Many fans know that the BTS members moved into their own homes around 2020 after spending nearly a decade living together in the group's dormitory. Since 2018, кσяєαn media have repeatedly made headlines by reporting on BTS members' real estate purchases, as many of these high-profile transactions were reportedly paid for entirely in cash rather than financed through bank loans—a testament to the group's enormous wealth.
In fans' minds, the members are αѕѕociated with owning luxury homes in some of Seoul's most prestigious residential complexes, including Hannam The Hill, The Penthouse Cheongdam, and AFER Hangang Penthouse. Jungkook, meanwhile, moved into a garden villa in Itaewon last year, a property he reportedly purchased back in 2020. However, a recent report from кσяєαn media has revealed soмєтнing quite different from what many fans had αѕѕumed: SUGA still hasn't bought a home.
In the article titled "Why BTS' SUGA Chose to Invest in Space Instead of Buying Buildings as SpaceX Soared 40x on Its Listing Day," published on the 24th of this month, Segye Ilbo reported that SUGA currently resides in the ultra-luxury apartment complex Nine One Hannam under a jeonse lease with a deposit of approximately ₩8 billion KRW (about $5.9 million USD).
Jeonse is a unique and widely used housing system in South кσяєα. Instead of paying monthly rent, tenants provide the landlord with a large lump-sum deposit, typically equivalent to 40–80% of the property's value. Throughout the lease period, tenants are only responsible for maintenance fees and living expenses, while the full deposit is returned at the end of the contract, provided there are no issues.
In reality, this isn't a new lifestyle choice for SUGA. Since moving out of BTS' dorm around 2020, the rapper has consistently chosen to live under the jeonse system rather than purchasing a permanent residence. November 2018 marked the only known occasion when SUGA reportedly purchased an apartment, buying a unit in UN Village for approximately ₩3.4 billion KRW. However, by November 2021, he had moved into Parc Hannam under a jeonse contract with a deposit of around ₩9.5 billion KRW (about $6.8 million USD), before relocating to Nine One Hannam in May 2023.
During a conversation with Epik High, SUGA himself confirmed that he had moved to Nine One Hannam and even revealed that his next-door neighbor is fellow BTS member Jimin.
As for why the BTS superstar has continued choosing jeonse instead of purchasing an apartment like most of the other members, Segye Ilbo argued that the answer lies in his αѕѕet management philosophy. Rather than tying up a significant portion of his wealth in real estate, SUGA is said to prioritize maintaining liquidity so he can quickly seize investment opportunities in global markets. Living under the jeonse system allows him to enjoy a luxury residence in one of Seoul's most exclusive neighborhoods without locking most of his capital into a fixed αѕѕet.
According to the article, this strategy is best illustrated by SUGA's reported investment in SpaceX while the company was still privately held, sometime before 2022. Based on analysts' αѕѕessments cited by the newspaper, that investment is now believed to have the potential to generate returns of up to 40 times its original value. Instead of purchasing high-end apartments in Gangnam or commercial buildings and taking on the αѕѕociated financial costs, SUGA has chosen a more flexible investment strategy focused on capital efficiency and long-term value.
Beyond his investment philosophy, кσяєαn media also pointed to several practical reasons behind SUGA's decision. Given BTS' demanding schedule, the members spend much of their time in recording studios, hotels, or traveling on world tours, making homeownership less of an immediate priority. In addition, living under jeonse gives SUGA the opportunity to experience different homes and neighborhoods before eventually deciding where he truly wants to settle down.
The article further argues that SUGA's investment philosophy mirrors the way he has built his music career: patiently pursuing long-term value rather than chasing short-term results. He is well known for personally handling highly technical aspects of music production, including MIDI programming, harmony, and meticulous mixing adjustments. His commitment to his own standards—rather than simply following market trends—has played a key role in his global success in both music and investing.
Ultimately, the article concludes that, for SUGA, investing is more than just a way to grow his wealth. It is another way of expressing his philosophy of life in the physical world—much like composing a song, only this time with investment decisions instead of musical notes!
