On the May 16 episode of KBS Joy’s music program 20th Century Hit Song, the theme “Songs That Smell Like Money Hits Worth Billions” ranked the most lucrative songs based on artist-disclosed earnings. Topping the list was none other than Roo’ra’s 1995 mega-hit “The Angel Who Lost Wings”, produced by Lee Sang Min, who recently made headlines for announcing his remarriage.
According to MC Kim Hee-chul, each Roo’ra member earned an estimated ₩30–50 million per month during the song’s peak. Total revenue from the track reportedly exceeded ₩10 billion. He cited Lee Sang Min himself, who once claimed that royalties and album sales from that era could’ve “bought six JYP buildings.”
The chart exclusively featured tracks where the artists had publicly shared their earnings. Other songs that made the list included iconic hits such as Kim Min-kyo’s “The Final Match” OST, which sold over 700,000 albums, and izi’s “Emergency Room” (2005), which reportedly generated over ₩10 billion from copyrights alone.
Notably, Shin Seung-hun’s “Invisible Love” (1991), ranked No. 3, earned an estimated ₩3.56 billion in royalties alone and earned a spot in the Korean Guinness Book of Records for most No. 1 wins. The Fire Engine’s “Please Tell Her for Me” (1987) followed at No. 2, with reports suggesting the group generated ₩5–6 billion annually at their peak, though the immense schedule eventually led to their disbandment due to burnout.
Other memorable entries included Seo Joo-kyung’s “Daring Woman,” which led to over 4,400 event performances in a single year, and Lee Seung-chul’s “Girls’ Generation,” dubbed a “copyright treasure.” Kim Jang-hoon, known for his 300+ annual performances, landed at No. 8 with “I Am a Man,” which helped push his yearly income to ₩8 billion during his prime.
Charming behind-the-scenes stories added depth to the chart. For example, Kim Min-kyo’s hit “The Final Match” was originally slated for his personal album, but was repurposed last-minute as a drama OST due to a timely request from producers.
20th Century Hit Song is available on LG U+tv (Channel 1), Genie tv (Channel 41), SK Btv (Channel 53), and KBS’s mobile app “my K.” Additional clips and content can also be accessed via major online platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and popular portal sites.
