Super Junior’s Kim Hee Chul earned more from ‘Knowing Bros’ than idol promotions
Kim Hee Chul said he earned more from ‘Knowing Bros’ than he did while promoting with Super Junior.
The remark came on August 1 in a video uploaded to the YouTube channel ‘Egennam Swings’ titled ‘Universal Superstar Kim Hee Chul, the first idol to almost participate in the Control diss battle’. In the episode he spoke with hosts Jang Ji Soo and rapper Swings.
Jang Ji Soo raised the topic of idol income and asked about group settlement shares.
Jang Ji Soo said:
“I’ve been curious about this since I was in elementary school. If Super Junior has 13 members, doesn’t the settlement get divided into 13 shares? Before you became successful, it must have been difficult to make a living.”
Kim Hee Chul answered candidly about broadcast earnings versus idol promotions.
Kim Hee Chul responded:
“Whenever we appeared on broadcasts, we were actually operating at a loss. But we still made enough income to get by. I don’t know whether that was because of the company’s structure, but I did earn more while doing ‘Knowing Bros’ than I did during my time promoting with Super Junior.”
Swings compared markets and touring.
Swings said:
“You’re just being humble. Compared to someone like me working in hip-hop, the market was completely different. Didn’t you guys go on Asia tours and everything?”
The chat turned playful when Jang Ji Soo teased Kim Hee Chul about his clothes.
Jang Ji Soo asked:
“Don’t you usually wear somewhat cheap clothes?”
Kim Hee Chul shot back with a joke about his stylist and the crowd laughed.
Kim Hee Chul jokingly fired back:
“My stylist dressed me in this! My stylist was born in 2003 and is watching right now. She is working hard toward her dreams, and what? ‘You dress like a beggar?'”
The hosts laughed, and Jang Ji Soo clarified his meaning.
Jang Ji Soo quickly clarified:
“I meant what you usually wear in your daily life, not what you’re wearing right now.”
Kim Hee Chul followed up with another line that again made everyone laugh.
Kim Hee Chul then proudly responded:
“Even the character T-shirts I wear every day are all limited editions. I dress well,”
