The country’s most expensive apartment of the year was not located in the wealthy Gangnam district but in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. It is in the Galleria Foret complex built by Hanwha Engineering & Construction.
A 241-square-meter Galleria Foret apartment was sold for 4.4 billion won ($4.1 million) in September, a private real estate information provider revealed Monday.
“The apartment has great views that overlook Seoul Forest and the Hangang River, and comes with great facilities and you-know-who neighbors,” said a realtor promoting the apartment.
Built on a 17,500-square-meter tract of land, Galleria Foret has 45 stories aboveground and seven stories underground, with 230 homes.
The underground levels house commercial and fitness facilities.
Three other Galleria Foret homes that were sold in the same January-October period were one 217- and three 218-square-meter units, at asking prices between 3.9 billion won and 4.1 billion won.
The apartments have maintained the highest asking price for two consecutive years since 2012. Last year’s most expensive apartment was a 271-square-meter Galleria Foret home, sold at 5.4 billion won.
Galleria Foret was constructed in July 2011 by Hanwha Engineering & Construction. The interior design and landscaping were led by French architect Jean Nouvel and Italian landscape architect Massio Venturi Ferriolo, respectively.
The second-most expensive apartment in the country this year was Tower Palace in Dogok-dong in the Gangnam district. A 244-square-meter apartment was sold at slightly under 4.3 billion won in May.
Mark Hills in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, and Samsung I-PARK placed third and fourth in the real estate price ranking.
Tower Palace boasted the highest asking price in 2011 and I-PARK in 2010.
