fees as OTT productions increase, leading to larger production budgets.

Director Kim Tae-won commented, "This is a concern shared by not only myself but also producers and directors. While K-content is thriving and receiving global love, the increase in production costs could boomerang back as a negative effect."

He added, "We are contemplating whether providing appropriate fees within a reasonable budget would be beneficial for both us and the projects. Although we haven't set specific guidelines or regulations, we are considering suitable fees according to each project. These aspects are discussed when negotiating projects."

The 29th Busan International Film Festival runs from the 2nd to the 11th at the Busan Cinema Center. This year's official selections include 224 films, an increase of 15 from last year's 209. The opening film is Netflix's 'Jeon, Ran', and the closing film is 'Journey of the Soul'.

Busan Kim Seo-yoon, Ten Asia Reporter seogugu@tenasia.co.kr