South Korean actor Ryu Jun-yeol is facing public criticism after reports revealed that a family corporation connected to him made a large profit from a real estate investment in Seoul’s Gangnam district. The issue quickly gained attention after the investigative program MBC Straight aired a segment examining the property transaction.
According to the report, the building involved is located in Yeoksam-dong, a prime area in Gangnam. The property was sold in 2022 for around ₩15 billion, drawing interest because the seller was a company named Deep Breathing, where Ryu Jun-yeol was listed as an internal director and his mother served as the representative. The corporation had initially purchased the land for about ₩5.8 billion, with roughly ₩4.8 billion financed through bank loans. After constructing a seven-story building on the site, the company sold the property about two years later, reportedly earning a profit that was more than double the initial investment.
The situation sparked further debate when an old interview resurfaced from 2019, when Ryu Jun-yeol was promoting the film Money. In that interview, he shared his personal views about wealth and success, saying that people should not allow money to control their lives and that human values should come before financial gain. He also mentioned that when fans asked him to write messages such as “Become rich” or “Achieve great success” during autograph sessions, he preferred to write “Be happy” instead. At the time, the actor also said he was not particularly interested in financial management or investments and even suggested that becoming a building owner in the future seemed unlikely.
Because of these past comments, many online users are now pointing out what they see as a contradiction between his earlier statements and the recent real estate deal linked to his family company. Some critics argue that the actor’s previous remarks about money appear inconsistent with the large profit generated through the property investment. However, others have defended him, saying that the investment was conducted through a family business and does not necessarily contradict his personal philosophy about wealth.
The discussion continues to spread across social media, with fans and critics debating whether the situation represents hypocrisy or simply reflects the realities of financial decisions made behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.
Sources: TV Report,MBC Straight
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