Broadcaster Seo Jang-hoon dismissed rumors of a 2 trillion won fortune during an October 9 appearance on the SBS entertainment program, clarifying that he owns three buildings while detailing a frugal lifestyle centered on modest personal spending and accumulated player earnings.
Addressing the Rumors Surrounding Real Estate and Wealth
Rumors regarding an astronomical fortune have followed Seo Jang-hoon across his broadcasting career, largely stemming from entertainment show banter. During the October 9 broadcast of the SBS TV variety show, Seo addressed the speculation head-on.
The discussion started when Kim Kwang-kyu jokingly asked if his assets reached the hundreds of billions of won. Seo pushed back immediately against the exaggeration, explaining how a lighthearted remark on the JTBC program Knowing Bros by Kim Hee-chul eventually ballooned into a widespread 2 trillion won rumor.
Heechul Kim’s variety show project was inflated to 2 trillion won. I looked into it and found that only 35 people in the country have 2 trillion won. What could I possibly do to earn 2 trillion. Five or six out of a hundred people actually believe it.
Seo Jang-hoon, via Sportalkorea
While dismissing the exaggerated internet lore, Seo confirmed his actual real estate footprint consists of three buildings. Broadcast mentions place these assets in Seoul’s Heukseok-dong in Dongjak District and Seogyo-dong in Mapo District, alongside another property currently put on the market.
Building Wealth Through Basketball Earnings and Parental Saving
The foundation of Seo’s financial portfolio dates back to his days as a professional basketball player. When Kim Kwang-kyu asked about the secret to becoming wealthy, Seo credited his parents with managing his professional income rather than any complex investment strategy.
I didn’t spend what I earned as a player at home. So I was able to keep saving it intact. So when I just saved what I earned, it accumulated and grew a little more. That seems to be the most important thing.
Seo Jang-hoon, via Chosunbiz
Rather than chasing speculative investments, Seo relied on steady accumulation. His parents’ disciplined handling of his earnings during his playing career created the core capital that allowed him to purchase and hold real estate in the capital city over the long term.
During the same broadcast of the SBS variety program Anything for You – Secretaries
—also referred to as My Grumpy Secretary
or My Genie Secretary
—Seo discussed his extensive television workload. He noted that he maintains as many as eight fixed entertainment programs. Among these, his long-running roles on My Little Old Boy
and “Knowing Broshave continued for nearly ten years, while his appearance on
Same Bed, Different Dreams” is also approaching its tenth year.
Seo Jang-Hoon Maintains an Austere Personal Lifestyle
Despite owning multiple properties, Seo maintains a remarkably austere personal lifestyle. When questioned about his daily expenditures, he noted that personal spending remains minimal.
Seo Jang-hoon stated that aside from monthly food delivery fees, he does not spend on himself, and even if he wants to buy clothes, he only buys them if they fit. He added that he saves on almost everything.
That frugality extends to utility management, with Seo noting he actively cuts down on electricity bills, drawing comparisons to fellow broadcaster Lee Seo-jin. Kim Kwang-kyu responded to these revelations by remarking that it is reassuring to have two wealthy mentors and figures taking care of them.