A Peek Inside Celebrity Homes

[-ochre.livejournal.com]

Korean celebrities are known to prefer Seoul’s top three Gangnam districts ― Apgujeong-dong, Cheongdam-dong and Samseong-dong ― as their home.

From top left, clockwise: Actress Jeon Do-yeon’s Cheongdam-dong villa, featuring five bedrooms and three bathrooms; Samseong-dong I-Park, home to newlyweds Kwon Sang-woo and Son Tae-young; the luxurious interior of entertainer Kang Ho-dong’s Apgujeong-dong apartment; and Traum Haus, a posh villa in Seocho-dong, which was once hearthrob Jang Dong-kun’s home.

By Jane Han
Staff Reporter

Ever wonder where mega-watt celebrities unwind at the end of their glamorous days? Home ― just like any other ordinary person ― but what they call home is anything but ordinary.

The limited area in downtown Seoul may not allow Korean stars to dwell in huge Hollywood-esque mansions that span out for acres, but the celebs are still rich enough to own the crowded capital’s best and most expensive street addresses.


Former wrestling champion and popular television host Kang Ho-dong, for example, lives in a fully remodeled 280-square-meter apartment in one of the most posh districts in Seoul, featuring three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

The Apgujeong-dong property is currently worth 3.5 billion won ($2.9 million), according to local real estate agents. Down the street from Kang’s house is another luxury district, Chungdam-dong, where dozens of singers and movie stars reside. Singer, artist and writer Cho Young-nam’s massive 618-square-meter villa has long been famous as one of the country’s unbeatable star homes.

The Sangji Ritzville, a top villa brand, overlooking the Han River and the Youngdong Bridge from the southern side, was most recently officially listed at some 4 billion won, but realtors say the property is actually worth more than 6 billion won. “Buyers are lucky if they even see a unit up for sale,” said an area property agent, who labels the luxury building as one of the most exclusive homes, rarely coming out on the market.

Another top-flight villa in Chungdam-dong is where top actress Jeon Do-yeon calls home, just minutes away from Cho’s residence. The almost 300-square-meter uber-luxury villa, which offers only six units, is known to ensure its residents with the best security system.

Most recently listed for 3 billion won, the villa is home to some of the country’s top businessmen and politicians, according to realtors. Some of Jeon’s Chungdam-dong neighbors include actresses Kim Hee-sun, Ko Hyun-jung and Ko So-young, and actors Kim Min-jong and Hwang Jung-min.

The third town, which completes the so-called celebrity Gangnam belt, is Samsung-dong. The southern Seoul district recently got a status upgrade when celebrity couple Kwon Sang-woo and Son Tae-young was revealed to be living in I-Park, the most expensive property in South Korea, according to 2008 government data.

A 195-square-meter apartment was purchased for 5.7 billion won by an unknown buyer last year, making the high-rise home the most expensive apartment in town. Although the newlywed couple makes top money, Kwon and Son are reportedly living in a rented unit costing at least 1.3 billion won in “jeonse” ― a lump sum, long-term deposit on a rental space.

“The price shows that this is no ordinary rented property,” says a broker who specializes in I-Park. He explained that it is being increasingly sought by celebrities because of its top security standards and privacy.

Actresses Jeon Ji-hyun and Lee Mi-yeon, and actor Son Chang-min are among some of the well-known star residents of I-Park, he said.

Besides the Gangnam areas, Bangbae-dong, Seocho-dong, Hannam-dong and Ichon-dong have traditionally been popular residential districts among local celebrities. But the fast-emerging favorite pick is Banpo ― more specifically, the newly built Banpo Xi apartments.

The state-of-the-art complex, which includes a fitness center and spa, is home to heartthrobs Song Seung-heon and So Ji-sub, and dozens of other middle-aged celebrities, according to real estate agents.

“The influx of celebrity neighbors boosted the apartment’s promotion,” said a realtor, who explained, however, that many residents don’t enjoy having a star neighbor. “They don’t want their privacy getting interrupted by fans.”


Source: Korea Time (it's down atm)
Via: jazzholic

Comments

[strawberry-efeu.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to decide if the annoyance of constant fangirls would outweigh the obvious perks of living next to DBSK. LOL, who am I kidding, I wouldn't care even if the fangirls were screaming 24/7, then I'd just be able to go and complain about the noise~

[diadust.livejournal.com]

THIS. IA though. The benefits definitely outweigh!

[ontokki.livejournal.com]

yes to Korean Cribs LOL

OBLIG?

[jadehall.livejournal.com]

LOL KOREAN CRIBS:

Re: OBLIG?

[r0ygb1v.livejournal.com]

that vid has me lolin.

[booksandsarcasm.livejournal.com]

... I guess this might be kinda controversial but I'm kind of wondering what DBSK's diggs look like on the inside. Not that if it was posh that they don't deserve their money but if it was super luxurious I'd be just... like a titch less ready to be outraged then if their house was average, slightly above or if they were living in squalor which I kind of doubt.

[smileyschaos.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too. Can't help but wonder what they live in looks like after all that's been happening with them and SM Ent.

[diorbaby.livejournal.com]

idk. sm's housing is very...non-standardized across the company it seems like. shinee lives in a really nice building in a really nice area, but then again they all have to share one bedroom. and then most of suju has to squeeze into two apartments in a not-quite-as-nice building. and idek about snsd, but i can't imagine they've got all that much space either. but from what i've heard about their (dbsk's) apartment, it seems like it'd be a fairly decent size.

[avirjin.livejournal.com]

Last I checked, SHINee used to be split into two rooms, but decided to squeeze into one to encourage ~group bonding~ and were too used to it to split up again. And SNSD's first dorm had like 3-4 bedrooms. Probably 3. Plus there were those rumors and pictures of their new dorm which looked pretty sweet and roomy.

[diorbaby.livejournal.com]

ok but there's still the discrepancy between snsd's new digs/shinee's apartment and where suju lives.

[dorkygeng.livejournal.com]

There are at least 3 vids showing suju's dorm.. And a shinee reality show showing shinee's dorm (i don't know if they've already moved).. I haven't seen recent dbsk dorm videos though but i think i've seen a fan post a picture of the bldg sj and dbsk are living in.. Neighboring identical blgs.. SJ in bldg. C and DBSK in bldg. D.. I'm not too sure.. But if ever it's true., then dbsk's dorm interior most probably looks like that of sj.. I don't think they have to split into 2 dorms though.. ^.^

[diorbaby.livejournal.com]

that's...not my point. my point is that shinee and snsd live in really nice neighborhoods and really nice apartment buildings and suju and dbsk...don't.

[fraash.livejournal.com]

*sigh* SM should be more ~fair~

[stage-persona.livejournal.com]

well I saw an old videos and the house wasn't great... just average
let me...
ok here it is--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JtJ9RLnBAw

But I guess that may have change, that was a few years ago, and I hope they live in a better place now
(the dinner table was so small ...)

[nubby-tail.livejournal.com]

Amen to the last sentence.

I dunno, the locations sounds baller but their ~luxury homes~ have so few rooms and no backyard, etc. Probably can't beat my neighborhood (or a lot of people's for that matter). =\

[poppy-sky.livejournal.com]

IA.
My own house is three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms so... >->

[nubby-tail.livejournal.com]

Yeah, 4BD & 2BA here. A lot of the homes in my area have tennis and bball courts, too.

Then again, it's America so there's a lot of space but I just don't see ~luxury~ there. A lot of it has to do with their locations.

[poppy-sky.livejournal.com]

Houses in my area are about the same as mine X3

People get tennis courts in their summer houses here though (I'm from Mexico)

[nubby-tail.livejournal.com]

Whoops, I meant to say that countries like America (and even Mexico) are just sprawling with empty space so it's not a big surprise we have larger properties.

I hope you didn't take it that I assumed you were from America. :( Sorry, bb.

[poppy-sky.livejournal.com]

Don't worry about it :)

Yeah, Mexico is pretty large too.
New neighborhoods and stuff are being built every other month XD

[stopthedisco.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine what it'd be like to live next to DBSK, or any other extremely popular artist.

[stopthedisco.livejournal.com]

* I kinda mean that in a bad way, lol.

[poppy-sky.livejournal.com]

If I lived next to a celeb I'd drill a hole in the adjacent wall, no joke.

OMG IMAGINE IF IT WAS DBSK! I'D INSTALL NIGHT CAMERAS AND EVERYTHING 8D *DIES*

[dipropylene]

I've always wanted to know why the hell do celebs need several bathrooms. Sometimes you can read about someone living in a house castle that has 15 bedrooms and 550 bathrooms. Makes no sense to me.

[lastclasshero.livejournal.com]

Well for that many bathrooms, one bathroom per day on a schedule [: Sounds 'fun' for some of those rich people with money flowing in while just idly shaking their legs~

[ninja-starshine.livejournal.com]

i want to know where bigbang lives! i have no idea how their apartment looks like except for maybe their door, living room and gd's bedroom.

[shadowfax.livejournal.com]

I love Jeon Do-yeon’s villa <3

[sataviiskyt.livejournal.com]

Hmm.... I think my bff's penpal lives somewhere down there. On one of those districts.
She said she's a neighbour of Taebin >:
Taebin > DBSK
lovelovelove !

[dragonflycoca.livejournal.com]

Wow for some reason I always thought DBSK and Suju and stuff had there own houses and what not...but they have to share "amazing" small ass apartments ....thats just a little lame