On the December 17 broadcast of MBC’s Radio Star, veteran rock musician Kim Ta-won, leader of the iconic band Boohwal, opened up about the massive copyright income he earned thanks to IU.
Kim Tae-won is the original composer of “Never Ending Story,” a beloved Korean ballad that IU remade for her 2025 remake album A Flower Bookmark 3. According to Kim Tae-won, IU’s team personally contacted him to ask for permission to remake the song. Trusting IU’s musical sensibility, he agreed without hesitation.
Kim Tae-won admitted that he never expected the remake to become such a huge success, saying, “IU is truly a superstar, and I thought she would only grow even bigger in the future.” While the original version of “Never Ending Story” was already a hit, IU’s reinterpretation brought the song to an entirely new generation of listeners.
That renewed popularity had a direct impact on Kim Tae-won’s earnings. When the Radio Star hosts asked whether he had ever received ₩100 million KRW (approximately $67,900 USD) in copyright royalties at once, Kim Tae-won proudly confirmed it was true.
According to him, thanks to what he jokingly called the “IU jackpot,” he earned ₩100 million KRW within just one quarter after the release of IU’s remake an amount that stunned both the hosts and viewers.
The revelation quickly sparked discussion among fans, once again highlighting IU’s rare ability to revive classic songs while generating substantial income for their original creators. It also shed light on how powerful a single collaboration with IU can be, not just artistically, but financially as well.
As A Flower Bookmark 3 continues to receive love from the public, Kim Tae-won’s story stands as yet another testament to IU’s unmatched influence in Korea’s music industry.
Sources: Chosun Biz
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