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

May 28 , 2021

Twice’s Tzuyu and Mina, and 2PM’s Nichkhun. Photos: JYP Entertainment, @nkhunnie.2pm/Instagram

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.

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Twice’s Tzuyu

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.

Twice’s Mina

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.

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Gfriend’s Umji

Umji’s father is a dentist who founded a hugely successful chain practice that has opened 43 branches around South Korea. According to Koreaboo, she famously used her parents’ credit card – with their blessing, of course! – to treat her bandmates to meals during their trainee days when the group didn’t have much of a budget.

Enhypen’s Jake

Not only is he the rookie idol on this list, Jake is also the youngest, being born in 2002. Although his family is Korean, he was born in Brisbane. He had a privileged upbringing, studying at St. Peters Lutheran College and honing his musical skills. His parents also paid for him to attend an international school in Seoul after he moved to Korea for his training and debut – the tuition at Dwight School Seoul costs about US$27,000 per year.

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2PM’s Nichkhun

Nichkhun is one of the OG rich kids of K-pop, debuting back in 2008 when rich idols were apparently uncommon. He gained the nickname Thai Prince in South Korea – not only for his princely, gentle looks, but also for his family background. His mother, Yenchit Horvejkul, is the CEO of Union Medical in Thailand, a leading pharmaceutical distributor. He attended Wanganui Collegiate School in New Zealand before his debut, which British royal Prince Edward famously attended.

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K-pop idols

Some Korean stars, like BTS’ Suga and IU, come from modest backgrounds – while others lived in the lap of luxury before their trainee days
The mum of 2PM’s Nichkhun, nicknamed ‘Thai Prince’, is a pharmaceuticals CEO while the dad of Gfriend’s Umji heads up a Korean dental clinic chain