Top 10 Most Expensive Korean Dramas: Squid Game No Longer in the Top 3

Many viewers often believe that only films tend to have significant budgets; however, certain television dramas also break this stereotype. Here, we will explore a list of series known for their substantial production expenditures.

*The estimated production costs mentioned below serve as a reference point only. These rankings reflect the average estimated cost per episode.

10. Legend of the Blue Sea: Lee Min Ho, Jun Ji Hyun

Despite being a romance-focused drama, Legend of the Blue Sea was produced with a remarkable budget of 22 billion won for its 20 episodes, making the average cost per episode approximately 1.05 billion won. In addition to the substantial fees for its lead actors, Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun, the series also featured luxurious settings, including filming segments in Spain. Considering its release in 2017, this budget was quite extraordinary.

9. Crash Landing on You: Hyun Bin, Son Ye Jin

Another high-profile drama starring A-list actors Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin, Crash Landing on You, had a total production budget of 20 billion won. While this figure is lower than that of Legend of the Blue Sea, the drama comprises only 16 episodes, resulting in an average cost of approximately 1.25 billion won per episode. The authenticity of the North Korean lifestyle depicted in the series necessitated significant investment in set design, and filming took place in scenic locations across Switzerland and Mongolia.

8. Vagabond: Lee Seung Gi, Suzy

This action-packed series, Vagabond, incurred a budget of 25 billion won for its 16 episodes, averaging around 1.56 billion won each. A collaborative effort between Netflix and SBS, the series filmed in exotic locations such as Morocco and Spain. The extensive costs stem from both international filming and the high-octane action sequences involving significant pyrotechnics and weaponry.

7. Mr. Sunshine: Lee Byung Hun, Kim Tae Ri

This historical drama, Mr. Sunshine, set during a transformative period in Korea, boasted a production budget of 40 billion won for its 24 episodes, equating to approximately 1.67 billion won each. The series showcased intricately staged war scenes and period-accurate costumes, which required extensive resources. With a star-studded cast, including Lee Byung Hun, the impressive budget contributed to the drama’s success.

6. The Legend: Bae Yong Joon, Lee Ji Ah

Produced in 2007, The Legend features a mammoth budget of 43 billion won for 24 episodes, averaging 1.8 billion won per episode. This historical drama encompassed mythological themes and grand production values. Bae Yong Joon, the male lead, was compensated significantly, earning 250 million won per episode, a record at the time.

5. The King: Eternal Monarch (Lee Min Ho, Kim Go Eun)

Marking Lee Min Ho’s return to television post-military service, The King: Eternal Monarch was produced with a 30 billion won budget for its 16 episodes, translating to an approximate cost of 1.875 billion won per episode. This investment reflects the show’s dual-world premise, featuring lavish costumes and extraordinary set designs, including a meticulously crafted palace and grand military displays.

4. Squid Game: Lee Jung Jae, Jung Ho Yeon

With a total of 9 episodes, Squid Game incurred a production budget of 20 billion won, averaging about 2.22 billion won per episode. Netflix committed substantial resources to ensure the series was visually spectacular, featuring elaborate sets, a vast ensemble cast, and numerous props. The financial investment paid off handsomely, contributing to the show’s explosive success and profitability for the streaming giant.

3. Penthouse Seasons 2 and 3: Lee Ji Ah, Kim So Yeon, Eugene

Both the second and third seasons of the Penthouse series commanded a budget of 30 billion won each; however, the second season, with only 13 episodes, proved to be the most extravagant, averaging over 2.3 billion won per episode. The narrative revolving around the elite necessitated significant investments in luxurious settings, opulent costumes, and grand interiors, notably within the Hera Palace. This financial commitment resulted in a remarkable increase in SBS’s revenue by over 13% compared to the previous year.

Two notable series that contend for the title of highest investment are Sweet Home and Arthdal Chronicles, each with substantial budgets of 30 billion won for 10 episodes and 54 billion won for 18 episodes, respectively. This results in an average expenditure of 3 billion won per episode for both series.

Sweet Home primarily incurred high costs due to heavy reliance on special effects, necessary for its monster horror theme, while Arthdal Chronicles, set in a fictional ancient era, required significant funds for set construction and filming, along with hiring star actors who demanded high salaries.

1. Kingdom 1: Joo Ji Hoon, Bae Doo Na

Ultimately, Netflix’s Kingdom stands as the highest-budgeted production, with each of its 6 episodes costing an average of 3.3 billion won, culminating in a total expenditure of 20 billion won for the season. While this figure may seem exorbitant, the costs are justified by the intricate historical set design, attention to detail in costumes, and the logistical challenges of creating chilling zombie scenes. Initially intended to have 8 episodes, the budget constraints necessitated a reduction to 6.

The ongoing advancement of technology prompts filmmakers to invest more significantly in their projects as audience expectations continue to rise. While these dramas have already premiered, the competition for funding remains intense. Upcoming titles such as Joo Ji Hoon and Jun Ji Hyun’s Jirisan are estimated to receive investments between 32-35 billion won, while Moving, starring Jo In Sung and Han Hyo Joo, is projected to cost up to 50 billion won. We can eagerly anticipate more extraordinary productions in the future as we continue to support visionary filmmakers.

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