BLACKPINK’s Jennie / Xportsnews
Jennie of global K-pop powerhouse BLACKPINK is making headlines not just for her music, but for a bold real estate move that has stunned Korea’s property watchers. The singer has reportedly purchased a building in Seoul’s Yongsan District for 20 billion won (about $15 million), and industry sources say the deal was made entirely in cash.
On Wednesday, Korea Economic Broadcasting cited investment banking and real estate industry sources as saying Jennie bought a building in Dongbinggo-dong, Yongsan District, in May last year and completed the ownership transfer in December.
The property, originally built in 1970, sits in the northern part of Dongbinggo-dong, an area known for its cluster of embassy residences. The building has a land area of 595 square meters and a total floor area of 551.08 square meters, with one basement level and two above-ground floors. It is currently used as the Iraqi Embassy in Seoul.
Dongbinggo-dong has recently drawn attention as development accelerates across Yongsan. The area is closely linked to the large-scale Hannam New Town redevelopment project and the creation of Yongsan Park, which is being built on land returned by the U.S. military. The nearby Hannam 5 District is undergoing redevelopment, while the former U.N. Command site and Camp Kim site are also slated for high-end residential development. The location is widely considered one of Seoul’s most strategically positioned redevelopment zones.
Jennie’s aggressive real estate moves in Yongsan have fueled online buzz, especially among younger Koreans who track celebrity investments as closely as comeback teasers. In 2023, she purchased a luxury villa in U.N. Village for 5 billion won entirely in cash. Last year, she also rented an entire newly built building in Hannam-dong to establish her one-person agency, Odd Atelier.
According to registry records cited in the report, no separate mortgage was set on the newly acquired Dongbinggo property, leading industry observers to assume the purchase was fully cash-funded — a detail that has amplified social media reactions about her financial power and independence.
When asked about the report, her agency Odd Atelier told Xportsnews Wednesday, “We ask for your understanding that we cannot confirm details regarding the artist’s private life.”
Jennie is currently preparing to return with BLACKPINK’s third mini-album “DEADLINE,” set for release on Feb. 27. As anticipation builds for the group’s comeback, her real estate move is adding another layer of intrigue to a star who continues to dominate both charts and headlines.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.