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| Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon's Maybach has a prestigious brand image. |
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| Sexy icon Lee Hyo-ri's Nissan Cube caused a fad for box cars. |
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| JYJ Kim Jae-joong's Lamborghini boasts of speed and power. |
When actress Lee Ji-ah was reported to be involved
in a car accident last month, public attention instantly went to her car.
After her short-lived popularity, Lee had barely been spotted in the public eye. Yet the actress was driving an Italian luxury Maserati Quattroporte sedan.
Rumors circulated on the internet that it costs 30 million won ($27,000) just to replace her damaged bumper.
As everything about celebrities draws public attention, cars are not an exception.
Pop icon Lee Hyo-ri is believed to have driven the country's love for box cars after been seen driving a white Nissan Cube before they were even on sale domestically.
The model was dubbed the "Lee Hyo-ri Car," inspiring a fad for box cars.
When a picture of Kim Tae-hee meeting Rain surfaced on the Internet, netizens were quick to note the car she was driving.
Although celebrities claim they drive domestically-manufactured cars, they are found to opt for luxury imported cars more often than not.
Star couple Cha In-pyo and Shin Ae-ra, for instance, were given Hyundai's first Genesis Prada model on its launch day. The car became the talk of the town when it surfaced on the used-car market within a year, battering Hyundai's image severely.
"Young celebrities are tempted to be showy and chase imported luxury cars," said Kim Jin-pyo, rapper and host of "Top Gear Korea," in a recent interview.
"Some buy expensive cars because they can afford to do, but those are just a small part of all the people in the entertainment industry," added Kim.
Celebrities known to have established their names in the fields of acting, singing and business management tend to drive luxury sedans.
Actor Bae Yong-jun; Yang Hyun-suk, CEO of YG Entertainment; and veteran singer Lee Seung-chul chose Maybachs. One of the most expensive sedans manufactured by Mercedes-Benz, they cost more than 780 million won ($700,000).
Other former owners of this model include Lee Kun-hee, Samsung Electronics chairman and Bill Gates, Microsoft CEO.
"The owners of this type of car like to distinguish themselves from the nouveau riche and tend to give the impression they are from prestigious families with tradition," said an imported car dealer in Seocho, southern Seoul.
Recently Brave Brothers, a top producer of K-pop icons such as Big Bang, After School and Sistar, purchased this model also.
Members of K-pop boy bands and actors known for their masculine images tend to prefer racing cars. By purchasing such vehicles, they aim to associate themselves with the powerful and speedy image of their cars.
All three members of JYJ drive racing cars, whose maximum speeds are over 300 km/h. Kim Jae-joong, leader of the group, has a Lamborghini Murcielago that can reach 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, with a maximum speed of 330 km/h.
The other two members, Park Yoo-chun and Kim Jun-su, drive Ferraris.
Actor Park Sang-min, who featured in the drama "Incarnation of Money," also owns a racing car. His choice was a Lamborghini Diablo.
Since he bought the vehicle in 2006, it has topped the list of most expensive celebrities' cars for eight straight years. It price tag is about 1 billion won ($900,000).
Not all celebrities buy super cars. Most of the stars in MBC's variety show "Infinite Challenge" are fans of domestically manufactured cars. Show host Yoo Jae-suk drives Hyundai's Genesis Prada for personal use and Kia's Carnival for TV schedules, while co-host Haha also drives a domestically manufactured small car.
Another co-host of the show Noh Hong-chul is famous for the unique design of his car. Known as the "Hong Car," it looks as cheerful as the entertainer, with his picture plastered all over the car.
Tiffany of Girls' Generation owns a GM Korea Chevrolet Spark. When she briefly mentioned she would buy a "one-and-only pink small car," speculations ran rampant on the Internet about what would be her choice. They shortened the list to two imported cars, but Tiffany bought a domestically manufactured car.
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