How much KPOP stars/idols/actors/actresses earn?

According to Forbes the idol groups who made the most money in the first half of 2014 were Super Junior, Girls' Generation, Big Bang, and 2NE1. While Super Junior raked in 31.4 billion won (approximately $28.9 million USD), Girls' Generation earned 30.3 billion won (approximately $27.9 million USD), Big Bang earned 29.4 billion won (approximately $27.1 million USD), and 2NE1 earned 27.5 billion won (approximately $25.3 million USD). Even though they are making more money every year, the average take-home for K-pop groups is $42,940.91. It’s not quite Beyonce or Bieber money, who raked in $115 million and $80 million respectively in 2014.

In 2016 we got another data from other sources. According to the National Tax Service, 4,587 people filed their taxes as singers listed for their occupation in 2016. The top 1% - or 45 singers - made an average of 3.198 Billion KRW per person (approximately $2.7 million USD) over the year, making up 45% of the total singer income. The top 10% (458 singers) made an average of 640 million KRW per person (approximately $541,000 USD) over the year, making up 88.9% of the total singer income in Korea.

While The rest of the 90% (4,129 singers) made an average of 8 million KRW per person (approximately $6,800 USD) over the year or about 670,000 KRW per person per month (approximately $570 USD). This is about 2/3 the minimum wage (of about 1,117,000 KRW per month, 5,580 KRW per hour).

It looks a little bit better if you compare the data about actors/actresses average income though.

In 2016, According to the National Tax Service, out of the 15,423 who report their income as actors, the average income was 43 million KRW (approximately 37,000 USD) per person. However, the 154 people at the top make an average of 1,955 million KRW (approximately 1.7 million USD) per person. In other words, the top 1% made 45.7% of the total. The top 10% averaged 367 million KRW per year (approximately 313,000 USD), meaning they took up 86% of the total.

While The bottom 90% of actors made an average of 7 million KRW per year (approximately 6,000 USD), or 580,000 KRW per month (approximately 490 USD). This is less than half the minimum wage (of about 1,117,000 KRW per month, 5,580 KRW per hour). This means the top 1%, such as the actors pictured above, made more than 280 times the bottom 90%.

So do you want to be a Kpop stars?