BTS in general, and j-hope in particular, started owning multiple properties since 2018, when they began achieving mαѕѕive success both domestically and internationally. However, in reality, j-hope had ventured into real estate much earlier, starting in 2016 with his first apartment at Trimage, though this information only became widely known a few years later.

In the following years, not only did j-hope gain global fame as a rapper and dancer of BTS, but he also became known as one of the "idol billionaires" owning a significant portfolio of real estate αѕѕets. He repeatedly attracted attention when he made hefty cash purchases of luxury apartments in some of the most prestigious areas in Seoul, such as Seongsu-dong and Yongsan.

Regarding j-hope's two properties in Trimage (Seongsu-dong), one apartment with an area of 84㎡ was bought 9 years ago for around 13 billion won. The other, with an area of 152㎡, was purchased in October 2018 for 37 billion won.

In June 2020, he bought two apartments at Afer Hangang: one 273㎡ unit for 120 billion won and another 232㎡ unit for approximately 100 billion won – all paid in cash. Based on the purchase prices, the total value of the real estate j-hope currently holds is estimated to be around 270 billion won – a sum that commands much admiration.

However, recently, j-hope seems to have started to restructure his valuable real estate portfolio due to the impact of new tax regulations. Specifically, it has been confirmed that in March of this year, the idol sold the first luxury apartment he bought at Trimage for 40 billion won.

The original sale price at the time of distribution was between 12.56 billion won and 13.57 billion won, and since he did not take out any loans to make the purchase, the estimated net profit from the transaction is around 27 billion won. After paying approximately 10.42 billion won in capital gains tax, the actual profit J-Hope made is estimated to be around 16.5 billion won – a significant sum that could be reinvested.

Experts say that j-hope's decision is reasonable at this time because, according to current income tax laws, capital gains tax for property owners with multiple real estates is increased by 6-45% based on the number of properties. Specifically, for those owning 3 or more properties, the tax rate can increase by an additional 20-30%.

However, until May next year, the South кσяєαn government has postponed the increase in tax rates for property owners with multiple homes. Therefore, j-hope will only face the 45% tax rate on the portion of income exceeding 100 million won.

Although j-hHope sold one of his Trimage apartments in March, the transfer of ownership to the new buyer was only completed after June 1 – the date used to calculate annual taxes – meaning the BTS rapper still had to pay taxes for all four properties. It is predicted that the total property tax he will need to pay in 2025 will be approximately 48.9 billion won.

If j-hope does not purchase additional properties, his tax liability in 2026 is expected to decrease due to owning only three properties. Based on the announced property values this year, the tax for the following year is estimated to be 40 billion won. Selling the least expensive property in his portfolio could significantly reduce this tax burden, equivalent to the annual salary of an employee at a large corporation.

On the other hand, the announced values used for tax calculations may rise next year, and the government is considering raising the market value ratio from 60% to 80%, meaning the actual tax burden could increase further.

Thus, j-hope's decision to sell some of his real estate, rather than bearing the tax burden and waiting for the right time to resell under heavy taxation, is a smart and strategic move. A tax law expert, who requested anonymity, said, “I’ve advised many wealthy people who own luxury properties, but I’ve never seen such a high tax burden. Even though he will still have three properties after the sale, reducing from four to three will still alleviate the tax burden somewhat.”

The expert added, “Owning four luxury properties, with two of them in the same complex, is not a reasonable choice from an investment or tax perspective. Therefore, even though j-hope made a profit from selling the apartment, it seems that the decision was driven more by a lack of personal use for the property than by a goal to reduce taxes or increase investment returns.”