Kim Tae Hee and Rain
Power couple Kim Tae Hee and Rain splashed out on a luxurious $1.78 million (roughly 2.36 billion won) home in Irvine, California back in 2019, just before welcoming their second daughter.
According to Park Jong Bok, a well-known South Korean real estate consultant who’s helped out other celebs, Irvine ticks all the boxes for affluent families. “Think beautiful scenery, a balmy climate, and top-notch schools – the average SAT scores here are the highest in the nation,” said the agent. So, who knows, maybe that played a role in the couple’s purchase?
Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung
Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung reportedly added a $1.73 million LA home (approximately 2.3 billion won) to their real estate collection in 2019. This second home in the City of Angels was apparently picked up while he and his partner were exploring the West Coast, and it seems like it was all about convenience for their Hollywood gigs. After all, those roles can sometimes mean months spent across the pond.
In other news, his home recently made headlines after a burglary, and attention was drawn to the insurance premium of 10 million won ($7,557) per year for the house.
>> Lee Byung Hun and His Wife Lee Min Jung’s Los Angeles Home Burglarized
Kwon Sang Woo and Son Tae Young
Kwon Sang Woo and Son Tae Young purchased a mansion in Demarest, New Jersey for $1.5 million in 2018. A real estate expert recently estimated that the current market price of the mansion is 2.5 billion won ($1.88 million) in Korean won, which means that it has gained a 25% price difference in four years, considering the exchange rate. In addition, the couple bought a penthouse in the famous resort city of Gold Coast, Australia, for vacation purposes in 2007.
Park Jong Bok, the go-to realtor for the stars, said that the couple purchased the house for “about 1.7 billion won ($1.28 million USD)” back in 2007. “The Gold Coast is a famous beach resort city in Australia. It is a well-equipped area for accommodation, vacation, and tourism, with a famous large beach.”
Song Joong Ki
Song Joong Ki‘s real estate portfolio includes a fancy apartment in bustling Seoul, a beautiful house in historic Rome, and a vacation condo in the unexpected paradise of Hawaii. Reports reveal that hjs latest overseas real estate purchase is a condo in Kakaako, a trendy neighborhood in Hawaii known for its art scene and vibrant culture. The unit reportedly cost him a hefty $2.28 million, significantly exceeding the national median home price in the US at the time of purchase in December 2019.
The unit that Song Joong Ki purchased has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It is also known to be the most popular unit with a view of Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach.
Song Hye Kyo
Song Hye Kyo bought a condo in Manhattan, New York for $1.74 million in cash in 2008 while filming Fetish. The unit offers stunning views of Central Park and is located in a convenient location near Columbus Circle, 5th Avenue, Carnegie Hall, and other Manhattan landmarks. At the time of purchase, her neighbors were reportedly Jang Young Shin, chairman of Aekyung Group, Park Yong Man, chairman of Doosan Group, and Shin Dong-won, vice chairman of Nongshim Group.
According to StreetEasy, a New York real estate information company, the star sold the property in 2018 for $1.875 million. After initially listing it for $2.2 million in April 2016, she failed to find a buyer and gradually reduced the price to $2.1 million, $1.999 million, and finally $1.875 million in April 2017. She also rented out the property in March 2016.
Bang Si Hyuk
HYBE Chairman Bang Si Hyuk purchased a $26 million mansion in Bel Air, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in West Los Angeles. According to real estate media outlet The Real Deal, Bang purchased comedian Trevor Noah’s mansion for $26.4 million. The mansion, which sits on an 11,400-square-foot lot, was listed for $29.8 million, but Bang managed to purchase it for about $3.4 million less.
According to The Real Deal, the house was designed by renowned architect Mark Rios and features an infinity pool, Japanese spa, open-plan party pavilion, and private elevator leading to the wine room.
Go Hyun Jung
Go Hyun Jung purchased a condo in the Bonifacio area of the Philippines for about 700 million won ($527,112) in 2008. It is said that the rental income is also quite good, as it has similar location conditions to the Yongsan Redevelopment Complex in Seoul.
Real estate guru Park Jong Bok said, “Go Hyun Jung’s condo in the Philippines is located about 5 km from the central area of Manila, the capital. It used to be home to a US military base, but after they left, it got a whole new makeover. It is an all-glass building with three rooms finished with high-quality materials similar to a 5-star hotel.”
Other Korean Celebrities Who Own Real Estate Overseas
Many other Korean celebrities also call the City of Angels home. Beyond the well-known estates of Lee Min Jung and Lee Byung Hun, stars like Yuri from Cool, announcer Park Eun Ji, Jennifer Lee, Won Mi Kyung and actors couple Lee Ji Ho and Kim Min Couple live in sunny LA.
Head south to Orange County, where Kim Tae Hee and Rain live, and you’ll find even more Korean stars enjoying the Cali sun. Actors Han Suk Kyu, Cha In Pyo and Shin Ae Ra, Lee Jae Ryong, Yoo Ho Jung, Ryu Seung Ju, musician Ricky Kim and the adorable couple Son Ji Chang and Oh Yeon Seo are all said to reside there.
I’d be selling the California properties. Property taxes will be going higher. People are leaving the state rapidly.