40 is the new 20: how top-earning K-drama stars Song Hye-kyo, Son Ye-jin, CF Queen Kim Tae-hee and Jun Ji-hyun became richer, fiercer and more successful with age

Nov 4 , 2021

Is 40 the new 20? K-drama stars Jun Ji-hyun and Song Hye-kyo certainly prove it is. Photos: Alexander McQueen, My Sassy Girl, Autumn in My Heart and Chaumet

Song Hye-kyo scored deals with luxury brands Chaumet, Fendi and Sulwhasoo, while Jun Ji-hyun was appointed Alexander McQueen’s first ever Korean ambassador

Crash Landing on You’s Son Ye-jin is set to star in Thirty Nine in 2022, while Kim Tae-hee and K-pop legend Rain are known as one of Korea’s richest celebrity couples

Some of us might dread the big four-oh, assuming that passing the milestone birthday will mean having to take things slow from then on. And while plenty of people do end up chilling out, others just become fiercer, richer and more successful with age – like these South Korean stars. Jun Ji-hyun and Song Hye-kyo prove 40 really is the new 20 in our youth-obsessed culture.

Here’s a closer look at the some of the top-earning K-drama stars and their staggering careers and net worths (sourced from Celebrity Net Worth, Korean media reports and previous STYLE stories).

Jun Ji-hyun, turned 40 on October 30

Estimated net worth: US$6 million

Jun Ji-hyun when she was 20 versus now at the age of 40. Photos: My Sassy Girl and Alexander McQueen

Jun Ji-hyun started out as a commercial model and K-drama actress. After her debut film White Valentine in 1999, she quickly became popular among local Korean audiences and became even more well known with 2002’s My Sassy Girl. Her latest series, Jirisan, is currently showing on iQiyi.

Over the years, the My Love From the Star and Legend of The Blue Sea actress became known as a fashion goddess with edgy looks only she could pull off. That might explain why she caught the attention of several luxury houses. In 2020, Jun was appointed as Alexander McQueen’s first ever Korean ambassador.

She is also married to Choi Joon-hyuk, a banker, and welcomed two boys in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

Song Hye-kyo, turns 40 on November 22