EXID's Seo Hyelin Reveals 'Up & Down' Success Didn't Bring Big Payday, Now Runs Taco Shop with Impressive Monthly Sales

South Korean girl group EXID shot to fame with their viral hit "Up & Down" (위아래), reaching the peak of their careers. However, member Seo Hyelin (서혜린) recently revealed that even at the height of their popularity, the group's actual income was not as high as the public might have imagined. She has since ventured into the restaurant business, opening a taco shop in Anguk, Seoul, which reportedly generates an impressive average monthly revenue of approximately 150 million Korean Won (about 110,000 USD), sparking widespread discussion.

On the 14th, the YouTube channel "Human Story" released a video titled "Why is Hyelin, a former popular girl group EXID member, working in a restaurant?" In the program, Seo Hyelin shared updates on her current life and spoke for the first time about her actual earnings during her time with EXID, unexpectedly exposing the realities behind the entertainment industry.

EXID released "Up & Down" in 2014, which initially garnered little attention. However, a fan-recorded fancam of a member performing the song went viral online, causing the track to unexpectedly re-enter the music charts and propel EXID to stardom. The group then followed up with hits like "AH YEAH," "Hot Pink," and "L.I.E," becoming a representative case of a "successful reversal" in the K-pop scene.

While many assumed that EXID's immense popularity would have translated into substantial earnings for its members, Seo Hyelin's answer came as a surprise. She revealed that their income primarily came from music streaming royalties and management fees, with music royalties split at a "9 to 1" ratio.

When a staff member asked, "So you got the 9?" Seo Hyelin immediately replied, "No, it was 1." She further explained that even this portion of income had to be divided among the five members. Seo Hyelin admitted, "It's not like many people think; we really didn't earn that much." She reiterated that even after receiving the 1 portion of the music royalties, it still had to be split five ways, so the actual amount they took home was not as astonishing as outsiders might imagine.

Beyond the unexpected income, EXID's overseas expansion also faced repeated setbacks. Seo Hyelin disclosed that their plans to enter the Chinese market were thwarted by the THAAD incident, and their subsequent pivot to Japan was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Opportunities to increase their earnings were repeatedly lost.

She expressed her frustration, stating that an artist's career inherently has distinct active periods, and "you can't work whenever you want to." Income also lacks a fixed cycle. Consequently, she began to consider how to stabilize her life, and with a pre-existing interest in the food and beverage industry, she ultimately decided to personally invest in and manage a business.

Currently, in addition to continuing her singing activities, Seo Hyelin has expanded into DJing and musical theater performances. She also operates a taco restaurant in Anguk, Seoul. The restaurant is now in its fifth month of operation, averaging approximately 150 million Korean Won (about 110,000 USD) in monthly revenue. After deducting various costs, roughly 40 million Korean Won (about 29,000 USD) remains as profit.

However, Seo Hyelin also admitted that running the restaurant is not a one-person job. "It's really tough to manage alone, so I'm currently getting help from people around me, and we're running it together." From a former girl group member to a restaurant owner, she is now forging a new path in life by venturing into different fields.

Furthermore, Seo Hyelin previously revealed that she experienced a low period lasting about two years, finding it difficult even to get out of bed. Looking back now, she confessed that if she hadn't mustered the courage to leave her home and work part-time at a restaurant, she might never have discovered her capacity for different endeavors.