Sayuri missed out on buying a '3.5 billion won Gangnam apartment' for 1 billion won

South Korean television personality Sayuri has voiced her regret over a missed real estate opportunity in Seoul, revealing she declined an offer to purchase an apartment in Samseong-dong for 1 billion won (approximately $720,000 USD) about 13 to 14 years ago. The same property is now valued at a staggering 3.5 billion won (around $2.5 million USD), illustrating the dramatic surge in Seoul's housing market.

“

Korea's apartment prices and living costs are rising frighteningly.

Appearing on the YouTube channel 'Yangrak 1st Street' with fellow broadcaster Sam Hammington, Sayuri cited the escalating housing prices and cost of living in South Korea as significant challenges of living in the country. "Apartment prices and living costs in Korea are rising frighteningly," she stated.

“

The owner of the house where I lived as a tenant in Samseong-dong offered to sell it to me for 1 billion won, but I refused at the time. But now that house is worth 3.5 billion won.

Sayuri, who is currently residing in Banpo, Seoul, on a lease, shared her difficulties with escalating rental costs. She explained that her rent increases every two years, forcing her to downsize her living space. "I've had to reduce my apartment size by 10 pyeong (about 355 sq ft) compared to when I first moved in," she lamented, expressing her distress over the situation.

“

My rent increases every two years, so I had to reduce my apartment size, and now it's 10 pyeong smaller than before.

Despite these financial pressures, Sayuri affirmed her commitment to living in South Korea. When asked by host Choi Yang-rak if she would consider returning to Japan, where prices are more stable, she responded with affection for her adopted home. "I continue to live here because I like Korea," she said. Sayuri, born in 1979, became a mother in 2020 through voluntary single motherhood, having received sperm donation.

“

I continue to live here because I like Korea.