"Real-Life Elite League?" Ultra-Luxury Apartments Maple Xi and One Bailey Residents’ Exchange Event Draws Attention

Mixed Reactions to Ultra-Luxury Apartment Exchange

Resident-Only Access Lifted for Invitational Event

The residents of Maple Xi and Raemian One Bailey, both of which are renowned for being among the most expensive newly built apartment complexes in Seocho-gu, Seoul, have sparked online discussion by holding a sports exchange event.

According to the JoongAng Ilbo on May 16, the "Maple Xi × One Bailey Resident Unity Sports Event" was held at the sports facilities within Maple Xi in Seocho-gu, Seoul. The event was organized to mark the first anniversary of residents moving into Maple Xi, which began occupancy in June of last year, and nearby Raemian One Bailey residents were invited. Raemian One Bailey is a landmark new apartment complex in the Banpo area, completed in August 2023.

A view of Raemian One Bailey in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

Both complexes are considered "flagship apartments" in the South Korean real estate market. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s official transaction disclosure system, the highest transaction price for an 84-square-meter unit in Raemian One Bailey was 7.2 billion won, which translates to approximately 230 million won per 3.3 square meters. Maple Xi has also seen units of the same size sell for up to 5.6 billion won, or about 210 million won per 3.3 square meters.

The event took place in the gymnasium and auxiliary facilities within the Maple Xi community center. Residents from both complexes competed in three friendly matches: screen golf, table tennis, and basketball. Participants for the screen golf event were recruited on a first-come, first-served basis, while table tennis players were selected from the resident clubs of each complex. The basketball match was held for elementary and middle school students from both complexes who attend external basketball academies.

Normally, the internal sports facilities at Maple Xi require facial recognition for resident access, but on the day of the event, they were opened to One Bailey residents. The basketball games started at 9 a.m., and more than 60 spectators gathered at each venue to cheer on the participants. Residents wore stickers with their apartment complex names on their shirts and enthusiastically supported the athletes.

Image of Sinbanpo Maple Xi Sky Infinity by GS Construction. The Asia Business Daily DB

The event, which brought together residents of ultra-high-priced apartments, attracted significant attention on online communities and social networking services (SNS) even before it was held. Some online users likened it to the apartment version of the famous Korea-Yonsei rivalry games, debating whether it should be called the "One-Me Match" or "Me-One Match," and commenting that "both property values and athletic performance are like the Premier League." However, there was also a fair amount of criticism. Some users remarked, "It really feels like a league just for them," "It seems like a class culture is forming even among apartment complexes," "It's disheartening to see even children's events being consumed in terms of property value," and "A friendly sports match among residents of apartments costing 2 billion won per pyeong feels surreal." There were also positive reactions, with other users saying, "It's good to see neighboring complexes interacting through sports," "It's much healthier than drinking parties or show-off gatherings," "If it's an event for children to play together, there's nothing bad about it," and "It can be seen as a new resident culture utilizing community facilities."

The event took place at the gymnasium and auxiliary facilities within the Maplezi Community Center. Residents of both complexes participated in friendly matches in three sports: screen golf, table tennis, and basketball. The photo shows the interior of Maplezi. Photo by The Asia Business Daily Database

This is not the first time that community activities among residents of ultra-luxury apartments have become a hot topic. Previously, Raemian One Bailey formed a matchmaking club for residents' children in 2023, known as the "Raemian One Bailey Marriage Information Club," or "Wongyeolhoe," which attracted both interest and controversy. The club later became a corporation named "One Bailey Nobility," and it is now reportedly open for membership even to those who are not owners or residents of the complex. As the range of community culture centered around high-end apartment complexes diversifies, the recent sports exchange has also sparked mixed reviews—some see it as a "resident unity event," while others view it as a "symbolic scene exposing wealth inequality."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.