It may come as a shock to K-pop fans, but the glamorous and high-energy performances they see on music shows come with a surprisingly low price tag.
VICTON member Do Hanse has exposed the shockingly low pay that idols receive for their music show appearances, leaving fans wondering how this can be the case.
On May 9, during a conversation about why the group does not make any appearance on music shows, Hanse revealed the fee and the lack of huge promotional effect to be the reason.
He shared that idol groups are paid around 10 million KRW for a weekly appearance on a music show. However, the appearance fee per show is much lower, at around 50,000 KRW (approximately $36 USD) per group.
The 26-year-old rapper said this was the standard pay rate when he used to perform at shows, however, he’s not aware if it has gone up.
Hanse explained that appearing on a music show after comeback involves additional expenses, including set construction, hair, makeup, styling, and staff costs, totaling around 20 million KRW (approximately $14,000 USD). He revealed that this debt can be a significant burden for idols, and it’s often more cost-effective to produce a high-quality music video instead of appearing on music shows for just one to two weeks.
Lastly, Do Hanse revealed that only a handful of idol groups manage to earn a profit, while the majority accumulate debt until their contracts expire. The exceptions are the top-tier groups that headline festivals and enjoy widespread recognition beyond the K-pop fanbase, as well as a few groups that have broken into the mainstream.