The glittering world of K-Pop often appears to be one of immense wealth and effortless glamour. However, behind the vibrant stages and meticulously crafted music videos lies a stark financial reality for many idols, a truth recently laid bare by a former girl group leader. Hyebin, known for her leadership in the popular group Momoland, has bravely spoken out about the intricate idol payment system and shed light on why it’s incredibly difficult for small- and mid-level idols to truly make money.
On July 6th, Hyebin uploaded a revealing video titled “Why Idols Don’t Make Money” to her personal YouTube channel, immediately grabbing the attention of fans and industry observers alike.
Opening up about her decade-long journey in the industry, Hyebin candidly shared, “It’s already been over 10 years since I became an idol. People are probably curious about how much idols actually earn. It seems like a lot, but it’s not.” Her words set the stage for an eye-opening exposé into the true economics of K-Pop stardom.
Unmasking the Trainee Debt: A Postpaid System
Hyebin first delved into the fundamental structure of idol payments, a system that often leaves aspiring stars starting their careers deep in debt. She explained, “Except for big agencies, costs for lessons, food, housing, and practice room rentals during the trainee period are charged all at once after debut. In simple terms, it’s a postpaid system. You debut carrying hundreds of millions in debt.” This shocking revelation highlights that for most, the journey to becoming an idol isn’t just financially neutral, but an immediate financial burden. “People say you make money once you debut, but you only earn money if you become popular,” she emphasized, revealing the brutal catch-22 of the industry.
The Relentless Cycle of Production Costs
Even for groups that manage to achieve significant popularity, the path to financial stability is fraught with hurdles. Hyebin recounted Momoland’s journey: “I was lucky because the company CEO invested everything he had, and Momoland hit first place on a music show within two years of debut. That was a miracle for a small- to mid-tier group.” Despite this incredible success, she clarified, “You’d think that means we made money, but that’s not so. Essentially, idols split all costs with the company.”
This means every aspect of a group’s activities becomes a shared expense. “To release one song, you pay tens of millions of won to get the track. Filming a music video can cost hundreds of millions per shoot. Half of these expenses are paid by the members. This means my own money is spent every time we film a music video,” Hyebin detailed. Beyond the major production costs, even seemingly smaller items like jacket photo shoots, manager salaries, vehicle expenses, and hair and makeup services are split. She noted, “It took me two years from debut to popularity, during which we filmed four music videos. The company may have invested billions in us, but we don’t get paid until the members repay all that investment.”
Event Earnings: A Misleading Figure
The perception that popular idols quickly become rich from events and advertisements was also debunked by Hyebin. “You might think once we’re popular and regularly doing events and ads, we’d be rich, but that’s not true,” she stated. While an average payment for an idol event might be around ₩50.0 million KRW (approximately $32,700 USD), the actual take-home for individual members is startlingly low. “But half goes to the company, then that amount is divided among nine members. After deducting small expenses, I get about ₩2.00 million KRW (about $1,310 USD) per event.”
Even that seemingly decent sum for an hour’s performance isn’t truly “earned” by the idol in a traditional sense. “You might think ₩2.00 million KRW (about $1,310 USD) for an hour’s performance is good, but it all gets saved and invested into the next music video. So it’s a continuous loss,” Hyebin explained, painting a picture of a perpetual cycle of reinvestment where personal profit remains elusive.
The Harsh Truth: Only the Top 1% Prosper
Hyebin’s ultimate conclusion paints a stark picture of the K-Pop industry’s competitive and financially challenging landscape. “So who makes money as an idol? Only the top 1% of high-earning individuals become trainees, the top 1% of those get to debut, and of those who debut, only the top 1% really make money. I wasn’t part of that 1%.”
This powerful statement underscores the immense odds against achieving financial success, even for groups like Momoland, who debuted in 2016 and gained global recognition with hits like “Bboom Bboom” and “BAAM.” Hyebin’s honest account serves as a vital reminder that the journey of a K-Pop idol is often far more complex and financially demanding than it appears from the outside.
