$14 mil. ‘first home?' Musical star Ock Joo-hyun buys record-breaking Hannam The Hill penthouse

Ock Joo-hyun / Courtesy of TOI Entertainment

Singer and musical actress Ock Joo-hyun is drawing attention after purchasing a luxury residence in Seoul’s elite Hannam-dong neighborhood — with the price tag alone sparking online buzz.

According to Sports Kyunghyang on April 11, Ock bought a unit in Hannam The Hill for 19 billion won (approximately $14 million), marking the highest recorded transaction in the complex’s history.

The property, located in Yongsan District, spans about 332 square meters and features a rare duplex layout across the first and second floors. It was reportedly acquired from Hur Hee-soo, an executive of SPC Group.

Ock is said to have signed the contract in May last year and recently completed the final payment. A mortgage was set with a maximum bond amount of 12.3 billion won as part of the transaction.

The sale has also drawn attention for its scale of profit. The previous owner purchased the unit in 2015 for 6.9 billion won and realized a gain of about 12.1 billion won after roughly a decade — highlighting the steep rise in luxury real estate prices in Seoul.

Hannam The Hill, built in 2011 on the former site of Dankook University, is widely known as one of Korea’s most exclusive residential complexes. It houses numerous high-profile residents, including RM and Jimin of BTS, actor So Ji-sub and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo.

Another high-profile transaction took place last year when actress Kim Tae-hee sold her unit in the same complex for 12.7 billion won after seven years of ownership, reportedly making a significant profit.

Addressing speculation surrounding the purchase, Ock’s legal representative said, “All taxes and administrative procedures related to the transaction were handled lawfully and transparently.”

The representative added, “This is her first home after many years of work in the entertainment industry, making it especially meaningful. We hope people will view it warmly without misunderstandings or unfounded speculation.”

Ock debuted in 1998 as a member of the girl group Fin.K.L and later transitioned into musical theater, building a successful career with roles in productions such as “Aida,” “Chicago,” “Elisabeth,” “Wicked” and “Rebecca.” She most recently appeared in the musical “Anna Karenina,” which concluded its run in March.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.