In 2021, Chae Jung-an shared a video on her personal channel showing herself shopping at a luxury boutique in Yeoju Premium Outlets. Explaining the timing, she said the outlet was only about 20 minutes from the set of her drama and that filming had been delayed, unexpectedly giving her nearly five hours of free time. With a keen eye, he browsed through the designer items and picked up a jacket priced at ₩2.2 million (about $1,600), casually pointing out that it was “worth the price.” Not long after, she appeared holding several shopping bags, smiling with obvious satisfaction. Returning home, he joked: “I think I’m going to get wrinkles from smiling so much. I won’t look at my credit card bill next month.” causing laughter among the spectators.
In 2024, Chae once again surprised fans in another video by revealing luxury items purchased during a trip to Paris. He admitted, “I spent ₩10 million in just 30 minutes,” adding that although he sometimes purchases modestly, there are times when he spends without hesitation. She also spoke frankly about money, saying that big purchases motivate her to work harder to win them back and stressing that as long as it’s not reckless overspending, he sees no problem. Confidently, he noted that he earns much more than the price of the bag he bought, reinforcing his unapologetic stance on luxury consumption.
Her outspoken attitude towards shopping quickly went viral, with online posts highlighting her shopping lists with headlines like “Isn’t spending ₩10 million a day on a card really excessive?” Reactions ranged from admiration for her confidence to debates about celebrities’ drinking habits.
Chae Jung-an first debuted as a commercial model in 1995 and later gained recognition in 1999 with her debut album Heartlessalso winning a New Artist Award at the Seoul Music Awards. She became a household name after playing Han Yoo-joo in the hit drama Prince of coffee in 2007, cementing her status as a style icon and role model for many women. She married a non-famous man in 2005 but divorced after two years, subsequently focusing fully on her career.
Sources: Daum
