Super Junior’s Kyuhyun is parting ways with a major real estate investment that once symbolized the success of K-pop stars branching into business.
On May 26, reports confirmed that Kyuhyun has listed his well-known guesthouse property in Namsan-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul for sale.
The property, located just steps from Myeongdong Station Exit 2, is on the market for 9.5 billion KRW (approx. $7 million USD). Including a nearby lot also owned by Kyuhyun, the total asking price rises to 11.8 billion KRW (approx. $8.7 million USD).
The singer purchased the buildings in June 2014, during a time of explosive tourism growth in South Korea, often dubbed the “10 million tourists era.”
The six-story main building plus basement spans over 1,714㎡, while a smaller adjacent 70㎡ two-story building was acquired to complement the venture.
Together, they cost 9.6 billion KRW, reportedly financed in part by a 6 billion KRW secured loan.
Originally housing a photo studio, the property was eventually converted into a guesthouse and café, operated by Kyuhyun’s family, including his father and sister.
Speaking on MBC’s Radio Star, Kyuhyun explained his motivation:
“Myeongdong had so many tourists, so we opened a guesthouse. It had about 60 rooms, and my parents and sister ran it.”
The investment paid off—at its peak, the guesthouse earned up to 17 million KRW (~$12,500) over a single long weekend, drawing praise as a textbook case of celebrity entrepreneurship.
Many fans and analysts hailed Kyuhyun as a smart investor who leveraged his fame and the tourism boom to build a sustainable business outside entertainment.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic struck a devastating blow to global tourism, and Myeongdong—once one of Seoul’s busiest tourist areas—saw foot traffic plummet.
In the years that followed, shifting travel trends and a slow recovery have made it difficult for hospitality businesses to return to pre-pandemic profitability.
Now, a decade later, the guesthouse once seen as a golden investment has hit the market, not as a failure, but as a reflection of a changing industry.
Whether Kyuhyun profits significantly from the sale will depend on the final transaction price and Korea’s real estate climate—but his status as one of the early K-pop idols to diversify into successful business ventures remains undisputed.
