10 Korean Stars Who Are Also Business Savvy!
These Korean celebrities are talented onscreen and gifted with an entrepreneurial mindset
Successful people do one of two things: they either feel that they've done enough and are totally content with where they are, or they reach higher, explore new territories, and push the boundaries of what they can achieve.
Taking a look at Korea's superstars, we're listing down 10 of them who belong to the latter; after making it big as an actors and actresses, they moved on to make their mark as business owners and help out their families financially! Ranging from restaurants and cafés to luxury residences, these celeb-owned businesses can definitely inspire you to flex that entrepreneurial muscle. (We've also highlighted Filipino celebrities and personalities who have have quarantine-born businesses here).
Check out who owns what in the gallery below!
Business Savvy Korean Stars
Business Savvy Korean Stars
Rain
International superstar Rain, a.k.a. one of the first Korean actors to cross over to a Western market, is not just a great businessman, but a kindhearted one, too. The actor/singer/dancer owns a luxury apartment complex and when the COVID-19 crisis hit Korea hard in the early months of the year, he made the decision to reduce rent for all tenants, to help them cope with the situation.
Photo Credit: @rain_oppa
Kim Tae-hee
Kim Tae-hee, Rain's wife, co-owns their rental business. Together, they've carved a name in the community as generous business owners who aren't just in it for the money, but do genuinely care for the people they cater to.
Photo Credit: @kimtaehee99
Jun Ji-hyun
Jun Ji-hyun is a top Hallyu star who's currently the highest-paid Korean actress. She's the owner of not one, not two, but four residential buildings in Gangnam. She made it big in real estate less than five years ago and continues to make a fortune in that industry as well as in entertainment.
Photo Credit: Jun Ji-hyun for MICHAA
Lee Jong-suk
89 Mansion is (or was) the name of the game for Lee Jong-suk. It's been around for three years, but it has been announced that it's closing down this September 14 (the actor's birthday). The two-floor restaurant and café sits in a neighborhood in Gangnam known for its quaint dining spots and small businesses. 89 Mansion is one of the businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lee Jong-suk is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service. Once this health crisis is over, with his entrepreneurial spirit, we're sure he can come up with a new business idea again or maybe re-open 89 Mansion.
Photo Credit: @jongsuk0206
Photo Credit: @cafe.89mansion
Photo Credit: @cafe.89mansion
Yoo Ah-in
Yoo Ah-in started an art- and fashion-centric cultural complex called Studio Concrete in 2014 with his friend Kwon Chul-hwa. Its mission is to build “a healthy support system for the future generations of creatives.” For this, they renovated an old townhouse, creating a gallery and café on the first floor and a workshop on the second. He also owns T.M.I (Too Much Information), a modern spot in Itaewon that's a restaurant by day and a pub by night; it's famous for its signature Mushroom Burger.
Photo Credit: @hongsick
Photo Credit: @studioconcrete
Photo Credit: @studioconcrete
Jo In-sung
Jo In-sung is the proud owner of Itaewon-based restaurant and café Everything But the Hero, a spacious but quiet space loved by coffee and snack lovers. The food spot is on the ground floor of a three-storey building Jo In-sung purchased. The café is being run by his brother.
Photo Credit: Jo In-Sung for Evezary
Photo Credit: @everythingbutthehero
Photo Credit: @everythingbutthehero
Yoo Yeon-seok
Lua Lounge in Itaewon is Yoo Yeon-seok's wine bar business. Its interior is all about recreating that European style of drawing rooms in the past. It's heavily decorated with dark wood, dark leather furniture, and yes, even an antler chandelier, and it's frequented by the actor himself. Last year, he also opened a ramen shop in Jeju Island.
Photo Credit: @yoo_yeonseok
Photo Credit: @yoo_yeonseok
Photo Credit: @ebong_jeju
Choi Si-won
Super Junior might not be in the business of entertainment anymore, but its member Choi Si-won has definitely found success elsewhere. This K-Pop idol and actor put up a diner-style food joint called Bugsy, and it's located all the way in Bangkok! It was named after his dog, with the logo paying tribute to his beloved Frenchie.
Photo Credit: @siwonchoi
Photo Credit: @sjsofabulous on Twitter
Photo Credit: @sjsofabulous on Twitter
Park Shin-hye
Her parents are managing Little Tin Drums, a casual dining destination that's frequented by groups of friends out on weekends, university students, and the after-office crowd. Although she may not be directly involved with its operation, this was actually her gift to her parents, proving that Park Shin-hye knows the importance of investing in a business and spending her money wisely.
Photo Credit: @ssinz7
Photo Credit: YongShin (Park Shin Hye and Jung Yong Hwa) on Facebook
Photo Credit: Shinhye International Fan Club
Bae Suzy
Caffe Soo, although considered to be the business of Korean actress Suzy, is actually managed by her mom. That must explain why the café really feels like a tribute to this Korean star, as it's literally covered in photos of her taken through the years! Though anyone is welcome to come visit, it's clearly a place that's best appreciated by Suzy's most adoring fans.
Photo Credit: @skuukzky
Photo Credit: Caffe Soo (Suzy's Cafe) on Facebook
Photo Credit: Soompi Forums
Photos from @rain_oppa @kimtaehee99 @jongsuk0206 @ssinz7 @alexandermcqueen @hongscik @yoo_yeonseok
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