Do Kyung-wan faces backlash over selling luxury watch to pay taxes

Broadcaster Do Kyung-wan has drawn criticism after revealing he sold a high-end watch to cover tax payments in May and August. The confession has sparked controversy due to the perceived gap between his financial struggles and the 12 billion won luxury penthouse he purchased with Jang Yoon-jeong in 2024.

Broadcaster Do Kyung-wan has faced unexpected criticism after revealing he sold a high-end watch on the secondhand market to pay taxes. While he explained the move as a way to reduce spending due to funds being tied up in stocks and fluctuating broadcasting income, public reaction has been mixed following renewed attention on his purchase of a luxury penthouse for approximately 12 billion won with Jang Yoon-jeong.

Appearing on the YouTube channel SHW Everyday Watch Wearer, Do Kyung-wan shared his experience of facing tight cash flow ahead of tax payments. "I wanted to pay taxes in May, but I lacked the funds, so I sold a watch I had purchased through a secondhand transaction," he stated. He suggested that even owners of expensive watches may consider selling them if they lack the immediate cash required for tax obligations.

Do provided further detail regarding his situation, noting, "I had no money and was going through a lean period. I had to pay large taxes in May and August, and it was difficult because there was no work and YouTube was not doing well." He added that he is "being forced to adjust spending" because a significant amount of money is tied up in stocks. He explained that he had to manage tax payments and living expenses while his investment funds remained illiquid. However, following these remarks, some viewers raised questions by comparing his situation to his actual asset scale.

The controversy has been fueled by frugal lifestyle episodes Do has previously shown on variety programs. On the KBS2 show Stars' Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant, he mentioned having a bank balance of 250,000 won and expressed dissatisfaction to his family when a water bill for their luxury penthouse came out 58,000 won higher than usual. He also showed scenes of having his children save water by collecting it in the toilet before flushing and removing batteries from air conditioner remotes. These repeated scenes of frugality that seem to go beyond everyday saving have drawn divided reactions from viewers.

The issue stems from the perceived gap between these "stingy" episodes and the couple's real estate assets. Do Kyung-wan and singer Jang Yoon-jeong drew attention for purchasing the luxury penthouse 'Aper Hangang' in Seobinggo-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, for approximately 12 billion won in 2024. The fact that the purchase was reportedly made entirely in cash has resurfaced, influencing how the public views his confession about selling a watch for taxes.

Online reactions included comments such as, "I'm tired of the poverty cosplay while living in a 12 billion won house," "Selling a watch for taxes while living in a 12 billion won home?" "Enough already, whether it's a concept or a script, it's gone too far," and "Everyone knows you are well-off, so stop whining." Critics are questioning whether it is appropriate for an individual known to possess significant assets to repeatedly share stories reminiscent of financial hardship. In particular, some pointed out that emphasizing extreme poverty while maintaining a luxurious residence and consumption level makes it difficult to gain public empathy.

Of course, owning real estate does not mean all funds are freely available at any time. Cash flow can be strained if money is tied up in investment assets like stocks or if tax payment periods coincide. Given that even owners of high-end homes must consider taxes and maintenance costs, it is difficult to conclude from his remarks alone that he is not facing economic challenges. Since his specific asset composition and cash flow have not been disclosed, there are limits to accurately judging his financial situation from the outside.

Nevertheless, the criticism of this confession is not merely because a wealthy person is being frugal. In a situation where an image of high-end housing and luxury consumption has been established, emphasizing bank balances, water bills, and the sale of watches can cause the public to compare his life to their own. For those feeling the burden of living and housing expenses, a celebrity's story of frugality may trigger a sense of relative deprivation rather than realistic empathy. The reaction changes depending on who delivers the message, in what context, and in what manner.

Do Kyung-wan married Jang Yoon-jeong in 2013, and they have one son and one daughter. The couple has shared their family life through broadcasts and social media, and their purchase of the Aper Hangang penthouse drew significant interest. This latest confession regarding the sale of a watch for tax purposes has served as a catalyst to revisit his past frugal episodes and real estate history.

Ultimately, the controversy surrounding Do Kyung-wan's "stingy confession" highlights both the difficulty of judging financial burdens based solely on asset scale and the question of how the public perceives the lifestyle disclosures of celebrities. While frugality itself is not a reason for criticism, if repeated portrayals of poverty cause a sense of disconnect rather than empathy, the method of content delivery may need to be reconsidered. Whether Do's confession was intended to share the difficulties of realistic cash management or was a setup for variety entertainment is difficult to determine from the available information. However, this controversy has shown that the gap between a wealthy image and a "stingy character" is a major variable in determining public response.

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