Top 15 Korean Dramas with Massive Production Budgets

Buzz

Content

1. Arthdal Chronicles (54 billion won)

2. Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin - Admiral Yi Sun-sin

3. The Legend - The Grand Sage's Four Guardians

4. Dae Jo Yeong: 35 billion won ~ 749 billion KRW

5. Yeon Gaesomun

6. Mr. Sunshine

7. Six Flying Dragons

8. God of War

9. Vagabond (Investment: 25 billion won)

10. Kingdom (Investment: 20 billion won)

11. Legend of the Blue Sea

12. Saimdang, Light’s Diary (20 billion won)

13. Criminal Minds (20 billion won)

14. IRIS - Classified Iris

15. Korean Peninsula: 20 billion won

1. Arthdal Chronicles (54 billion won)

Arthdal Chronicles marks South Korea's first epic saga, featuring an ensemble cast of A-listers: Song Joong Ki, Jang Dong Won, Kim Ji Won, and more. The filming took place partly in Brunei and completed in Osan, where a dedicated film set was constructed. With a star-studded cast and meticulous attention to settings and costumes, the 18-episode series incurred a staggering production cost of 54 billion won.

The drama is divided into three parts: 'The Children of Prophecy,' Part 2: 'The Sky Turning Inside Out, Rising Land,' and Part 3: 'Arth, The Prelude to All Legends.'

Director: Kim Won-Suk,...
Cast: Jang Dong Gun, Song Joong Ki, Kim Ji Won, Kim Ok Bin,...
Year Released: 2019
Total Episodes: 18
Production Cost: 54 billion won.

Arthdal Chronicles

2. Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin - Admiral Yi Sun-sin

Admiral Yi Sun-sin stands as one of the two most expensive works in the history of South Korean cinema, produced over 13 years ago, and remains the costliest drama ever aired on KBS1. The cost of producing a single episode of Admiral Yi Sun-sin was approximately 413 million won. The series spans 104 episodes, accumulating a total budget of 43 billion won.

The drama revolves around Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the commander of the Joseon Navy, a legendary figure of invincibility during Hideyoshi's invasion and a lifelong deity who fought to protect the people. While centered on a real character, Admiral Yi Sun-sin does not strictly adhere to the specific biography of the individual and does not rigidly follow the history of the Joseon Dynasty in the 16th century.

Details:

Director: Lee Sung-joo, Kim Jung-gyu
Cast: Kim Myung-min, Choi Jae-sung, Lee Jae-ryong, Choi Cheol-ho,...
Genre: Historical, War
Duration: 104 episodes
Year Released: 2004
Production Cost: 43 billion won (approximately 920 million KRW)

Admiral Yi Sun-sin is among the most heavily funded productions in South Korea

3. The Legend - The Grand Sage's Four Guardians

The Grand Sage's Four Guardians is a historical drama produced by MBC in 2007, revolving around the conflicts and enmity between Emperor Hwan Woong and the two tribe leaders, Kajin (leader of the Tiger tribe) and Seoh (leader of the Bear tribe). These two tribes engage in a fierce battle for dominance over Earth. This is also the most expensive film in the history of South Korean cinema, with a total investment of 43 billion won for 24 episodes, equivalent to 1.8 billion won per episode. More than 10 years later, no project has surpassed this record.

Understandably, as a historical drama infused with fantasy elements, the production costs for the setting and costumes are exceptionally high. Additionally, for each episode, the actor Bae Yong Joon received a staggering 250 million won, making it the highest TV drama actor fee to date.

Details:

Director: Kim Jong-hak, Yoon Sang-ho
Cast: Bae Yong-joon, Lee Ji-ah, Moon So-ri, Choi Min-soo,...
Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Romance
Duration: 24 episodes
Year Released: 2007
Production Cost: 43 billion won (approximately 920 billion KRW)

Impressive Poster of The Legend - The Grand Sage's Four Guardians

4. Dae Jo Yeong: 35 billion won ~ 749 billion KRW

This is another historical TV drama featuring a real historical figure, King Dae Jo Yeong, the ruler of the Balhae dynasty. The series depicts the struggle of King Jo Yeong against his rival Yi Hae Go for power and beauty. Additionally, the show portrays many other historical characters.

Dae Jo Yeong is one of the most expensive historical dramas ever aired on KBS1. With a budget of 35 billion won for 134 episodes, the production cost per episode of Dae Jo Yeong is approximately 261 million won. The quality of the series is commensurate with the substantial budget, ensuring viewers a satisfying experience comparable to blockbuster films.

Details:

Director: Yoon Sung Sik
Cast: Choi Soo-jong, Park Ye Jin,...
Genre: Historical, War
Duration: 134 episodes
Year Released: 2006
Production Cost: 35 billion won (approximately 749 billion KRW)

Impressive Poster of the film Dae Jo Yeong

5. Yeon Gaesomun

Yeon Gaesomun is a historical drama about a real historical figure produced by SBS with a duration of 100 episodes. The series revolves around General Yoen Gaesomun, who led a coup, overthrowing the king of Goguryeo, Yeongnyu, in 642. The show had an investment budget of up to 40 billion won, but with 100 episodes, each lasting 1 hour, the quality cannot be compared to contemporary blockbuster historical films. Alongside Mighty Chil Woo and The Iron Empress, Yeon Gaesomun immediately became a hot topic among South Korean netizens due to its large investment budget but subpar visual effects quality and somewhat casual post-production. Nevertheless, Yeon Gaesomun is still highly praised for its strong investment in war scenes, costumes, and the actors' performances.
Details:

Cast:

Lee Tae-gon, Hwang In-young, Son Tae-young,...
Genre: Historical
Duration: 100 episodes
Year Released: 2006
Investment Cost: 40 billion won (approximately 855 billion KRW)

Main actors in the film

6. Mr. Sunshine

Set in the early 20th century, before the Korean occupation by Japan (1910 – 1945), Mr. Sunshine tells the story of a Korean man who leaves his homeland on a warship and becomes a U.S. soldier during the U.S. expedition to Korea. After some time, the man returns to Korea and falls in love with an aristocratic woman.

Mr. Sunshine is another masterpiece by the renowned screenwriter Kim Eun Sook - the author of the hit Descendants of the Sun, right from the announcement of the project, Mr. Sunshine became a hot topic among South Korean netizens, partly due to SBS's reluctance to collaborate due to the anticipated high budget. Currently, the film is one of the significant projects of tvN in 2018, and as expected, tvN had to allocate 24 - 30 billion won for this blockbuster (exact figures are unspecified as the film has not been released yet).
Details:

Cast: Kim Tae-ri, Lee Byung Hun, Yoo Yeon-Seok,...
Genre: Romance, Drama
Duration: Expected 16 - 20 episodes
Year Released: 2018
Investment Cost: 24 - 30 billion won (approximately 513 - 642 billion KRW)

Main male and female leads in Mr. Sunshine

7. Six Flying Dragons

Six Flying Dragons is a television series adapted from the novel of the same name, produced for the 25th anniversary of SBS. The series depicts the process of building the Joseon dynasty after it was established by Emperor Tae Jo and Prime Minister Jung Do Yeon. Shortly after the founding of Joseon, conflicts and rebellions among six factions erupted, with the most prominent being Lee Bang Won (also known as Yi Bang Won) - the third son of King Tae Jo. Prince Lee Bang Won originally aspired to transform the Joseon dynasty into a military monarchy, but due to strong opposition from Emperor Tae Jo, he rose in rebellion.
Six Flying Dragons is one of the most high-budget productions of SBS, with a total cost of 30 billion won for 50 episodes, equivalent to 600 million won per episode. As a special project, the series received meticulous investment in costumes, settings, scenes, camera angles, and action sequences. Notably, the salary paid to the main actor, Yoo Ah In, by the network was 70 million won per episode.

Details:

Director: Shin Kyung-Soo
Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Kim Myung-min, Shin Se-kyung,...
Genre: Historical
Duration: 50 episodes
Year Released: 2015
Investment Cost: 30 billion won (approximately 642 billion KRW)

Six main characters in the film

8. God of War

God of War is a historical drama revolving around the history of Goryeo, the era of the lordship, and autocracy reigning over power struggles between factions. Kim Joon, born a slave, escapes to become a monk. However, his harsh fate continues when he becomes entangled in the aftermath of a rebellion against the rebellious monks. To escape the life of a captive slave and save Wol Ah – the girl he grew up with and who is also enslaved – Kim Joon must participate in the 'Horse Race,' essentially a massacre where competitors fight to the death, with the survivor declared the winner. Despite being injured, with determination and high spirits, Kim Joon emerges victorious, becoming a martial general and helping Jung Bo Seok stabilize the country. God of War consists of 56 episodes, and MBC invested a whopping 25 billion won, approximately 446 million won per episode. This is understandable as the series vividly portrays intense battles without compromise, incurring substantial costs for accurately reconstructing the ancient cultural values of Korea.

Details:

Directors: Kim Jin Min, Kim Heung Dong
Cast: Kim Joo Hyuk, Kim Gyu Ri,...
Genre: Historical
Duration: 84 episodes
Year Released: 2012
Investment Cost: 25 billion won (approximately 535 billion KRW)

Movie poster for God of War

9. Vagabond (Investment: 25 billion won)

Vagabond is a heavily funded TV series with a budget of approximately 25 billion won (over 20 million USD). The series is meticulously crafted, with the production team focusing on creating visually stunning and thrilling action scenes, including intense chases, captivating gunfights, alluring and engaging for the viewers. Many scenes were filmed overseas.

The story revolves around Cha Dal Gun, a young stuntman with dreams of becoming an action movie star and an ardent fan of Jackie Chan (played by Lee Seung Gi). However, a life-changing event occurs when his adopted nephew dies in a plane crash. This tragedy prompts him to put aside his dreams and embark on an investigation into the truth behind the accident. In the process, he unwittingly gets involved in a major corruption scandal and joins forces with Go Hae Ri, an NIS (National Intelligence Service) agent, to uncover the final truth.

Details:

Director: Yu In-Sik.
Cast: Lee Seung Gi, Suzy, Shin Sung-rok,...
Genre: Action
Episodes: 16
Year Released: 2019
Investment Cost: 25 billion won

10. Kingdom (Investment: 20 billion won)

Kingdom (Land of the Living Dead) is a captivatingly scripted series. With meticulous and grandiose visual effects, along with the participation of top-notch actors such as Joo Ji Hoon, Ryu Seung Ryong, Bae Doona, Kim Sang Ho, the budget for Kingdom amounts to approximately 20 billion won (around 16.6 million USD).

Kingdom is adapted from the popular webtoon series Land of the Gods. Set in the Joseon era, the plot revolves around the investigative journey of a prince (played by Joo Ji Hoon) into the origin of a dangerous epidemic that turns humans into the living dead. Besides the eerie and chilling stories related to the living dead, the series also portrays the power struggles within the royal court during this period.

Details:

Genre: Action, Fantasy
Cast: Joo Ji Hoon, Ryu Seung Ryong, Bae Doona, Kim Sang Ho…
Investment Cost: 20 billion won

Kingdom (Land of the Living Dead)

11. Legend of the Blue Sea

Legend of the Blue Sea stands out as one of the most anticipated blockbusters in Korean cinema in the past year. Drawing inspiration from a Joseon-era scholar named Yoo Mong In's fairy tale about the first mermaid in Korea, the film revolves around the enduring love between the mermaid Sae Hwa and Dam Ryung, who in modern times is Heo Joon Jae, a professional scam artist.

Not only does Legend of the Blue Sea feature a unique storyline, but it also captures attention with its grandiose scenes filmed not only in South Korea but also in several countries worldwide. The underwater and period scenes are visually stunning. The costumes, especially those worn by the lead actress Jun Ji-hyun, are mostly high-end brands, adding significant value, not to mention the substantial fees for Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Min Ho—two of South Korea's top actors. Therefore, the film's budget reached 22 billion won, approximately 1.1 billion won per episode, a significant investment.

Details:

Director: Jin Hyuk
Cast: Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Min-ho,...
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Duration: 20 episodes
Release Year: 2016
Investment Cost: 22 billion won (around 471 billion KRW)

Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji-hyun

12. Saimdang, Light’s Diary (20 billion won)

Saimdang, Light’s Diary (Saimdang, Journal of Light) received a substantial investment of 20 billion won from SBS. The two main characters are portrayed by two renowned stars, Lee Young Ae and Song Seung Hun, marking Lee Young Ae's comeback after several years.

Saimdang, Light's Diary tells the story of a university professor of history and art who inadvertently discovers the diary of Shin Saimdang, a famous 16th-century artist. She deciphers the secrets behind a mysterious portrait, gradually unraveling the extraordinary life of Saimdang. This revered teacher later became a prominent poet in the Joseon era, providing insights into the remarkable ups and downs, joys, and sorrows of this talented woman.

Details:

Cast: Lee Young Ae, Song Seung Hun, Oh Yoon Ah
Duration: 30 episodes
Year of release: 2017
Investment Cost: 20 billion won

Saimdang, Light’s Diary

13. Criminal Minds (20 billion won)

Criminal Minds (Criminal Behavior) is a remake based on the original American version, featuring the participation of top Korean stars including Lee Jun Ki, Moon Chae Won, Lee Sun Bin. The series is invested with a whopping budget of 20 billion won, promising to be a blockbuster but falls short of expectations.

The plot revolves around a team of profilers extensively trained in criminal psychology, investigating cases from the criminals' perspective. Kim Hyun Joon (played by Lee Jun Ki) joins the NCI team under the recommendation of Kang Ki Hyung (Son Hyun Joo). Formerly a specialized police officer in bomb disposal, Hyun Joon, due to an unfortunate incident during a prior mission, transitions to the violent crime investigation team.

Details:

Cast: Son Hyun-joo, Lee Joon-gi, Moon Chae-won, Lee Sun-bin, Kim Yeong-cheol
Directors: Yang Yoon Ho, Lee Jung Hyo
Episodes: 20
Genres: Procedural drama, Action
Year of release: 2017
Investment Cost: 20 billion won

Criminal Minds (Criminal Behavior)

14. IRIS - Classified Iris

Iris - Classified Iris takes the next spot in the list of the most expensive Korean dramas. With a budget of 20 billion won to produce 20 episodes, the series features a stellar cast of top Korean actors, commanding substantial salaries. This is one of the reasons why a single episode of Iris - Classified Iris is valued at 1 billion won. The film production team was rightfully rewarded as the ratings soared during its broadcast, making it one of the hottest dramas in Korea and even across Asia at that time.

Iris - Classified Iris revolves around two main characters, Kim Hyun Joon and Jin Sa Woo. They are brought to the organization 707, tasked by the National Intelligence Service (NSS), becoming top intelligence agents. Ironically, they both fall in love with intelligence officer Choi Seung Hee. Sacrifices, love troubles, job intricacies, and hidden secrets are gradually unveiled.

Details:

Directors: Kim Kyu-tae, Yang Yun-ho
Cast: Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-hee, Jung Joon-ho, Kim Seung-woo, Kim So-yeon, Choi Seung-hyun,...
Genres: Romance, Action, Investigation
Episodes: 20
Year of release: 2009
Investment Cost: 20 billion won (approximately 428 billion KRW)

Impressive poster of Classified Iris

15. Korean Peninsula: 20 billion won

Korean Peninsula is a television series produced by TV Chosun in 2012 and stands as the most expensive production for the network to date, with a budget reaching 20 billion won for 18 episodes, approximately 1.1 billion won per episode. The story revolves around Seo Myung-joon, a South Korean scientist secretly admiring North Korean scientist Im Jin-jae. As they collaborate on developing an alternative energy source, unexpected political tensions arise when Myung-joon becomes the president of a unified Korea. The increasing political strain and the struggle between the two nations over natural resources put the relationship of the two scientists in dire straits. Im Jin-jae faces physical pain, torture, and accusations of betraying the country.

Details:

Director: Lee Hyung-min
Cast: Hwang Jung-min, Kim Jung-eun,...
Genres: Romance, Action, Political Drama
Episodes: 18
Year of release: 2012
Investment Cost: 20 billion won (approximately 428 billion KRW)

Two main actors in the series

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key highlights of the show Arthdal Chronicles?

Arthdal Chronicles is South Korea's first epic saga with a production cost of 54 billion won. The 18-episode series features a star-studded cast, including Song Joong Ki and Jang Dong Won, and explores themes of prophecy and legend.

How much did the series Admiral Yi Sun-sin cost to produce?

Admiral Yi Sun-sin, a historical drama, had a production budget of 43 billion won. Spanning 104 episodes, it showcases the life of the legendary commander during the Hideyoshi invasion of Korea.

What unique aspects define the drama The Legend?

The Legend is notable for its historical and fantasy elements, with a budget of 43 billion won for 24 episodes. It features high production costs for settings and actor fees, particularly for Bae Yong Joon.

What historical figure is depicted in the series Dae Jo Yeong?

Dae Jo Yeong revolves around the historical figure King Dae Jo Yeong of the Balhae dynasty. The series has a budget of 35 billion won for 134 episodes, showcasing his struggles against rivals for power.

What is the storyline of the drama Yeon Gaesomun?

Yeon Gaesomun tells the story of General Yeon Gaesomun, who leads a coup in Goguryeo. With a budget of 40 billion won for 100 episodes, it combines historical events with elaborate war scenes and strong performances.

What makes Mr. Sunshine a significant production in Korean drama?

Mr. Sunshine, set in the early 20th century, is notable for its high production cost of approximately 24 - 30 billion won and its compelling storyline involving romance and historical themes during Korea's occupation.

Mytour's content is for customer care and travel encouragement only, and we are not responsible.

For errors or inappropriate content, please contact us at: [email protected]