Local YouTubers earned 14.5 million won on average in 2020

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Local YouTubers made an average of 14.5 million won ($10,547) a year in 2020 while the top-grossing 1 percent made 334.4 million won, according to data compiled by Rep. Kang Jun-hyeon of the Democratic Party on Sunday.

According to the data, which was handed over to Rep. Kang by the National Tax Service (NTS), there were 19,037 YouTubers who worked alone during 2020. They made an average of 14.5 million won in annual revenue and 5.75 million won in profit after deducting the cost needed for content production, such as camera and studio rentals.

The top 1 percent made 334.4 million won of revenue and 168.9 million won of profit. The top 10 percent made 99.3 million won of revenue and 43.2 million won profit.

During the same period, employed workers earned an average of 38.3 million won a year, while the top 1 percent made 285.6 million won.

YouTubers who hired regular workers for production or owned professional equipment and studios made 102.4 million won on average with a profit of 45 million won.

The highest-earning 1 percent of such YouTubers made 1.27 billion won in revenue and 957.9 million won in profit. The top 10 percent made 513.1 million won in revenue and 306.1 million won in profit.

“The NTS must fully analyze this new type of business that has come as a result of the transition toward digital economy and come up with appropriate tax models,” Rep. Kang said in a press release.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]