5 billion won. That was Ma Dong-seok's fee per episode for KBS2's fantasy drama Twelve. With eight episodes, he earned a total of 40 billion won. Park Hyung-sik, who played Ogwi, followed with 4 billion won per episode—32 billion won in total.
In comparison, the rest of the cast—including Sung Dong-il, Seo In-guk, Kang Mi-na, Ye Soo-jung, Lee Joo-bin, Go Kyu-pil, Kim Chan-hyung, and Regina Lei—shared less than 10 billion won altogether.
Production Budget Strain
The drama's production cost was estimated between 22 to 23 billion won. Of this, LG Uplus funded 18 billion won, KBS (Monster Union) put in 4 billion, and sponsors like a tteokbokki brand and a chicken chain added around 200–300 million won each.
That means Ma Dong-seok and Park Hyung-sik alone accounted for roughly 34% of the entire budget. Once scriptwriting and directing fees were deducted, the actual production budget shrank even further.
Industry insiders note that lead actors' pay usually sits at 10–15% of total costs. "If casting fees exceed 40%, a project becomes nearly impossible to sustain. Even 30% is dangerously high," one producer remarked.
Impact on Quality
TWELVE was a fantasy action series requiring heavy investment in makeup, props, and post-production CGI. But with so much spent on top-billing actors, the execution faltered. Critics pointed out that the narrative was loose, the angel-versus-demon storyline lacked depth, and Ma's signature humor fell flat.
Visually, the show also struggled. Costumes felt like they belonged in a children's fantasy, wigs reminded viewers of the variety show Surprise, and CGI appeared cheap. Even the PPL (product placements) distracted—endless food scenes climaxed in a finale that rushed through the central battle in 20 minutes before focusing on a tteokbokki feast. The last episode closed with a disappointing 2.4% rating.
Commercial vs. Audience Outcome
Ironically, the big-name casting likely enabled the drama's very existence. Without offering Ma Dong-seok 5 billion won per episode, or Park Hyung-sik 4 billion, investors might have pulled out and overseas sales could have faltered. In the end, LG Uplus and KBS recouped their investments through sponsorship and ads, and the stars earned their pay. Only viewers were left shortchanged.
According to FlixPatrol, the show still ranked 6th on Disney+'s global TV chart, with viewers in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Korea, and Taiwan tuning in.
What's Next for Twelve?
The drama was conceived as a multi-season project, with plans reportedly extending to Season 4. The Season 1 finale hinted at a sequel, teasing the demon's resurrection through Taesan's shifting gaze.
But if Season 2 happens, major adjustments are needed: tighter scripts, more investment in fantasy action, and greater care in post-production. After all, audiences signed up for gripping battles between celestial beings—not endless chicken and tteokbokki product placement.
