Former super junior member Hangeng (then known as Hankyung) recently sat for an interview with a Hong Kong news site. He reminded his past as a K-Pop statue in one of the largest groups in history.
Needless to say, he did not have an easy experience. Hangng mentioned in the interview that he was unfortunately broken after starting in 2005 with “Twins (knock out)).
In fact, the first year of promotion, we did not have much money.
– Hangeng
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The host clarified if he was earning more when he was just a trainee, on which Hungeng surprised him saying that he had broken even more.
Host: This is more than making you as a trainee.
Hangeng: Less.
East K-Pop Idol reported that he received an allowance of 4,000 yuan (about $ 560 USD) from SM Entertainment when he was still a trainee. It was enough that he could send it back home to his parents in China.
They give you pocket money every month. While I was training, I also sent money to my family. My father? I sent a little. My mother? I sent a little. I was a little left and I was confident that it was enough because the company offered food and I lived in a dom too, so I wanted anything.
– Hangeng
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However, after his debut, he had very little money in his account. All the super junior’s earnings need to be divided between 13 members, whether it is the sale of the album, the appearance fee, and thus.
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However, a major drain in everyone’s financial was that they needed to repay the company for each trainee expenses from the allowance received for their singing and dance lessons. This meant that Hungng could not send back home after his start.
When you earn money, you have to pay them back. You have to make your money. So there was no way to send so much to your family.
– Hangeng
However, difficult, he got strength among other members of Super Junior, who stepped in to lend him money. He even gave them money by cutting his income.
Fortunately, all team members were really good for me. He shared his money with me.
– Hangeng
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He said that there was “not much” money to go around and yet he was ready to help him.
There was not much anyway. Not everyone got much.
– Hangeng
Hengg and Hachul Reunion in 2019
Super Junior later churned hit songs such as “Sorry Sorry,” “Bonamana, and more.
Hangeng is now 40 years old and is working as an actor in China.
, @realhangeng/instagram