Producers face sanctions over unpaid actor fees

Apr 28, 2026, 10:26 am

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Late actress Kim Soo-mi. /Asia Today DB

South Korea’s entertainment industry organizations have issued a strong warning against the production company behind the musical My Mother, accusing it of failing to pay appearance fees to actors including the late Kim Soo-mi and veteran actress Lee Hyo-chun.

The Korea Entertainment Management Association and the Korea Broadcasting Actors Union said on April 27 that they would take firm action if the issue remains unresolved, including effectively expelling the company from the industry.

According to an investigation, unpaid fees owed to Kim amount to about 160 million won. Lee was also found to have not received her full payment despite proceeding with the production in good faith.

The organizations condemned the situation, stating that withholding payments from a deceased and senior actor constitutes a serious violation of dignity and professional respect.

The controversy has expanded beyond actors, with allegations that stage crew members — including those responsible for lighting, sound, and set operations — have also not been paid.

Industry groups described the case as an intentional abuse and an illegal act that disregards the rightful compensation of cultural artists.

The groups warned that if the production company fails to comply with their demands, it will be designated a “bad producer” and shared across the industry, leading to a suspension of casting cooperation and other sanctions.

“This case will serve as a critical benchmark to eradicate the practice of unpaid fees,” the organizations said, adding that a zero-tolerance policy would be applied to similar cases in the future.

They also cautioned that failure to resolve the issue could undermine trust across South Korea’s broader entertainment industry.

#Kim Soo-mi #Lee Hyo-chun #musical My Mother #unpaid fees #Korea Entertainment Management Association