Kim Hee Chul says 'Knowing Bros' paid more than his idol work. The K-pop star revealed the detail on a YouTube episode uploaded on August 1. He compared the earnings to his time promoting with Super Junior, a group known for its large lineup and extensive touring history.
The clip appeared on the channel "Egennam Swings" under the title "Universal Superstar Kim Hee Chul, the first idol to almost participate in the Control diss battle" and featured a candid chat with hosts Jang Ji Soo and rapper Swings. The discussion provided a look into the financial realities of the entertainment industry, specifically comparing the income structures of variety shows versus idol group activities.
"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."
— Jang Ji Soo, Host
"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."
— Kim Hee Chul, Super Junior member
Swings responded to the admission by suggesting Chul was being humble, noting that the market for hip‑hop artists is completely different from that of idol groups. He pointed out that Super Junior embarked on extensive Asia tours, which typically generate significant revenue, highlighting the scale of the group's operations during their peak promotional periods.
The conversation shifted to a lighter tone when Jang Ji Soo commented on Chul's sartorial choices, asking if he usually wears inexpensive clothes. Chul immediately defended his look, attributing it to his stylist, who he noted was born in 2003 and was watching the broadcast. He jokingly scolded the hosts for implying he looked like a beggar, emphasizing his stylist's hard work before clarifying that his daily wardrobe consists of limited-edition character T-shirts.
Fans of the show and the singer have taken note of the candid admission, highlighting the financial shift that variety appearances can bring for K‑pop idols. The episode offers insight into how industry veterans navigate their careers across different entertainment sectors.
