Jang Won-young: From teen idol to owner of $9.3 million mansion

Jang Won-young – a member of the group IVE – just bought a villa worth 13.7 billion won at the age of 21. From a young trainee, she has become a symbol of beauty, talent and wealth of the Korean Gen Z idol generation.

The beginning of a "future goddess"

Jang Won-young was born on August 31, 2004, in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea. She is the youngest of two children and attended School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA), majoring in practical music. From a young age, Won-young showed artistic talent and outstanding appearance with outstanding height. At the age of 12, she was discovered by a Starship Entertainment casting agent at a family event and quickly became a trainee.

With an impressive height (currently 1m73), a small face, big round eyes and an elegant aura, Won-young was considered a "potential visual" from the very first days of entering the entertainment industry. She once shared that she had no intention of becoming an idol since childhood, but an unexpected opportunity opened up a whole new path.

Shining at 14: Produce 48 and IZ*ONE

In 2018, at the age of 14, Jang Won-young participated in the survival show Produce 48 – a joint project between Korea and Japan to find a global girl group. Right from the first episodes, she made a strong impression on the audience thanks to her outstanding appearance, confident stage presence and outstanding performance skills compared to her age.

Throughout the show, she consistently ranked high in the audience's poll. In the end, Won-young won first place and became the center of the project group IZ*ONE. This was a historic milestone, as she was the youngest center in the history of groups coming out of the Produce series.

IZ*ONE quickly achieved great success in both Korea and Japan, with hits such as "La Vie en Rose", "Violeta", "Fiesta" and "Panorama". In the group, Won-young takes on the role of visual, center and is one of the most prominent members in terms of media.

After IZ*ONE: Rebirth with IVE

After IZ*ONE disbanded in April 2021, many were concerned that the members would have difficulty maintaining their popularity. However, Jang Won-young quickly returned as a member of the new group IVE – a project with a large investment from Starship Entertainment.

IVE debuted in December 2021 with the song "ELEVEN" and immediately created a fever. With a youthful lineup, trendy style and smart communication strategy, the group quickly became one of the typical representatives of the 4th generation. Jang Won-young continues to take on the position of center, visual and representative face of the group.

Subsequent hits such as "LOVE DIVE", "After Like", "Kitsch" and "I AM" all achieved impressive results on domestic and international charts. IVE was not only a commercial success but also highly appreciated for its consistent musical style and image.

Gen Z beauty and fashion icons

Not only famous in music, Jang Won-young is also the representative face of many big brands such as Miu Miu, Innisfree, SK Telecom, Hapa Kristin, Fred Paris... She often appears on the cover of famous fashion magazines such as Vogue Korea, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, W Korea and becomes a fashion icon for young people.

Won-young's style is considered elegant, feminine but still modern and individual. She is known as a "living doll" thanks to her perfect body proportions and luxurious aura. Many fashion experts believe that she is one of the idols with the greatest potential to reach the international market in the fields of fashion and advertising.

Million dollar villa and impressive assets

In November 2025, Korean media reported that Jang Won-young had just bought a villa worth 13.7 billion won (about 9.3 million USD) in the UN Village area - one of the most luxurious residential areas in Seoul. The 244 m² apartment in the Lucid House building, with views of the Han River and Namsan Mountain, is equipped with a 24/7 security system and a private elevator for each unit. This was also the residence of actress Kim Tae Hee before marrying Bi Rain.

Owning luxury real estate at the age of 21 not only reflects the huge income from advertising, music and fashion, but also shows the maturity in Won-young's financial thinking. She is currently one of the Gen Z idols with the highest brand value in Korea, regularly ranking at the top of the media value rankings announced by the Korean Business Research Institute.

MC, ambassador, and role model

In addition to her role as a singer, Won-young has also tried her hand in many other fields. From 2021 to 2023, she took on the role of permanent MC for KBS's music program Music Bank. With her natural hosting style, standard pronunciation and professional demeanor, she received many compliments from the audience and experts.

In addition, she is also a brand ambassador for many campaigns promoting Korean culture, contributing to spreading the positive image of Gen Z idols: young, talented, versatile and influential.

Dealing with pressure and controversy

Despite her enviable career, Jang Won-young has not been immune to controversy. She has been criticized for her "overly dramatic" and "unnatural" stage presence, or for being overly favored by her company, leaving other members overshadowed. Some even say she is "pretty but lacking depth."

However, over time, Won-young gradually proved herself not only as a "visual" but also as a serious artist. She continuously improved her singing and dancing skills and showed maturity in her performance style. In particular, she always kept a calm attitude and did not react negatively to criticism, which helped her image become more and more loved.

The future of an "all-round idol"

Now, at 21, Jang Won-young has almost everything it takes to be an “all-round idol”: beauty, talent, fame, influence, and a clean image. She is a typical representative of the Gen Z idol generation – those who are not only active in music but also expand into fashion, media, and popular culture.

With the current development momentum, experts predict that Won-young will continue to be one of the leading faces of the Hallyu wave in the next decade. Although the road ahead is long and full of challenges, but with the courage and professionalism shown from very early on, Jang Won-young can completely become an international pop culture icon.

Jang Won Young talks about getting married at the age of 21, revealing her ideal husband's "taste" Hoàng Phúc13:33:37 03/09/2025When asked about the ideal role model, the IVE beauty revealed that she likes men with solid bodies: If someone has a strong physique, it proves that they know how to take care of themselves and have a habit of doing so.