Many entertainers earn less than average

2010-07-07 17:17

Despite being in the spotlight on stage or leading glamorous lives on screen, entertainers do not always make a great living, a report shows.

According to an analysis by the National Tax Services released Wednesday, entertainers such as actors and actresses, singers, and models on average earn 28.5 million won ($23,332) annually. The analysis was based on 12,229 entertainers registered in 2008 for the value-added tax exemption. The total income reported was about 463.8 billion won.

Entertainers make nearly 10 million won less than the average annual salary of office workers who pay taxes, who earn 38.2 million won. But entertainers earn 2.7 million won more when including non-taxpayers.

By profession, actors and actresses earned the highest income, 38 million won, while singers make 26 million won and models make 11 million won.

Comedian Yu Jae-suk is known to have received 954.4 million won from the Munhwa Broadcasting Corp. in 2008 for his appearances on shows including “Infinity Challenge” and “Come to Play,” according to data from the MBC Foundation for Broadcasting Culture.

As the biggest earner among TV show hosts, Yu’s total salary is expected to be much higher, when counting his other shows on Seoul Broadcasting System and Korea Broadcasting System.

Among high earners, comedian Park Myung-soo made nearly 843 million won in 2008, followed by MC Lee Hwi-jae with 574.5 million won, the data shows.

By contrast, the tax analysis shows that the average income of 6,238 models was 11 million won in the same year, indicating they made less than a million won a month, which is nearly equivalent to the minimum wage set by law.

“Contrary to people’s expectations, most entertainers make as much money as ordinary people, or sometimes they even make a poor living,” an official said.