Kian84 to struggling rookie idols: 'My dream was to earn 3 million won a month'

Entertainer Kian84 offered unexpected encouragement to rookie idols who have just debuted by sharing his experiences from his days of obscurity. Empathizing with the realistic struggles of young idols with nearly empty bank accounts, Kian84 delivered a message that their current situation is not permanent, stating, "It is fun to see money pile up when things go well."

On the 4th, a video titled "Small Business Idols" was released on the YouTube channel 'Insaeng84.' In this episode, Kian84 filmed a concept where he visits rookie idols who are not yet widely known to the public to look into their reality.

"I receive many inquiries to appear with idols, but this time I thought it would be good to find hidden idols that the public doesn't know much about," Kian84 said as he introduced a new group. Using a stock market metaphor, he referred to the group Uspace, who debuted last year, as a "low-point buy."

The members of Uspace, aged 18 to 20, were pursuing their dream of becoming singers. Although they do not yet have high public recognition, they are rookies working fiercely to make a name for themselves after their debut. The members, who said they were envious after seeing Kian84 film with the girl group RESCENE in the past, expressed great joy just at the news that this meeting had been arranged.

So-i said, "When I first heard, I literally jumped up and down. I said, 'Wow, we survived,' and 'We made it.'" For rookies, meeting a star is a precious opportunity to make their existence known.

However, the reality behind the glamorous stage was not easy. So-i confessed, "I don't even have 100 won in my account," revealing that she is currently living using her mother's credit card. She explained that while the company provides meals, she relies on her family's help when she wants to eat something else.

Seoyu also mentioned, "I'm going to be a good daughter to my mom later," revealing that her bank balance is 1,500 won. When Chaena, who was relatively well-off among the members, mentioned receiving 100,000 won in pocket money from her parents, the other members jokingly called her "rich," drawing laughter.

Hearing their stories, Kian84 recalled his days working as a webtoon artist. Asking if they didn't have personal bank accounts, he told his young juniors that he, too, did not live an economically stable life from the beginning.

Recalling the time he lived near Hongdae with Chimchak Man during his webtoon artist days, Kian84 said he heard people say, "Let's save up 100 million won each before we move out." At the time, 100 million won felt like an unrealistic amount. He confessed, "What kind of crazy talk is that? How can we save 100 million won? I just hope I can earn 3 million won a month."

However, as his webtoons gained popularity, the scale of his income changed drastically. Kian84 revealed that he eventually saved 200 million won and became independent within a year, saying, "I earned 3 million won one month, 7 million won the next month, and 18 million won the month after that."

The figure of "18 million won a month" might not be surprising considering the current Kian84, but it remains meaningful in that there was a time when 3 million won a month was desperately needed. Before making a name for himself through popular webtoons like "Fashion King" and "Back to School King," Kian84 was also an unknown artist who had to continue creating while enduring an uncertain future.

Kian84 later expanded his scope of activity beyond webtoons into broadcasting. He gained public recognition by showcasing his unique daily life and bold character through MBC's "Home Alone," and built his own unique worldview through various variety shows, including "Adventure by the Birth." Recently, his activities as an entertainer have expanded to the point of surpassing his recognition from his webtoon artist days.

In the process, he solidified his image as a "successful entertainer from a webtoon artist background" as his real estate investments and asset formation became known, but in this video, he brought up the time before his success rather than the story after it.

Kian84 encouraged the members of Uspace, saying, "It will be fun when things go well and money piles up." He also added, "Once you start receiving settlements, you'll start receiving them well," implying that they should not judge their future based solely on their current economic difficulties.

What Kian84 showed was the process rather than the result of success. For rookie idols, a bank balance of 100 won or 1,500 won is not just a number, but the weight of reality they must endure to sustain their dreams. Kian84 also continued his creative work while looking toward 3 million won a month, and later, as his works reached the public, he rose to a completely different economic Gwedo.

Currently, Kian84 is also drawing attention as a real estate investor, as it is known that the building he purchased near Seokchon Station in Songpa-gu, Seoul, for approximately 4.6 billion won in 2019 is recently being valued at around 6.2 billion won.

Ultimately, the video titled "Small Business Idols" was about more than just the financial hardships of rookies. The core of the meeting was Kian84's message of hope: that even for those whose names are not yet known, there is a possibility that their work and stage will one day be recognized, and that a current bank balance is not a final report card for one's entire life.