Former Momoland member Hyebin: idols start hundreds of millions of won in debt, only the top 1% make money

Hyebin, a former Momoland member, spent more than a decade as an idol without turning a real profit. She's now explaining why.

Trainee expenses—lesson fees, meals, accommodation, practice room rental—get billed to the artist after debut. "So idols start with hundreds of millions of won in debt," she said.

The charges multiply. Every subsequent expense splits with the agency: song licensing, music video production, manager salaries, fuel, hair and makeup. After the company takes its cut, what's left divides among members. "When I shoot one music video, I lose tens of millions of won," she said.

Appearance fees work the same way. At an average event fee of 50 million won, the company takes half. The remainder splits by member count, then shrinks further for hair, makeup, stylist, food, and fuel. Her take-home per event came to roughly 2 million won. That money went straight back into the next music video shoot.

Hyebin debuted with Momoland in 2016. The group hit with Bboom Bboom and BAAM. She reached the top of a music broadcast chart during that run. It didn't translate to immediate earnings. Momoland's members went their separate ways after their exclusive contracts ended in 2023.

"Among ordinary people, the top 1% become idol trainees, and among them, the top 1% debut, and among debuted idols, only the top 1% make money," she said. "I did not become that 1%."

(The trainee cost-recoupment model she's describing is standard across the industry. Hearing it itemized by someone who hit a music show #1 makes the numbers land differently.)