Fans of the K-pop and K-drama industry must know the legendary singer and actress, IU or Lee Ji-eun (이지은). She is one of the most popular if not one of the wealthiest, celebrities in South Korea with countless fans. Even fellow artists are her fans too. The 30-year-old singer has also won numerous music awards in her career and was even honoured with the Prime Minister’s Commendation by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2015.
Before the singer-songwriter became the star she is today, she used to live in a cockroach-infested and cramped flat. At that time, her parents were struggling with debt, making it harder for them to live comfortably. Now, the idol spends her hard-earned money donating to charity and buying houses for herself, and her family. That’s right, ‘houses’ as she owned multiple properties. Let’s take a look at IU’s “Rich Girl” houses:
1. Cheongdam-Dong Penthouse
Cheongdam-dong, a luxury condo in the Gangnam district, has been the “IT” place for Korean celebrities to make their home, be it their main or just second home. The condo was chosen by many because of its state-of-the-art security system with surveillance cameras that will alert in-house personnel. As Cheongdam has been the singer’s most discussed house, of course, it has things to be boasted about.
The penthouse was bought at KRW13.0 billion (RM55,184,000) and it was rumoured that she bought it in cash! With its location, being in South Korea’s most expensive residential complex, the Eterno Cheongdam, designed by Rafel Moneo, it sure do come with that price tag. Moreover, each unit will have a spectacular view of the Han River, showing you the peaceful side of Seoul without the hustle and bustle of the city.
2. Gyeonggi-do
The actress’s property in Gyeonggi-do is also a place where she uses it as her studio. The house was said to be worth around KRW4.60 billion (RM15,847,000) but IU was criticised for buying the house. Netizens during that time thought that she bought it for its resale value but it was then revealed that she bought it as a studio for struggling artists and singers in the area who needed a place to record.
3. Raemian Caelitus Flat
According to an insider, it is believed IU is currently living in her Raemian Caelitus flat in Yongsan district while waiting for her Cheongdam penthouse to be completed. The 30-year-old is neighbours with many artists in all of her neighbourhoods, including Raemian Caelitus. It is also famous for its Han River views. Moreover, it was also listed as one of the tallest buildings in Seoul, placing itself at number 12 for being a 56-storey building. This property is estimated to be around KRW3.6 billion (RM12,423,600) to KRW4.5 billion won (RM15,818,773).
4. Yangpyeong
It’s unsurprising that the star also has a fifth house. The property is located in Yangpyeong. With her money, she can buy as many houses as she wants. The residence is about 560 square meters and she bought this house for about KRW2.2 billion (RM7,598,800) for a two-storey country villa. Not only that, she also spent an extra KRW800 million (RM2,757,600) to buy the land around the property. The total cost of her Yangpyeong house alone is KRW3.0 billion (RM10,371,000).
There was a lot of buzz every time the singer bought a house she was slammed every time she bought a new property. She has always been transparent about her purchase of these properties but unfortunately, the result that came from her honesty is that these properties’s locations were all exposed to the public. We pray that her safety will be protected and may she shine even more in the future.
Sources: LifeStyle Asia, The Korea Herald, KBIZoom.
Sabrina Azahar contributed to this article.
