South Korean entrepreneur Song Ja-ho recently revisited memories of his high school years in the United States, mentioning an unexpected bond with Annie of the group AllDay Project, a member of the prominent Shinsegae family.
In a video uploaded last month to his YouTube channel titled “A Gathering of Third Generation Korean Chaebol Heirs (Real Review)” Song shared stories from his time as an international student. During a casual teatime conversation, he mentioned Annie, who has attracted attention since her debut due to her background as the granddaughter of Lee Myung-hee, president of Shinsegae Group, and Chung Yoo-kyung’s eldest daughter.
Song explained that while attending high school in the United States, Korean international students often knew each other even if they didn’t go to the same school. He remembered being part of a close circle that included Annie, where they occasionally gathered for meals. At the time, he said, there were no indications that Annie was preparing for an idol career, even though many students already knew about her family background through word of mouth.
Reflecting on those days, Song noted that although Annie came from one of Korea’s most powerful merchant families, she lived modestly as a student. He jokingly compared himself to the children of medium-sized business families, saying that they were often the ones who spent the most money during their school years. “I usually paid for the meals” he said, adding it “True third-generation chaebol heirs actually don’t have much money to spend as students.”
He also shared a lighthearted anecdote involving a pair of newly released AirPods at the time. Despite the relatively affordable price, he remembered Annie being hesitant to buy them. “He jokingly asked me, ‘Oppa, can’t you buy them for me?’” Song said, adding that he thought to himself, “He who really has everything can be even more careful.”
Annie has since entered the spotlight as a member of the AllDay Project, attracting public interest not only for her artistic pursuits but also for her lineage within the Shinsegae conglomerate. Meanwhile, Song, the eldest grandson of late Dongwon Construction chairman Song Seung-heon, remained a controversial public figure. He previously dated former KARA member Park Gyuri for about two years before their breakup in 2021. He later faced legal troubles, including charges related to drunk driving and alleged violations of capital market laws related to cryptocurrency ventures.
The resurfaced story has sparked an online discussion about the perception of wealth and frugality among Korea’s elite families, as netizens debate whether the image of “quiet luxury” it reflects genuine modesty or simply a different kind of privilege.
Sources: Nate News
