No Money, Big Hearts — The Boy Group Who Shared Their Little Salary With Each Other During Their Toughest Times

Former Super Junior member Hangeng (then known as Hankyung) sat down for an interview with a Hong Kong news site. He reminisced on his past as a K-Pop idol in one of the biggest groups in its history.

Needless to say, he did not have an easy debut experience. Hangeng mentioned that he was unfortunately broke especially after they debuted with “Twins (Knock Out)” in 2005.

In fact, the first year of promotions, we didn’t have much money.

— Hangeng

The host clarified if he was earning more than when he was just a trainee, to which he surprised her by saying he was earning less.

Host: That’s more than you’d make as a trainee.

Hangeng: Less.

The former K-Pop idol explained that he received an allowance of 4,000 yuan (around $560 USD) from SM Entertainment when he was still a trainee. It was enough that he could send most of it back to his parents in China.

They give you pocket money every month. When I was training, I also sent money to my family. My dad? I sent a little. My mom? I sent a little. I was left with a bit and I believed it was enough since the company offered food and I also lived in a dorm so I didn’t need anything.

— Hangeng

After debut, however, there was much less money in his account. All of Super Junior’s earnings needed to be split among the 13 members, such as album sales, appearance fees, and the like.

One of the biggest drains in everyone’s financials was that they needed to repay the company for every trainee expense they incurred—from the allowance they received up to their singing and dancing lessons. This meant that Hangeng could not send money back home after his debut.

You have to pay them back when you make money. You have to make your own money. So there was no way to send that much to your family.

— Hangeng

Though difficult, he found strength in the other members of Super Junior who stepped up to lend him money. They gave him a cut from their own income.

Fortunately, all team members were really good to me. They shared their money with me.

— Hangeng

He said there was “not much” money to go around yet they were more than willing to help him out.

There was not much anyway. Everyone did not get much.

— Hangeng

Super Junior later churned out hit songs such as “Sorry Sorry,” “BONAMANA,” and more.

Hangeng is now 40 years old and working as an actor in China.