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How rich is Red Velvet’s Wendy? The Dolce & Gabbana-wearing K-pop star grew up in the super-affluent Seoul neighbourhood Parasite made famous and went to an exclusive Canadian school – but you’d never know it

She has worked hard to earn her own fortune, but Wendy’s wealthy lifestyle preceded Red Velvet’s success. Photo: @todayis_wendy/Instagram
She has worked hard to earn her own fortune, but Wendy’s wealthy lifestyle preceded Red Velvet’s success. Photo: @todayis_wendy/Instagram
K-pop idols

Red Velvet’s Joy once joked about the ‘50 rooms’ in bandmate Wendy’s Canadian family home, but despite her success, the humble Bad Boy singer hasn’t yet bought her own home, instead donating her money to charity

Red Velvet’s Wendy may have been born into a rich family, but she is known to keep a low profile when it comes to spending her money. Since the Korean girl group’s debut in 2014, fans have praised Wendy and her co-members for not buying fancy cars and large houses, and instead donating a portion of their earnings to worthwhile causes – especially those who were affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.

This past Christmas, Wendy made the most of her time off by spending it with her loved ones. But on Christmas Eve, she unwittingly revealed a glimpse of her wealth, when she shared an Instagram story of her festive dinner; the table was laid with fruit salad, roasted meat, creamy mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables and a glass of wine.

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But it’s not the meal that eagle-eyed fans noticed; it was tableware from Russian brand Lomonosov that caught their attention. The embellished plates were from the Cobalt Net range, and the full set costs US$1,470.

So, aside from her decadent dinnerware, what other signs point to Wendy’s affluence, and how else does she spend her money on?

She was born in Seongbuk-dong, a wealthy neighbourhood in South Korea that you just might recognise

A typically swish house in Seoul’s Seongbuk-dong Photo: Joel Sanders for Charmaine
A typically swish house in Seoul’s Seongbuk-dong Photo: Joel Sanders for Charmaine

Wendy was born in Seongbuk-dong, known as South Korea’s Beverly Hills. The area was once owned by royals during the lengthy Joseon dynasty, and is now favoured by wealthy families, actors, politicians, and diplomats. Rent is estimated to be around US$12,000.

You might recognise Seongbuk-dong as one of the principle shooting locations of the Oscar-winning movie Parasite – the glamorous mansion of the Parks was clearly inspired by the affluent neighbourhood.

She attended top-notch schools