South Korean entrepreneur Song Ja-ho recently revisited memories of his high school years in the United States, mentioning an unexpected connection with Annie of the group AllDay Project, a member of the prominent Shinsegae family.
In a video uploaded last month to his YouTube channel titled “A Gathering of Korean Chaebol Third-Generation Heirs (Real Review),” Song shared stories from his time as an international student. During a casual tea-time conversation, he brought up Annie, who has attracted attention since her debut due to her background as the granddaughter of Lee Myung-hee, chairwoman of the Shinsegae Group, and the eldest daughter of Chung Yoo-kyung.
Song explained that while attending high school in the U.S., Korean international students often knew of one another even if they did not attend the same school. He recalled being part of a close-knit circle that included Annie, where they would occasionally gather for meals. At the time, he said, there was no indication that Annie was preparing for an idol career, though many students were already aware of her family background through word of mouth.
Reflecting on those days, Song remarked that although Annie came from one of Korea’s most powerful retail families, she lived modestly as a student. He jokingly compared himself to children of mid-sized business families, saying they were often the ones who spent the most money during school years. “I was usually the one paying for meals,” he said, adding that “real chaebol third-generation heirs don’t actually have much spending money as students.”
He also shared a lighthearted anecdote involving a newly released pair of AirPods at the time. Despite the relatively affordable price, he recalled Annie hesitating over whether to buy them. “She jokingly asked me, ‘Oppa, can’t you buy them for me?’” Song said, adding that he thought to himself, “The ones who truly have it all can be even more careful.”
Annie has since stepped into the spotlight as a member of AllDay Project, drawing public interest not only for her artistic pursuits but also for her lineage within the Shinsegae conglomerate. Meanwhile, Song, the eldest grandson of the late Dongwon Construction chairman Song Seung-heon, has remained a controversial public figure. He previously dated former KARA member Park Gyuri for about two years before their breakup in 2021. He later faced legal issues, including charges related to drunk driving and alleged violations of capital market laws tied to cryptocurrency ventures.
The resurfaced story has sparked online discussion about perceptions of wealth and frugality among Korea’s elite families, as netizens debate whether the image of “quiet luxury” reflects genuine modesty or simply a different kind of privilege.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스
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