Success in Real Estate Investment Brings 1.5 Billion Won in Market Profit, Contemplating How to Repay a Friend

A story about someone contemplating how to express gratitude to a friend who helped them achieve a market profit of 1.5 billion won through real estate investment has become a hot topic online.

This case showcases significant earnings thanks to a friend's advice during a time of high volatility in the real estate market while also highlighting the value of both investment success and human relationships.

On the 23rd, a post titled "Thanks to my friend, I earned 1.5 billion won. How much should I give as a congratulatory gift?" was shared on an online community.

The author, referred to as A, explained, "I returned to Korea after living abroad for a long time and had no knowledge of the real estate situation." He recounted how a friend he met shortly after returning advised him, "You need to buy a house. The prices have dropped a lot recently; if you don't buy now, it could be very difficult later." The friend encouraged him to actively purchase an apartment in the Mapo-Yongsan-Seongdong area around the winter of 2014.

Encouraged by his friend’s advice, A achieved success in real estate investment.

A recalled, "I was used to living in rentals with no thoughts of buying; but I trusted my friend who seemed reliable, so I signed the contract."

As a result, he shared, "I sold the house this time and am moving to a new place to live with my parents. Since it’s my first home, I made exactly 1.5 billion won in profit."

In particular, A emphasized the dedicated help that his friend provided when he was trying to learn about real estate.

"When I was looking into real estate, I didn’t understand much, so he took me to his house, cooked for me, made me coffee, drove me around, convinced me, and taught me. It was thanks to his sincere advice and help that this investment was possible."

Now, A is contemplating how to repay his friend upon hearing that the friend’s eldest son is getting married this fall. He mentioned, "I could give up to 100 million won as a congratulatory gift, but if I transfer it, I will have to pay taxes, right? Should I buy a gold bar and give it as a gift? Or do I have a lot of dollars that I could give in cash?" considering various options.

Thoughts on True Friendship and Ways to Repay

A noted that his friend expressed gratitude to him, saying, "Hey, you were the one who signed the contract. It could have fallen through, but it worked out, so I’m thankful." In response, A suggested, "How about I cover the interior costs for my friend's son who is buying a house in our neighboring area?"

Above all, A shared, "I feel proud to have such a friend, and I want this friend to feel that same sense of pride."

The focus is on valuing the relationship with the friend more than the economic gain obtained from the successful real estate investment.

Netizens have presented a variety of opinions regarding this story. Suggestions include, "You both have a great relationship. Give 100 million won as a congratulatory gift," "How about paying 5 million won as a congratulatory gift and giving $5,000 for the honeymoon?" and "Give a gold bar worth 10 don and around 3 million won for the wedding gift," proposing specific amounts and methods.

Additionally, some offered advice considering tax implications, such as "Up to 10 million won is tax-free. Don’t go overboard and cause your friend tax audits; repay within the legal limits," and "I’d like to gift 100 million won after taxes. If you earned 1.5 billion won because of your friend, giving him 10% wouldn’t be a waste at all."

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