A group of women in Hong Kong reportedly spent over HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) to invite Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun to a private banquet, reports the entertainment news website of Chinese web portal Sohu.

Kim shot to fame with his role as alien professor Do Min-joon in popular South Korean TV drama My Love from the Star and his popularity is at its peak in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong even after the drama ended in late February, with endorsement opportunities continuing to flood in. He was said to have charged HK$6 million (US$775,000) to take part in one event.

Hong Kong media reported that the group commissioned a middleman to invite Kim to a private banquet in the special administration zone in order to meet the star up close. The middleman claimed the star asked for HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) in return. The women discussed among themselves and decided to pay HK$1 million (US$129,000) each to reach the target.

The price significantly exceeded the HK$2 million (US$260,000) fee that Jun Ji-hyun, the female lead in My Love from the Star, charged for attending an event. It is also higher than the prices of many A-list Hong Kong actors such as Tony Leung, Andy Lau and Louis Koo, which are said to charge between HK$1.2 million to HK$1.5 million (US$154,000-$193,000) for an appearance, according to the media.