South Korean entertainer Kim Jong Kook addressed speculation over his reported 50 billion won or $36 million worth of assets on a special pre-release video of the MBC entertainment program "Salty Man," uploaded Tuesday on YouTube.
During the video, Kim – dubbed "Salty President" – answered questions from fans and audiences about what he called "the 50 billion stories of Kim Jong Kook," which had previously been "off-limits."
The frank exchange, as reported by Maeil Business Newspaper, touched on his activities in recent days and his conversations with other performers and included playful teasing about his net worth.
This included Kim fielding questions in a segment where he was interacting with citizens. One question that was on everyone's mind was whether or not the rumor of the $36 million was true.
Dispensing with much of the PR and answering questions in a jocular tone, Kim teased, for example, that he perhaps had more of the product than he had said.
"Do I really have it? Or is it just talk?" he joked, making the nearby audience chuckle. Other cast members chimed in, which made the moment even funnier.
At one point, Lee Joon showcased an impromptu dance when asked about his spending habits, which made the audience laugh.
In addition, the viewers responded to Kim's lifestyle by mentioning his friendships and recent sightings, including an outing to play golf with the celebrity Lim Woo-il.
He explained that it was just a hang and called it "cheap golf with no price tag attached."
More is expected to drop in the upcoming episode of Salty Man at 9 p.m Wednesday. The episode will feature composer Rado and rapper Undegraded Kid, who were controversial themselves over the years on the show.
