5 K-pop idols who grew up rich before finding fame, from Twice’s Tzuyu and Mina to Enhypen’s Jake and Gfriend’s Umji

Sure, being a K-pop idol guarantees that you’ll live in the lap of luxury – if you can make it, that is. But that’s a very big “if”. Many trainees practise their youth away without a day of rest, and some even drop out and end up with massive debts to their agencies. While some idols come from modest backgrounds, these five singers gave up cushy, privileged lifestyles to slog away at chasing their showbiz dreams.

Hailing from Taiwan, Tzuyu was famously born into a family of businesspeople. Her parents made their mark in Tainan with success in the night market business, later investing their riches into hospitals. Her mother heads up several large-scale plastic surgery clinics and cafes too.

While Mina is often called a princess by fans for her elegant, pampered looks, her upbringing might have something to do with the nickname too. Her father, Akira Myoui, is a famous hospital surgeon and professor in her native Japan. Her family’s wealth allowed her to train as a ballerina for years until she decided to move to Korea to become a singer. She also attended one of the top private schools in Osaka, Obayashi Sacred Heart.