Mr. Trot 3 Winner Kim Yong-bin Turns Down Big-Agency Money, and His Reason Goes Back to 7 Hard Years

He's the hottest name in trot right now, the big agencies came calling with huge offers, and Kim Yong-bin said no thank you.

The Mr. Trot 3 winner has re-signed with his current label, Onesta Company, after politely turning down exclusive-contract offers from several major agencies, Onesta announced on Monday, Oct. 19, according to Sports Donga and Newspim.

The offers he turned down

Since winning TV Chosun's Mr. Trot 3, Kim has become one of the most in-demand stars for variety shows and big stages, Newspim reports. He recently won four awards at the 2026 K-Trot Grand Awards, according to Sports Donga, Newspim and OSEN via the Chosun Ilbo.

That kind of success gets noticed. Newspim reports that several major management companies approached him with exclusive-contract offers and very large signing fees, and OSEN describes the terms as exceptional. Kim's answer was to stay put. Sports Donga reports he chose his long trust in Onesta over better conditions.

The twist: the label that waited for him

Here's why this decision means so much to his fans. Kim debuted as a child and became known as a "trot prodigy," Sports Donga reports. Then came a long, difficult stretch: seven years away from music.

During that time, Onesta believed in his potential and stayed by his side, helping lay the groundwork for his comeback, according to Sports Donga. Newspim describes it as a time when almost no one was paying attention to him, and says Onesta was the company that stood by him to the end.

So when the biggest success of his career arrived, Kim chose to share it with the people who were there at the start. According to Sports Donga, he decided to continue with Onesta out of gratitude and trust in the label that was with him through his hardest days. From child prodigy to seven quiet years to Mr. Trot 3 champion, he made the whole journey with the same team.

Background: from prodigy to Mr. Trot 3 champion

The seven-year gap was not a choice. Kim stepped away because of a harsh voice change and panic disorder, OSEN and Star News report. After returning to activities, he took the top prize, jin, on TV Chosun's Mr. Trot 3, which wrapped up in March 2025, the Hankook Ilbo notes.

The singer was born in 1992, Ilgan Sports adds. Onesta's announcement framed the re-signing as a thank-you: according to the Hankook Ilbo, the label said Kim had not forgotten the company that gave him a foothold to restart his career after the long break.

What Onesta has planned

The label says it is ready to repay that faith. "We will build a dedicated producing system that makes Kim Yong-bin's unique musical color stand out even more," Onesta said in a statement reported by Sports Donga and Newspim. The company added that it would give him full support across music in many genres beyond trot, as well as TV and live performances, so he can grow into an even bigger artist. (Statement translated from Korean by House of Grey.)

OSEN reports that Onesta is led by CEO Jang Dong-il.

Fans approve

Kim's fans clearly love the choice. Sports Donga collected reactions including "It means something special that he's staying with the agency that was there in the hard times" and "That's such a Kim Yong-bin choice." (Translated from Korean.)

Kim also regularly does charity work with his official fan club, Sarangbin, Sports Donga notes. With Onesta behind him, he plans to stay busy across music, TV and concerts.

Big money is nice. Loyalty, as Kim Yong-bin just showed, is priceless.