Former national rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae / Captured from Instagram

Former national rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae bought a luxury single-family home in Itaewon-dong, Seoul, for 7.2 billion won ($5.2 million) in joint ownership with her husband, the Maeil Economic Daily said, citing real estate industry sources.

Son acquired the home in November last year, with the purchase price per square meter amounting to 53 million won.

The purchase, made entirely in cash without bank loans, was completed with the ownership transfer on April 30.

The single-family home is situated near Gyeongnidan-gil and is currently used as an embassy. The area is known for its high concentration of embassies, offering excellent privacy, security and a pleasant living environment.

The neighborhood is also home to several celebrities, including comedians Park Myung-soo and Park Na-rae.

Chung Myung-chul, a real estate agent, said, "Itaewon-dong is a highly desirable area for luxury residences due to its southern exposure, elevated terrain and views of the Han River and city skyline. It is considered a prime location for its feng shui, with Mount Nam to the north and the Han River to the south."

He said that given that recent housing transactions in the area since 2022 have been priced at around 50 million won per square meter, the purchase price for Son Yeon-Jae and her husband can be considered "reasonable."

Son is a former national rhythmic gymnast who achieved international acclaim, finishing fifth in the individual all-around at the 2012 London Olympics and fourth at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

After retiring in 2017, she transitioned into a rhythmic gymnastics coach, nurturing young talent and has remained active through television appearances and gala shows.

This article is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.