Singer Kim Yong-bin [Newsis]
Singer Kim Yong-bin [Newsis]

Singer Kim Yong-bin, who debuted at age 11, revealed that he has more than 50 bank accounts holding savings from his childhood earnings.

Kim appeared Sunday on KBS2's "Sajangnim Gwineun Dangnagwi Gwi," a variety show in which celebrities manage a business, as a new cast member and shared details about how he manages his finances. He is now in his 23rd year as a performer.

Kim debuted in 2004 with the song "Seonaya" at age 11, drawing attention as a child prodigy in trot music.

"My late grandmother saved every single won I earned from when I was little — she never spent a penny of it," Kim said. "I still have all those bankbooks, and there are more than 50 of them."

He added that he does not yet own any property in his name.

In response, fellow singer Kim Yeon-ja advised him that simply saving money is not enough. "You should buy gold, buy a house — you need to invest," she said.

She pressed further, saying, "Just imagine if you had put that money into gold," and called his situation the most heartbreaking thing she had heard from him.

Kim rose to prominence as a trot music star last year after winning TV Chosun's "Mr. Trot 3."


mss@heraldcorp.com