K-pop idols are facing backlash over the earnings from the Bubble platform. Fans are questioning exactly how much money their favorite artists make.
The drama started when a netizen posted a breakdown of Bubble’s revenue structure. The post gained traction on an online forum, revealing how profits are split.
According to the original thread:
"Bubble Revenue Structure
(Example based on 5,000₩)
DearU (40%) – 2,000₩
Agency (30%) – 1,500₩
Platform (30%) – 1,500₩
If the agency’s 30% share is split 60:40, the artist receives 800₩ per Bubble subscriber."
If 10,000 people subscribe, the earnings skyrocket to 96 million won annually. However, soon after, the netizen amended their claim, stating the actual earnings per subscriber are lower:
"Correction: It’s actually 600₩ per Bubble subscriberㅠㅠ
→ (Monthly) 6 million won
→ (Yearly) 72 million won."
In USD, that’s around $5,312 with 1,000 subscribers, and about $53,120 with 10,000 subscribers.
Fans responded with mixed opinions. Some expressed hopes their idols earn well, while others called it “easy money.”
A hot topic? Subscriber numbers. Hitting 10,000 isn’t common, and reaching even 1,000 is a mark of a top star.
Tweets from users flooded in, showcasing their thoughts:
"How many subscribers does my idol have, I wonder. I hope they’re earning a lot."
"My idol comes more often than I do. They come every day, even multiple times a day."
But frustration also surfaced:
"My favorite barely sends messages—maybe once a week if I’m lucky."
"Taking fans’ money but not wanting to do the work?"
Critics pointed out that even top idols might only receive a fraction of the earnings due to agency cuts. One fan said,
"With a lot of overseas fans, 10,000 subscribers should be easy."
While others lamented the concept of paid communication.
Check out some of the reactions here.
As this debate rages on, fans are left weighing their loyalty against the value of their idols’ time. What are your thoughts?
