On July 4, Hyebin uploaded a YouTube Shorts video titled “Why Idols Don’t Make Money” on her channel. In the clip, the MOMOLAND member broke down the industry’s profit structure and reflected on her own career.
“I’ve been an idol for more than 10 years now, and I’m sure many people are curious about how much idols actually earn,” she began. “You probably think we make a lot of money, right? That’s not the case. Many people assume that trainee life is free because companies invest in trainees, but that’s generally only true for major entertainment agencies.”
Hyebin explained that trainees at many smaller agencies are required to repay the costs of their training after debuting.
“I thought it was free too,” she said. “But at most small and mid-sized agencies like mine, all the expenses from trainee days including lesson fees, meals, dormitory costs, and practice room rentals are billed after you debut. In other words, it’s deferred payment.”
According to Hyebin, this often means idols begin their careers carrying enormous debt.
“You debut already owing hundreds of millions of won,” she said. “You might think that once you debut, you start making money. Not at all. You only make money if you become successful. Fortunately for us, our CEO invested everything he had, and just two years after debut, MOMOLAND managed to win first place on a music show.”
She described the group’s breakthrough as “a miracle for a small-agency idol group,” but emphasized that success did not immediately translate into personal income.
“Even if you become popular, that doesn’t mean you’re suddenly rich,” Hyebin explained. “By default, idols split virtually every expense with the company. If you’re releasing a song, the agency first has to purchase it from composers, often for tens of millions of won.”
She added that music videos are another major expense.
“People think the company simply pays for them, but that’s not how it works. Producing a music video can cost hundreds of millions of won, and about half of that is charged to the members. Every time we filmed one, I effectively took on tens of millions of won in additional costs.”
Hyebin said the list of shared expenses extends even further.
“It doesn’t stop there. Jacket photoshoots, managers’ salaries, vehicles, fuel, hair, makeup everything is shared with the company. It took us two years after debut to become successful, and during that time we filmed four music videos. The company probably invested billions of won in us over those two years.”
As a result, she explained, members do not receive settlement payments until all of those expenses have been recouped.
“You might think that after becoming famous, earning money through events and advertisements would make you wealthy. It doesn’t,” she said. “The average appearance fee for an idol group is around 50 million won, which sounds like a lot.”
However, Hyebin explained that the money is divided multiple times.
“First, it’s split with the company. Then, if there are nine members, it’s divided equally among all nine. After deducting hair, makeup, stylists, meals, transportation, and other miscellaneous expenses, I’d receive roughly 2 million won for one event.”
She also dismissed the idea that performing for an hour meant easy money.
“People say, ‘You earned 2 million won for just one hour.’ That’s not true. The money we worked so hard to earn would simply be saved and then invested into the next music video. Then we’d be back in the negative. It was an endless cycle. The money turned around before it ever reached my bank account.”
Hyebin concluded by saying that only a tiny fraction of idols are able to achieve real financial success.
“The people who become trainees are already among the top 1% in terms of talent. Then only the top 1% of trainees actually debut. And among those who debut, only the top 1% truly make money. I wasn’t part of that 1%.”
She added that she has continued building her career by taking on a wide range of work, including musicals, stage plays, variety shows, hosting, and DJ activities.
Hyebin debuted with MOMOLAND in 2016. After the group’s disbandment in 2023, she has remained active as an actress, appearing in theater productions, musicals, and web dramas while continuing to expand her entertainment career.
Sources: Nate
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