'I was practically sweeping up money': Shim Hyung-rae's peak earnings stun viewers

Comedian and film director Shim Hyung-rae has revealed that at the height of his fame he earned enough from advertising alone to have bought 100 apartments in one of Seoul's most coveted complexes.

According to Star Today, the MBN lifestyle program "Teukjong Sesang," which aired Thursday, featured Shim discussing his peak years, his subsequent bankruptcy and his current efforts to stage a comeback as a film director.

Reflecting on his earnings at the time, Shim said, "I was practically sweeping up money. There was so much of it, it almost felt like a nuisance."

He said his advertising fees were particularly striking. "Just one commercial shoot paid 80 million won ($58,800)," he said. "The market price for an apartment at Apgujeong Hyundai at the time was 78 million won — and I shot more than 100 of them."

Shim made his debut as a first-generation KBS comedy recruit in 1982 and achieved remarkable popularity through his "Younggu" character. He later expanded into film, appearing in, producing and directing titles including "Younggu and Ddaengchil-i," "Yonggary" and "D-War," completing his transformation into a film director.

His film ventures, however, left him buried in debt. Shim had previously said in broadcast appearances, "Even after selling everything I owned, I still had 17.9 billion won in debt. So I filed for bankruptcy." He was declared bankrupt in 2013.

Shim is now preparing to return to directing. His efforts have gained momentum in particular because "D-War," released in 2007, has recently attracted renewed attention on overseas streaming platforms, spurring work on a sequel, "D-War 2."

"D-War" is a science-fiction monster film that Shim directed, wrote and produced. A large-scale blockbuster drawing on the Korean folk legend of the imugi — a serpentine creature — it was a box-office success domestically at the time of its release, though critics and audiences were divided over its overall quality.

Nineteen years on, the film has become a talking point for an unexpected resurgence. After appearing on the global streaming platform Netflix, it climbed as high as second place on film charts in major European countries including France, Germany and Italy, drawing strong attention from overseas viewers and breaking into the upper ranks of global film rankings.

"D-War staged a reverse run on OTT across more than 20 countries, starting from Europe," Shim said. "I am truly grateful that so many people there have taken such a liking to it."