Legendary K-Rock Artist Credits IU for $66K Earnings in Months

K-Rock legend Kim Tae Won from Boohwal shared that he earned approximately ₩100 million KRW (around $66,400 USD) in copyright royalties in the first quarter, thanks to IU. On a segment of KBS’s Boss In The Mirror on March 22, 2026 (KST), Kim Tae Won announced his upcoming song release, “The Wind Blowing On The Sail,” scheduled for March 28, marking his first song in ten years. Reacting to this news, comedian Kim Sook praised the announcement, saying, “That sounds like another masterpiece in the making. You already have so many hit songs; I bet your royalties are huge.”

Kim Tae Won acknowledged that some of his most successful songs generate substantial income, particularly “Never Ending Story,” post-IU’s remake. Expressing his profound appreciation towards IU, he confirmed that the royalties from this song alone amounted to ₩100 million KRW (approximately $66,400 USD) just in the first quarter.

In a recent update, Korean rocker Kim Tae Won disclosed that he significantly benefitted from his collaboration with IU. Through IU’s rendition of his song “Never Ending Story,” Kim Tae Won had a lucrative first quarter, making around ₩100 million KRW ($66,400 USD) in copyright royalties. This unexpected windfall notably boosted his earnings, marking a successful start to the year.

During a recent television appearance on KBS’s Boss In The Mirror, Boohwal’s Kim Tae Won shared optimistic news about his music career. Set to release a new song entitled “The Wind Blowing On The Sail” after a ten-year hiatus, Kim Tae Won unveiled his upcoming project. Comedian Kim Sook commended his work, predicting another hit on the way due to Kim Tae Won’s impressive track record. The conversation then turned towards Kim Tae Won’s financial success, where he credited IU’s contribution to his earnings, specifically through her cover of his song “Never Ending Story,” leading to a significant surge in copyright royalties.

Kim Tae Won of Boohwal recently opened up about the unexpected financial boost he received following IU’s remake of his hit song. Revealing that he earned a whopping ₩100 million KRW (about $66,400 USD) solely from royalties related to IU’s version of “Never Ending Story,” the rock legend expressed his immense gratitude towards the K-pop star. Kim Tae Won shared this news while preparing for the release of his much-anticipated new song, “The Wind Blowing On The Sail,” his first release in ten years, promising fans a musical masterpiece.

Thanks to IU, Kim Tae Won, from the iconic rock band Boohwal, saw a tremendous increase in his royalties with a staggering ₩100 million KRW (approximately $66,400 USD) in earnings solely from the success of IU’s cover of his song “Never Ending Story.” This windfall came as a pleasant surprise to Kim Tae Won, underlining the remarkable impact of collaboration and the power of music in bringing about newfound success for artists.