A new trend is taking hold in the world of entertainment: top-tier Japanese actors are increasingly taking on major roles in Korean TV shows and films.
Eita Nagayama has been cast to co-star with Son Suk Ku in the upcoming Netflix series Road. Directed by Han Jun Hee of D.P., the show follows Korean and Japanese detectives as they team up to solve a gruesome serial murder case.
Sho Kasamatsu will appear alongside Sul Kyung Gu and Hong Kyung in director Byeon Sung Hyun’s Netflix film Good News, which premieres on October 17th. He was also recently confirmed for Taxi Driver 3, a hit SBS series widely regarded as a signature project for its star, Lee Je Hoon.
Last year, Kentaro Sakaguchi starred opposite Lee Se Young in the heartfelt drama What Comes After Love. Meanwhile, rising star Keita Machida signed an exclusive contract with the Korean agency HB Entertainment.
This trend is shaped by two main factors: audience reach and compensation.
Korean media has built a large international audience, giving Japanese actors an opportunity to expand beyond the primarily domestic focus of their home industry. Appearing in Korean productions allows them to reach viewers across Asia and in other global markets.
Compensation is another key factor. A leading Japanese actor reportedly earns about $64,000 USD per episode, while top Korean actors can receive three to ten times more.
The arrangement benefits both sides. For Korean producers, casting well-known Japanese talent can be cost-effective while also helping to attract Japanese audiences. For Japanese actors, it offers both higher pay and international exposure through the global distribution of Korean content.
The issue of actors’ pay in Japan was recently raised by actor Takayuki Yamada, who said the domestic system often forces actors to depend on commercials and endorsements rather than on their film and television roles.
>> Son Suk Ku, Eita Nagayama Team Up in Netflix’s Cross-Border Murder Mystery
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