Deposit Completion” (Hangul: ‘입금완료’ / Romaja: ‘ibgeum-wanlyo’), as defined in the article, is a terminology coined by Korean fans which jokingly refers to celebrities’ before and after transformation in a sudden manner which they accomplish in a short amount of time. This basically means that when an actor is not working they would eat whatever they want and just relax. However, once they start working then they go into the ‘deposit completion’ mode in a 180-degree manner which completely changes their looks.
“Deposit completed” can also be translated as “payment received”. I think the phrase is the Korean fans’ naughty and joking way of saying that actors begin to exert effort to look better only after they have received the payment for a professional contract.
In the article below, Jo Hyun Jae and the reporters keep using the word “deposit” but actually they are talking about Hyunjae’s professional fees. Hyunjae is actually being cheeky and funny.
Our translator, Jenny Park, explains that Koreans have the tendency to discuss things in a roundabout way or in an indirect manner, especially when it comes to money matters. Hence, Hyunjae and the reporters using “deposit” or “deposit completed” as a substitute for professional fees is understandable.
Based on Hyunjae’s answers, it seems that as of the day the interview was held (October 8), Hyunjae hasn’t received his professional fees for “Yongpal” yet. Yikes! Let us hope that by now, Hyunjae has already been paid for his services.