EXID member Hyerin has opened up about her new life as a restaurant owner, revealing that her taco business generates around 140 million won (approximately $100,000) in monthly sales.
On August 14, the YouTube channel Human Story released a video titled “Why successful girl group EXID’s Hyerin works at a restaurant.”
In the video, Hyerin was shown working at her taco restaurant in Anguk, Seoul. Wearing an apron, she greeted customers, checked orders, prepared food, and worked alongside her employees.
The restaurant opened in March and has now been operating for about five months. Discussing its performance, Hyerin revealed, “On average, monthly sales are around 140 million won.”
She added that after expenses such as rent and labor costs, approximately 40 million won (around $29,000) remains. She explained that running the business alone would be difficult, so she receives help with its operations.
Hyerin said her decision to enter the restaurant business stemmed partly from the unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry. “Broadcasting has seasons when you’re active. It’s not a job where you can work simply because you want to,” she said. “The income isn’t consistent either. I started looking for a way to have a more stable life, and since I’ve always liked the restaurant business, I naturally ended up pursuing it.”
She also reflected on overseas opportunities that disappeared due to circumstances beyond her control.
“When I tried to work in China, there was THAAD, and when I tried to work in Japan, there was COVID,” Hyerin recalled. “All those opportunities to make money disappeared. I didn’t earn as much as people might think.”
She added that performance opportunities declined while the rise of influencers also led to fewer advertising opportunities for entertainers.
Hyerin revealed that a prolonged period of feeling directionless ultimately pushed her to make a change. With few scheduled activities, there were times when she would not wake up until 3 or 4 p.m. “There was no reason for me to get up,” she said. “I had lost my dream, but I needed to dream again. I started wondering what I had ever done besides singing and dancing, and what I could actually do on my own.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hyerin decided to find a part-time job at a restaurant. Working alongside people from different walks of life changed her perspective and helped her regain a sense of purpose.
Although she initially worried about how people would view an idol working a part-time job or running a restaurant, she eventually stopped caring about those perceptions.
Most importantly, the experience gave her confidence that she could build a life beyond singing and dancing.
Hyerin stressed, however, that becoming a restaurant owner does not mean she has left entertainment behind. Now in her 15th year since debut, she continues her activities as a member of EXID while also working as a DJ and musical actress.
