10 K-Pop Idols Who Were Born Into Affluent Families

K-Pop idols are perceived to be leading a glamorous and luxurious lifestyle as a result of their fame. But some of these idols were born affluent and lived like “chaebol” heirs, similar to the K-Drama characters we get to watch.

“Chaebol” is a term for a large industrial South Korean conglomerate run and controlled by an individual or family.

Here are ten K-Pop idols born into affluent families and lived luxuriously even before they became famous.

1. Super Junior’s Siwon

Siwon’s father was reportedly the former CEO of Boryung Medicine, a well-known pharmaceutical company in Korea. His family also apparently owns the Hyundai Department Store, one of the major department store chains in Korea, and Korean Slim Fashion.

Siwon is also known for his philanthropic endeavors. He has been joining UNICEF campaigns since 2010 and was appointed as the special representative of the South Korea committee for UNICEF in 2015.

2. BLACKPINK’s Jennie

Jennie’s mother is reportedly a shareholder and significant stakeholder in CJ E&M, one of South Korea’s most prominent entertainment content companies and the parent company of MNet and TVN in South Korea. Her father is reportedly the owner of a hospital in the district of Gangnam in Seoul.

3. ENHYPEN’s Jay

Jay was born in Seattle, Washington, United States, and lived there until he was ten. Jay’s father is a co-owner and reportedly the President of Sinar Tours. This travel agency started chartering flights from South Korea to Brunei since there were no direct flights to and from these destinations in 2015. He also invested in tour agencies in the U. S. and Canada. One of the most memorable times ENHYPEN members recall about Jay was when they all went on a vacation. Jay paid for all expenses, including their accommodations, in a 7-star hotel.

4. TWICE’s Tzuyu

Tzuyu’s parents were self-made entrepreneurs in Taiwan. They managed a night market business in Tainan city and invested in three hospitals. Tzuyu’s mother also managed medical aesthetic clinics and cafes.

5. 2PM’s Nickhun

Nickhun was born in the United States and raised in Thailand. He attended Waganui Collegiate School, one of the most prestigious schools in New Zealand, which British royal Prince Edward famously attended. His mother is the CEO of Union Medical in Thailand, a leading pharmaceutical distributor.

6. Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung

Sooyoung’s grandfather is the CEO of a South Korean architecture firm that helped build the famous Seoul Arts Centre. Her father is the chairman of a production and construction company. Her family owns many luxurious villas in the affluent neighborhood of Cheongdam-dong in Seoul.

7. VIVIZ’s Umji

Umji’s father is the most sought-after dental surgeon in South Korea. He holds a high position in the Moa Dental group, which has over 45 medical clinics in Korea.

When she was still with the now disbanded girl group GFRIEND, Umji used her parents’ credit card with her parents’ permission to spend on meals for herself and the other group members.

8. NCT’s Chenle

Chenle’s grandfather is said to be one of China’s Top 20 entrepreneurs. There isn’t much information on what business his family is in, but his childhood photos showed that he had a luxurious life as a child.

9. BtoB’s Yook Sung Jae

Yook Sung Jae’s father is the CEO of an IT company that supplies semiconductors, with the company reportedly earning ₩10.0 billion KRW (about $7.19 million USD) in 2019. His maternal grandfather was a pioneer in importing silk red carp to South Korea, and his grandmother runs a fishing farm in Paju.

10.GOT7’s Mark

Mark’s father is a retired businessman. Mark’s family owns several properties in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. It was reported that Mark once flew to Switzerland from Thailand just for snowboarding. When he traveled alone, he was said to book the entire first-class cabin for himself!