
Freelance TV personality Jang Sung-kyu works as a construction worker for YouTube channel “Workman.” Capture from YouTube account of “Workman”
By Dong Sun-hwa
How much money does a YouTube channel with millions of subscribers make?
There have been only estimations, but freelance TV personality Jang Sung-kyu, who features on popular channel “Workman,” provided some figures on Saturday.
“Workman,” which boasts more than 2.9 million subscribers, earns about 2 billion won ($1.7 million) per month, said Jang on MBC's reality show “Omniscient Interfering View.”
Jang added that he received around 1 million won ($843) per episode. Given that “Workman” uploads eight videos a month on average, his monthly income from YouTube should be about 8 million won. If Jang had run the channel, his earnings must have been greater. But the channel is operated by cable channel JTBC's Studio LuluLala.
On “Workman,” Jang experiences diverse occupations ― such as a construction worker ― as a part-timer, allowing job seekers a glimpse into these jobs. Thanks to his laughter-evoking yet realistic performances, all 25 videos have reached millions of views.
“At first, I received 400,000 won for an episode,” Jang said. “But the sum has increased.”
Jang added that he did not want to launch a personal channel for more profit, saying, ““I don't want to be overambitious.”
He joined JTBC in 2011 and left the broadcaster in 2018. He is now a freelancer appearing on dozens of entertainment programs, including JTBC's “Movieroom.”