Lee Young-hye, Annual Revenue Grows from 48 Billion Won to Han River View Home and 400-Pyeong Headquarters Revealed [Millionaire Next Door]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Young-hye, known as the "Queen of Magazines," who acquired a struggling magazine company and grew it into a publishing house with annual revenue of 48 billion won, reveals her remarkable wealth.

On the 16th episode of EBS's 'Seo Jang-hoon's Millionaire Next Door,' Lee Young-hye, a pioneer in the magazine industry who achieved annual sales of 48 billion won, appeared as a guest. She created Korea's first home interior magazine, transforming Korean housing culture, and continued to publish magazines tailored to the times—including wedding, parenting, men's fashion, and luxury goods—making history in the magazine world. On this episode, Seo Jang-hoon and Jang Ye-won visited Lee Young-hye's home in Hannam-dong to explore her unique sense of style and philosophy of space.

At the entrance, which incorporates the five elements of Korean astrology, a dog doll was placed to invoke "the powerful energy of a male," and as befits a magazine company CEO, her favorite piece of furniture—a desk—was positioned in the center of the living room. Especially impressive was the special "double Han River view" that allows one to simultaneously overlook both the east and south sides of the Han River from a single home, drawing admiration. Lee Young-hye's dedication to the core of Korean luxury, "lacquerware," also caught attention. From a 100 million won table entirely coated in lacquer to the extensive use of lacquer throughout the kitchen and dining areas, she has perfected her own aesthetic. The headquarters building, designed by renowned architect Seung Hyo-sang, spans four buildings totaling 400 pyeong and was also revealed. Seo Jang-hoon and Jang Ye-won were visibly impressed by its unique exterior and sensory interior design reminiscent of a scene from a drama.

Lee Young-hye first entered the magazine industry in 1976, joining Korea's first design-focused magazine company with a monthly salary of 47,000 won. She took on all roles—from cleaning to printing, writing, editing, and reporting—learning the fundamentals of magazine publishing. However, the company could not survive long and fell into financial difficulties. Lee Young-hye borrowed 100 million won from her mother as wedding funds and acquired a magazine company on the verge of closure at age 27. Even after the acquisition, conditions did not improve significantly. To make matters worse, within six months, the magazine was forced to cease publication due to military-led media consolidation. Facing a dire situation, Lee Yeong-hye-neun (President) took a bold risk by personally writing letters to key figures, resulting in a dramatic turnaround with the magazine's relaunch just three months later.

Thereafter, Lee Young-hye created Korea's first home interior magazine. This publication sparked a nationwide home decoration craze and achieved profitability within eight months of its launch. A groundbreaking event that selected one home each month to be decorated free of charge became the spark for its success. Lee Young-hye recalled, "So many application letters arrived that we had to select winners under police supervision to ensure fairness," conveying the intense popularity at the time. Seo Jang-hoon remarked, "You essentially created a 'Love House' through magazines," unable to contain his admiration.

Lee Young-hye's exceptional foresight was also highlighted when she recognized Chef Sunjae of Netflix's 'Black and White: The Story of Lisa' 26 years ago. At Lee Young-hye's recommendation, Chef Sunjae published a cookbook on temple cuisine in 2000—a time when such food was unfamiliar to many—and it sold 7,000 copies within a week, becoming a bestseller. On this episode, Lee Young-hye visited Chef Sunjae personally, enjoying summer delicacies including watermelon tea and shiitake mushroom Naengmyeon prepared by the chef, reflecting on their 26-year bond.

The two also shared humorous exchanges over the years, bringing laughter to viewers. When Lee Young-hye said, "I envy you, monk, because you don't have to worry about your hairstyle or clothes," Chef Sunjae replied, "I do care about those things too," expressing his frustration. Lee Young-hye's efforts in sharing culture and art also drew attention. She offers her Hanok villa located in Seoul's Bukchon neighborhood as a free exhibition space for young artists and shares the beauty of Hanok with more people through 'Open House' events. In 2006, she invested 5 billion won to construct the eco-friendly "Paper Museum," which received widespread praise for offering free admission. Finally, Lee Young-hye expressed her wish to be remembered as someone who is truly needed by others, stating, "A person who is needed by others is a 'real rich person'."

Meanwhile, 'Seo Jang-hoon's Millionaire Next Door' airs every Wednesday at 9:55 PM.

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*This content was translated by AI.