DKB has just revealed shocking information about their career as a group.
On March 10, the YouTube channel Human Story posted a special video showing the daily life of the boy group DKB. Offering a look into the schedule of a 6-year-old boy group, the members of DKB showed the details of their average day, and discussed some of the challenges of idol life.
One moment in particular has caught the attention of netizens, becoming a trending topic this week. When asked about how much income idols receive on average, DKB revealed their own circumstances. The group explained that while most idols earn income from song royalties, concerts, and album sales, DKB's situation is different: because they still haven't received any income for their work.
"Honestly, income is a sensitive issue for us... If we were trying to make money, I don't think we could have chosen this job. If you're someone who chases money, you absolutely shouldn't do this job... The financial return is actually very low compared to the amount of time and energy that you dedicate. There are seven of us, and a lot of expenses...There are mixing fees, styling fees, and fees for producing albums - there are so many. So I think the company must be struggling too. Because they have to manage all of that.
And as for the company staff, there are 20 of them. We have to make enough money to cover the salaries of all 20 of them. If we wanted to make a profit, we would have to make double the amount."
They explained that to save money, the group keeps their combined food expenses to 20,000 won (about 13 USD) per day.
When asked if they had passed the 'break-even' point yet, allowing them to make a profit and receive income, DKB stated that they had not - meaning they've never received an income as idols.
But the group expressed their gratitude to their company: "Still, for seven years, they've fed us, provided shelter, and styled us. They've provided a spacious practice room... We made the choice and signed the contract. So we're working hard with a sense of responsibility and obligation."
DKB also expressed their upbeat attitude and determination to keep working hard. "Even though we're in our sixth year, we haven't lost our passion. We keep going, telling ourselves, 'We can do it, we can become successful.'"
The group emphasized the importance of knowing the realities of the industry before pursuing a career in K-pop. "Honestly, if you don't love what you're doing, you won't last six or seven years in this career. We thought debuting was the end of it: we thought that if we just debuted, we would definitely succeed and become stars. But that wasn't the case, the real beginning starts right after debuting."
Debuting in 2020 with the EP album 'YOUTH,' DKB established an upbeat and catchy sound with tracks like 'Rollercoaster,' 'ALL IN,' and 'Sober.' The group's most recent comeback took place in October 2025, as they returned with the EP 'Emotion,' featuring the title track 'Irony.'
You can check out DKB's full episode on 'Human Story' here:
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