Silver-spoon stars: K-pop idols, actors reveal privileged families

From left, actor Choi Yeon-Cheong, K-pop girl band i-dle member Minnie, and actor Jeon Min-gi / Xportsnews

Some Korean celebrities have captivated public attention not just for their entertainment careers, but for their privileged backgrounds. From legal ties to immense wealth, the family histories of several stars have recently drawn interest.

Actor Choi Yeon-cheong recently drew attention when her prominent background, which includes figures in law, politics and the media, became public knowledge.

She discussed her family during an Aug. 8 appearance on the JTBC program "Knowing Bros."

Host Kim Shin-young introduced Choi, saying her father is a former judge and her husband is a sitting judge. Kim said the family includes legal professionals, media CEOs and members of the National Assembly. Choi confirmed, "That's right."

Actor Choi Yeon-cheong speaks about her family's background during an episode of JTBC's variety show "Knowing Bros." Courtesy of JTBC

Choi previously appeared alongside Lee Sang-min on Wavve survival show "Bloody Game X." After her impressive family background was revealed, fellow host Seo Jang-hoon teased Lee, saying, "Sang-min really likes people from families like that. If he'd known earlier, you might have gotten a little further."

Actor Yoo Yeon-seok comes from a family of academics. His father is a former engineering professor, his mother is a painter and his brother works as a math instructor.

Actor Yoo Yeon-seok shares an anecdote about his father being a university professor during an appearance on YouTube show "Pinggyego." Captured from DdeunDdeun's YouTube channel

Yoo shared stories about his father during an appearance last year on the YouTube show Pinggyego.

He said his father enjoyed a drink with his meals, which earned him the playful nickname "professor who drinks." Host Yoo Jae-suk responded, "his father really is a professor."

Broadcaster Jeon Min-gi discussed his family during a July broadcast of MBN's "My House's Precious Family." He said his father served as an executive at Korea Water Resources Corp. and later as a university professor.

He surprised the panel by revealing that his parents' home in Daejeon includes about 3,306 square meters of land. Singer Shinji noted that truly indicated a wealthy family, while broadcaster Park Mi-sun was shocked by the size of the land they owned.

The broadcast also disclosed that a separate building on the property serves exclusively as his father's study.

"Even if we are together, my father's study building is separate," Jeon said. "We'll be together, and then he goes over to that building, so we're separate again."

When the panel was surprised by the phrase "study building" rather than "study room," Jeon dismissed it, insisting, "It's not a huge house."

Broadcaster Jeon Min-gi discusses his parents' home during a broadcast of MBN's variety show "My House's Precious Family." Courtesy of MBN

Minnie of K-pop girl group i-dle is also frequently cited as a star from a wealthy family. Her mother operates a resort in Thailand and her uncle is a well-known pianist.

Appearing on the YouTube channel Ipmanyeolmyeon in February, Minnie dismissed rumors that she comes from a wealthy Thai business family, calling it an exaggeration. However, she acknowledged that her family owns three homes and said her property includes a private garden and gym.

During a July appearance on "Knowing Bros.," Minnie recalled her father visiting her spartan trainee dorm in Korea and being shocked by the conditions. She said her father encouraged her to return to the family business whenever she wished, adding that he had prepaid her senior-year high school tuition.

Her bandmate Soyeon sparked further interest, saying Minnie's home in Thailand is "basically a castle." The broadcast aired footage showing three large residences resembling a resort, with a private gym and a separate annex for caretakers.

Minnie of K-pop girl group i-dle addresses rumors surrounding her family background on YouTube channel Ipmanyeolmyeon. Captured from Ipmanyeolmyeon's YouTube channel

From prominent legal and academic roots to substantial international real estate, the privileged family backgrounds of these celebrities continue to draw public attention.

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