BLACKPINK’s Rosé has officially topped the list of highest-earning celebrity YouTubers in Korea for 2025, according to Forbes Korea. As of August 29, she has amassed over 19.1 million subscribers and uploaded 86 videos, accumulating 3.6 billion total views. Her estimated annual income from YouTube alone? A staggering ₩11.06 billion (approximately USD 8 million).
Meanwhile, her bandmates are also generating eye-watering revenue on social media. Lisa reportedly earns $623,000 (₩831 million) per Instagram post, while Jennie, with 88.15 million followers, earns up to $511,000 (₩683 million) per post, according to UK-based analytics firm Hopper HQ.
Rosé’s meteoric rise on YouTube isn’t an isolated case. Jennie surpassed 1 million subscribers within 11 hours of launching her channel, hitting 5 million in just three weeks. Korean stars like IU, Yoo Jae-suk, and Shin Se-kyung have also successfully entered the YouTube scene, instantly attracting massive audiences.
“With just one photo or video, these top-tier celebrities can earn more than most people make in a year,” an industry observer commented. But this level of income is the exception, not the rule.
A 2024 report from Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT, surveying 1,000 content creators with substantial earnings, found that their average annual income was just ₩13.46 million (around USD 9,800). Many independent creators earn less than ₩1 million per month.
Data from Korea’s National Tax Service, submitted to Rep. Jeong Il-young of the Democratic Party, revealed that the top 1% of creators (247 individuals) accounted for ₩327.1 billion in total income — an average of ₩1.325 billion each. Notably, the top 10% made up over 50% of the industry’s revenue, highlighting a stark wealth gap in the creator economy.
In a digital age where fame and fortune can be gained through a single viral upload, the reality for most creators is far less glamorous. While celebrity YouTubers like Rosé dominate headlines with astronomical earnings, countless others continue to hustle in the shadows, earning a fraction of what the top tier brings
Sources: daum
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