Singer IU earned an impressive ₩30.0 billion KRW (about $20.4 million USD) last year. According to the audit report of EDAM Entertainment, as released on March 28, 2025, the total amount of fees paid to artists from January 1 to December 31 last year was confirmed to be ₩33.6 billion KRW (about $22.9 million USD) as of the 31st. IU is currently the only active artist in the agency, with WOODZ on hiatus due to the military.
In entertainment agencies, “fees paid” included in the cost of sales refer to all types of fees given to celebrities, including appearance fees and settlement payments. It also encompasses various other expenses paid to entertainers. Although the ratio of settlement payments within these fees can vary by agency, it is generally the case that most of the fees are allocated as settlement payments to the artists.
Given that EDAM Entertainment spent ₩33.6 billion KRW (about $22.9 million USD) in fees last year, it is estimated that IU’s settlement payment alone amounted to around ₩30.0 billion KRW (about $20.4 million USD).
EDAM Entertainment is an entertainment agency in which Kakao Entertainment holds the largest stake (52.5%), while IU herself is the third-largest shareholder with a 22.5% stake. The agency is often considered a one-person agency centered around IU, as the majority of its revenue comes from her. This means that IU would probably have earned more than the stated amount above. She would be raking in money as a shareholder too.
