Lee Jung-hyun, a True 'Chairwoman'—Even Holds 99% Stake in Husband's Hospital Building

“No. I earn it all.” Actress Lee Jung-hyun's unhesitating answer to a question about her husband's income has become a hot topic. Although her husband is an orthopedic specialist who even operates a hospital, Lee Jung-hyun confidently stated that she is the one earning the money. While it initially sounded like a playful joke between a married couple, her extraordinary economic presence is being highlighted as the ownership structure of the hospital building, which was revealed in the past, regains attention.

On the August 8 broadcast of KBS2's 'Stars' Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant', the bickering daily life of Lee Jung-hyun and her husband Park Yoo-jung was revealed. On this day, Lee Jung-hyun completed gamjatang for her husband in just 10 minutes. Her skill in preparing food in such a short time drew admiration, but her husband's reaction was colder than expected. While evaluating it by saying, “It's delicious for 10 minutes,” he even pointed out shortcomings, saying, “It would be more delicious if sujebi (hand-torn dough soup) were added.”

Laughter erupted in the studio at the sight of the husband bluntly evaluating the food his wife prepared with sincerity. Watching this, Do Kyung-wan suddenly expressed curiosity. It was the question, “Is your husband's income high?” It was a question that could naturally arise considering the profession of her doctor husband.

However, Lee Jung-hyun's answer was unexpected. She said firmly, “No. I earn it all.” Rather than boasting about her husband's profession or income, her remark was as if she were responsible for the household's economic power. Do Kyung-wan added to the laughter by saying to her husband Park Yoo-jung, “But you are brave.” The wife's direct remark and the husband's calm acceptance showed the realistic chemistry of the couple.

However, Lee Jung-hyun's statement draws even more attention when combined with her previously revealed real estate assets. In 2023, Lee Jung-hyun purchased a hospital building located in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, for 19.44 billion won. The building is known to be the location where her husband Park Yoo-jung opened his orthopedic clinic. At the time, the ownership stake revealed in the registration was a structure where Lee Jung-hyun held 99% and her husband held 1%.

The scale of the building is also considerable. The main building extends from the 1st basement floor to the 8th floor above ground, and the annex extends from the 1st basement floor to the 5th floor above ground, with the combined scale of the two buildings known to reach approximately 1,800 pyeong. At the time of purchase, the loan amount was estimated to be approximately 16.2 billion won. While actual profits or the couple's total assets cannot be determined solely by the purchase price and ownership ratio, the ownership structure of the hospital building is a point that reveals Lee Jung-hyun's economic presence.

Lee Jung-hyun's real estate investment has not been focused on hospital buildings from the beginning. In 2017, she purchased a building in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, for 4.36 billion won, and after remodeling, sold it for 7 billion won in 2021. The simple difference between the purchase and sale price is approximately 2.64 billion won. While the actual profit will be less than this after excluding various expenses such as taxes and remodeling costs, it is clear that she showed active moves in real estate investment.

Lee Jung-hyun, who married orthopedic specialist Park Yoo-jung, who is three years younger, in 2019, is continuing her family life and entertainment activities while raising two daughters. On broadcasts, she appears as a friendly wife who evaluates her husband's cooking and mentions economic power like a joke, but looking at the revealed real estate stakes and investment history, her remarks do not sound like mere boasting. Even within the familiar combination of a doctor husband and an actress wife, economic roles and asset ownership can differ for every household. The reason Lee Jung-hyun's short remark is receiving attention again lies in that gap.

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