By Jae-Ha Kim
Kocowa.com
August 6, 2020
Stars, they’re just like us in many ways. Sure, they may be better looking than we are and earn more money than us. But many come from humble backgrounds and keep an eye on where their cash is going. For instance, actress Keira Knightley may rake in millions for her film projects, but she tries to keep her personal expenditures at around $50,000 per year. Two-time Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank utilizes coupons, as does “Frozen” actress Kristen Bell. And then there’s internationally famous investor Warren Buffett, whose net worth hovers around $70 billion. Instead of purchasing mansions and Lamborghinis, he resides in the same modest Nebraska home that he purchased in 1958 for $31,000. (In today’s adjusted market, the house is valued at $275,000.)
South Koreans are no different when it comes to enjoying a good deal. This doesn’t mean they’re cheap. But what it does indicate is that they understand the value of hard-earned money.
Kim Tae-Hyung (BTS‘ V):
The BTS superstar made a cameo appearance on his friend, Choi Woo-Shik‘s reality show, “Summer Vacation.” Park Seo-Joon was that week’s guest star and he and Choi did a videochat with their friend. After exchanging pleasantries and wishing he could be there, too, V made his friends crack up by saying — with a complete poker face — that Choi still needed to return his kimchi container. Mind you, V is a multi-millionaire who could afford to buy as many kimchi containers as he wanted. But, having grown up frugal and knowing the value of money, V wasn’t about to let a perfectly good container go to waste.
Where to find him on KOCOWA: “Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth” and a whole slew of music and variety show appearances that KOCOWA has curated here.
In the United States, commuters are surprised when they see A-list stars such as Keanu Reeves riding the subway. Clearly he has enough money to hire a driver to take him where ever he needs to go. But he has always been down to earth. Same thing for Park Bo-Gum, who has been seen minding his own business as he utilizes public transportation. Of course, it helps that fellow passengers have been respectful of giving him his space, which may be one reason he does what he does.
Where to find him on KOCOWA: “Love in the Moonlight,” “Music Bank in Jakarta,” “Music Bank in Singapore,” “Yu Huiyeol’s Sketchbook”
One of Korea’s most well-respected idols and actresses, IU looks good in whatever her stylists put on her — whether it’s the glamorous outfits she wore on “Hotel del Luna” or the shabby clothes she wore in “My Ajusshi.” This may explain why she doesn’t wear head-to-toe designer clothes like some celebrities. IU, who has always donated a good chunk of her personal wealth to charity, always looks like a million bucks, whether she’s wearing a designer garment or $50 shoes and a modestly-priced $20 blouse.
Where to find her on KOCOWA: “Dream High,” “Dream High 2” (cameo), “The Producers,” “Bel Ami,” “You are the Best”
On Episode 512 of “Running Man,” the cast members congratulated Song Ji-Hyo on the success of her film, “Intruder.” They said they happily paid $11 to watch the film on a streaming service. (The film was originally slated for a theatrical release, but the plan was amended to include streaming services due to the coronavirus pandemic). But Kim Jong-Kook said he’d wait to watch it when the movie was older and the price was reduced to $5. Was he joking? Probably. But Kim is known for being sensible and taking care of his finances. His theory is why waste money when you don’t have to?
Where to find him on KOCOWA: “Running Man,” “My Little Old Boy,” “The Producers”
One of South Korea’s most handsome leading men, Jung Hae-In is probably most famous internationally for playing the younger man in a relationship (“Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food,” “One Spring Night”). In his travel documentary series “Jung Hae-In’s Travel Log,” we see him on his first trip to New York City. Unaccustomed to how U.S. restaurants operate, he asks his sever if the oyster crackers that come with his meal are part of the “service.” In Korea, that equates to “on the house” (or a freebie). Delighted that it is, he takes his little packets home with him along with his leftovers (a small amount of sweet potato fries), just in case he gets hungry later that evening. When a couple of his friends later join him on the trip, he fills to-go containers with hot coffee (made with coffee sticks he brought from Korea) so that they don’t have to stop at a cafe for beverages or spend extra money.
Where to find him on KOCOWA: “While You Were Sleeping,” “Jung Hae-In’s Travel Log,” “Blood,” “Bears”
After meaty roles in “Itaewon Class” and “Her Private Life,” Ahn Bo-Hyun’s career is on the rise. He’ll be seen next in the MBC K-Drama “Kairos,” which is slated for release later this year. But he’s talked often of how he couldn’t have survived in Seoul after leaving his family’s home in Busan if he hadn’t pinched pennies early on. About 10 years ago, he bought his dream car. It wasn’t a sports vehicle and it wasn’t new. But it was something that he put money and elbow grease into every chance he had. It’s more than just a car, but something he has customized to double as a camper for his regular camping trips. He’ll park his vehicle at a rest stop and cook his own ramen. At home, he has gotten into the habit of prepping his food in the morning, putting rice and banchan into individual containers that can be consumed throughout the day. An athlete and a former model, Ahn knows the importance of keeping himself in shape and saving a few bucks along the way.
Where to find him on KOCOWA: “Home Alone,” “Running Man”
