Former announcer–turned–TV personality Kim Dae-ho detailed how his finances have changed since going freelance, saying he earned in nine months what used to be four years of his MBC salary.
On the December 2 episode of the web variety show “Heuksim in Dae-ho,” which followed Kim as he marked 10 years single, he visited a matchmaking agency for a consultation.
When the delicate question about his income came up, Kim smiled and said, “My income these days isn’t bad.” He then added, “What I made in the nine months after I quit equals four years of my MBC annual pay. It feels like I got four years upfront.”
Pressed about assets, Kim said, “I have two residences, and I also received a signing bonus when I joined my agency.” When asked to write down the figure, he jotted it on paper. Seeing the number, the counselor exclaimed, “Is that in the hundreds of millions of won? You just got a lot more handsome,” visibly impressed.
Kim also spoke frankly about dating. “I like someone who doesn’t cling and loves her own life. A friend-like relationship where we stick by each other through rough patches is my thing.” On looks, he said he likes “the style of actress Go Youn-jung,” then laughed and apologized.
He shared that he prefers someone in the arts and would “rather avoid someone from the same broadcasting field.” On hobbies, he mentioned vivariums and farming, adding, “I actually hope my partner doesn’t share these hobbies. If we both get into them, the house will be chaos.” When the counselor teased him for being “a bit selfish,” Kim acknowledged it with a sheepish grin.
Previously, Kim revealed that when he was a deputy department head in his 14th year at MBC, his annual salary was around 100 million won.
Kim left MBC in February to go freelance. He later signed with agency Onehundred and has been busy with appearances across variety shows.