The income distribution in Korea's entertainment industry is a classic "pyramid distribution."
Represented by stars like BTS, IU, Lee Byung-hun, Song Kang-ho, Jeon Ji-hyun, and undoubtedly including BlackPink, they stand at the pinnacle of the pyramid.
The members average over 10 endorsements each, spanning cosmetics, jewelry, fashion, and other sectors.
The global stadium tours generate millions of US dollars in ticket sales per concert.
Members can earn over 100 million Korean Won per episode, while a series can bring in 2 to 3 billion Korean Won, which translates to over 100 million RMB.
But… like all top stars, from bottom to top, they have to endure numerous exploitations by the company throughout this process.
The expenses for trainees before debut are typically covered by the company, but after debut, they need to repay these costs with their income. Until their "debt" to the company is cleared, they scarcely receive any shares.
