Hong Hyun-hee and Jay Sseun Reveal the Twist Behind an 8 Billion-Won Apgujeong Apartment: 'It Is Jeonse, and We May Move for Our Child'

Comedian Hong Hyun-hee and interior designer Jay Sseun, a married couple long associated with the image of an eye-catching luxury home, are drawing renewed attention after revealing a more practical concern behind that public image. Although the couple became a topic of conversation for living in a high-priced residence, the home was not purchased by them. They have been living there under a jeonse lease, and they are now considering whether to find a new place for the sake of their son.

On the June 29 broadcast of the SBS Plus variety program "Sinbbal Talk Show: Mysterious Story 2," Jay Sseun appeared as a guest alongside singer So Yu-mi. The episode centered on the theme of exorcism, and during the conversation Jay Sseun spoke candidly not only about his personal sensitivities but also about the concerns he has recently had over moving.

When MC Lee Guk-joo asked whether he believed in ghosts, Jay Sseun described himself as a "sse-mmelier," a coined expression combining the Korean sense of feeling something is ominous with the word sommelier. He explained that in daily life he sometimes feels as though someone is looking at him, or senses that something has caught his attention in a particular way. For that reason, he said, he believes that something exists and that there is some kind of presence.

Jay Sseun then moved from that unusual topic to an unexpectedly down-to-earth issue. He said that he and his family are living in a jeonse home, referring to Korea's lump-sum lease system rather than home ownership. He added that, as a parent, he finds himself thinking about the classic idea of moving repeatedly for a child's education and environment, and wonders whether he should move again for his child.

His remarks made clear that the issue was not simply a matter of changing residences. The concern came from a parent's wish to provide a better environment for a child, even while living in a home that has already attracted public attention because of its price and location.

During the broadcast, a shaman asked whose name the home was under. Jay Sseun answered that it was split evenly between his wife Hong Hyun-hee and himself. When the shaman then said that fortune for a move would come after March of next year, adding that moving then would be favorable because there would be no trouble and documents could be secured, Jay Sseun appeared surprised because the timing matched the actual contract period.

The shaman advised that next year carried strong signs of movement and change, and said that, if handled well, it could become a prosperous point in time. Another shaman discussed the directional fortunes of the couple and their son, explaining that there was no single auspicious direction that aligned for all three family members.

In response, Jay Sseun first said that he would follow the direction favorable to the child. He then added that it should be set according to Hyun-hee instead, showing affection for his wife. Alongside the realistic housing concern he shared on the program, the couple's continuing closeness also drew attention.

Hong Hyun-hee and Jay Sseun married in 2018 and welcomed their son Jun-beom in 2022. Through television appearances, they have opened up about their everyday parenting and married life, becoming known as one of the representative celebrity couples in Korean entertainment.

The Apgujeong Hyundai Apartment complex, which has been reported as the place where they live, is regarded as one of Korea's leading high-priced residential areas and has steadily remained a subject of public interest. The apartment had previously been reported to have a sale price in the 6 billion-won range, but with recent market increases, figures in the 8 billion- to 9 billion-won range are now being mentioned.

The reality that Jay Sseun revealed, however, was different from the image of owning an expensive apartment. The couple are living in the apartment through jeonse, not as owners, and they were reported to have moved last July to a larger unit within the same complex. The current jeonse price for that unit size is known to be around 1.6 billion to 1.8 billion won.

The story drew interest because it showed that, behind the glamorous public image of entertainers, there can still be the ordinary concerns of parents thinking about their family's future and housing situation. Even a family associated with a prestigious address can still face practical decisions about where to live, when to move, and what kind of environment is best for a child.

Jay Sseun's comment that he is considering a move for his child was especially relatable for many parents. Such a choice is not only about financial conditions. It also requires weighing the educational environment, living space, and the overall satisfaction of the family.

Hong Hyun-hee and Jay Sseun, who have often shown a cheerful side through broadcasts and social media, are drawing sympathy this time as parents thinking less about a "good house" in appearance and more about a "good environment" for their family.