Park So Young enticed by 4 billion won apartment news after IVE's An Yu Jin's win

Announcer Park So Young expressed interest in housing subscriptions after being inspired by news that IVE's An Yu Jin won an apartment subscription. When asked about wealth management on a broadcast, her response—asking, “How should I go about applying for a subscription?”—brought laughter, but it also highlighted how the fervor surrounding multi-billion won new apartment subscriptions in Seoul has become a hot topic even within the entertainment industry.

On the MBC variety show "Where Is My Home" broadcast on the 3rd, Park So Young examined a country house property in Yangpyeong, near Seoul, alongside Kim Dae-ho and Yang Se-chan. The three toured mobile homes utilizing containers and shared stories about second houses and modular homes.

As the conversation shifted to wealth management, Yang Se-chan asked Park, “Are you also good at managing your finances?” comparing her to the meticulous and sharp image typical of an announcer. An unexpected answer followed. Park mentioned she recently heard the news of An Yu Jin's successful subscription and asked, “I was thinking I should apply for a subscription too, but how should I do it?”

As Yang Se-chan appeared flustered while suggesting an internet search, Yang Se-hyung stepped in to explain the subscription system. He explained that there are lottery-based and point-based systems for winning subscriptions, and in An Yu Jin's case, it was reported that she won through the lottery-based allocation. The point-based system calculates scores based on criteria such as the period of being homeless, the number of dependents, and the duration of the subscription account, with a maximum of 84 points. On the other hand, the lottery-based system is a method where applicants who meet certain qualifications are selected by drawing lots, providing opportunities to younger generations who find it difficult to secure high points, though the probability of winning varies greatly depending on the competition rate.

News of An Yu Jin's successful subscription was first revealed in July. According to the real estate industry, An Yu Jin is reported to have won a portion of the general sale via the lottery system for 'The H Bangbae' in Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. However, specific details such as the actual area of the winning unit and whether she will move in have not been officially confirmed.

'The H Bangbae' is a large-scale complex of 3,064 units created through the reconstruction of Bangbae District 5, and the premium brand 'The H' from Hyundai Engineering and Construction was applied. During the general sale in 2024, the highest sale price for a 59” unit was approximately 1.7025 billion won, and for an 84” unit, it was around 2.243 billion won. An 84” unit was traded for about 3.69 billion won last April, and the current asking price is known to be around 4 billion won. Accordingly, analysis suggests that if it is true that An Yu Jin won an 84” unit, a significant gap could exist between the sale price and the current market value.

Due to this price difference, An Yu Jin's successful subscription garnered interest beyond simple celebrity real estate news. In particular, given that lottery-based allocations existed at the time of the subscription, the possibility of entering the Kangnam area—which was perceived as a domain only for high-asset individuals or luxury home buyers—through general subscription gained renewed attention.

Park's spontaneous remark on the show, “I should apply for a subscription too,” aligns with this social atmosphere. While real estate prices and subscription systems are professional areas of finance and housing policy, they are consumed much more intuitively by the public through cases like “who won which apartment.” In particular, a celebrity's successful subscription has the effect of instantly boosting interest in the system.

However, a subscription is not a system where one can expect to win simply by possessing a subscription account. Application qualifications and winning methods vary depending on the type of housing, region, homeless status, household composition, and supply method, and after winning, significant fund-raising capabilities for down payments and intermediate payments are required. As Yang Se-hyung explained on the broadcast, the lottery-based system also requires meeting certain eligibility requirements, and the fact that it is a lottery does not mean the same possibility is given to everyone.

For Park, this scene was less about showing the image of a wealth management expert and more about revealing a common interest in contemporary housing issues in an entertaining way. Her comment about thinking, “Maybe I should try applying for a subscription too,” while observing An Yu Jin's case, shows how the reality surrounding multi-billion won apartments and public interest in the subscription system has become an everyday topic.

Ultimately, more important than the flashy figure of a "4 billion won apartment" is the structure of the subscription system behind it. As celebrity news moves beyond envy to spark genuine interest in applying, Park's blunt yet honest question humorously demonstrates that real estate and wealth management are no longer domains reserved for a select few.