(G)I-DLE's Soyeon recently shared some insights on idol income and royalties.

On July 16th, the YouTube channel Mimiminu posted a video titled "It took 3 years to clear the debt. Singing Queencard in a living room karaoke in front of (G)I-DLE's Jeon Soyeon."

In the video, YouTuber Mimiminu asked Soyeon about idol income. Soyeon said, "Singers earn a lot when their songs and albums do well. Good songs also mean higher advertising fees."

Soyeon explained the impact of chart rankings, saying, "Being in the top 100 makes a huge difference. If a song is in the top 1000, you can at least make a living. If it's in the top 100, you can live comfortably."

When asked about having number one hits, Soyeon said, "Even if a song is number one, it doesn't bring in a lot of money. 'LATATA' was in the top 20, and the revenue felt similar to what it would be now if it was number one. Sometimes it even felt like more. Since you only get 1,000 KRW (about $1) per play, it doesn't feel like a pension."

Soyeon addressed the idea that celebrities live comfortably on royalties, saying, "Royalties are divided among company revenue, distributor revenue, and co-writers. So, only about 3% comes to me."

She added, "Every company has different contracts. Some require you to pay off debts, some clear your debts, and some even gift you your debut album. In our case, we had to pay off our debts. It took three years to clear the costs of being a trainee and debuting, even though we were successful from the start."

Soyeon also revealed that her earnings could vary greatly, from making 1 billion KRW (about $1 million) in a month to as little as 100,000 KRW (about $100).

(G)I-DLE, with Soyeon as a member, made a comeback on the 8th with their new song "Klaxon."

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Lee Kyung Gyu's star-making influence goes beyond Kang Ho Dong, as Hong Jin Kyung shares how he helped her kickstart her career.

On the April 24 episode of KBS 2TV’s Problem Child in House, legendary comedian Lee Kyung Gyu appeared as a guest—and a touching story from the past was revealed.

Hong Jin Kyung surprised everyone when she said, “He’s the teacher for all of us. Personally, he’s the one who helped me debut.” She even pinned a carnation flower on his chest to show her gratitude.

Lee Kyung Gyu smiled and said, “I still remember when Hong Jin Kyung walked up the stairs onto the stage for the first time.”

Hong Jin Kyung then shared her journey to becoming a star. “I joined a supermodel contest, but only the top 3 winners were noticed in broadcasting. I got a special prize, so I had no chance to be on TV."

She continued, "At first, I was just a backup for a show. But somehow, I became a regular the next week. I never knew why."

She added, "I thought the PD gave me a shot. But then one day, I randomly met Kyung Gyu sunbae, and he told me it was actually him who recommended me.”

Kim Sook asked with a smile, “So Kyung Gyu sunbae said nice things about you to the PD?”

Lee Kyung Gyu playfully replied, “Don’t say it in such a childish way,” making everyone laugh.

He then explained more seriously, “The show was Scoop TV Entertainment, and I was pretty much the main MC. When Jin Kyung showed up, I saw her determination and passion."

He added, "While others didn’t seem serious, she really stood out. I told the PD, ‘She seems unique. Why not keep her on the show?’”

Kim Jong Kook chimed in, “So if the main MC said that, doesn’t that mean you basically got her in?”

That made Lee Kyung Gyu happy. He grinned and replied, “Exactly! You speak well. Be like him!”

He added, “After that, Jin Kyung’s career took off. She started doing shows with Lee Young Ja and just kept going.”

Fans are now calling Lee Kyung Gyu not only a top MC, but also a quiet star-maker behind the scenes!

Source: [1]