Son Ye-jin pays $4m in cash for a $19m building she bought in Seoul

While some of us can only dream of buying our own landed property, others pay for it in cold hard cash — like one of South Korea's most successful actresses.

Known for her role in this year's highly popular K-drama Crash Landing On You, Son Ye-jin is once again in the limelight, this time for purchasing a 16 billion KRW (S$19 million) building in Seoul.

According to a real estate industry official, the 38-year-old purchased the commercial building in the Sinsa-dong neighbourhood, Gangnam, under her name in July last year and paid off the remaining mortgage last month, reported Allkpop.

As if buying a building itself wasn't spectacular enough, Ye-jin also paid a portion of it in cash — 4.4 billion KRW to be exact. The remaining 11.6 billion KRW was paid with a loan, stated the official.

The building, which spans six floors and 1,567 square metres in size, accommodates plastic surgery clinics, make-up stores, and beauty centres, 8 Days reported.

Tenants pay around $45 million KRW a month, with a deposit fee of $500 million KRW.

While the 22-year-old building has not been renovated yet, it is considered well-maintained and situated in a decent location.

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Netizens are divided on the news, according to Allkpop. Some are upset with the great financial disparity between the common man on the street and celebrities, while others say it's a legitimate investment.

Nevertheless, this is not Ye-jin's first property purchase. She bought an old building in Seogyo-dong, Seoul, for 9.35 billion KRW in 2015 before selling it three years later for 13.5 billion KRW, according to online media Pinkvilla.

ALSO READ: 7 things to know about Crash Landing On You actress Son Ye-jin

trining@asiaone.com