A new ultra-exclusive South Korean social club with an annual membership fee of KRW 1 billion (approximately $734,290) is making headlines—not just for its eye-watering cost, but also for its rumored membership criteria that could exclude crypto traders.
According to a report from the Kookmin Ilbo, DYAD Cheongdam, located in Seoul’s affluent Cheongdam neighborhood, is scheduled to open in summer 2026. While the club has not formally disclosed its admission standards, a journalist who toured the facility wrote:
“Not everyone with money can join the club. DYAD has not disclosed its specific criteria for membership. However, it is known that people with an excessive number of tattoos or people who have made money from trading cryptocurrency may have a hard time joining.”
Crypto Traders May Not Be Welcome at DYAD
The report emphasized that individuals who might “damage the club’s image” are unlikely to be accepted. Membership is reportedly limited to those between the ages of 19 and 60, and applicants must secure letters of recommendation from two existing members.
DYAD describes itself as South Korea’s “first high-end members’ club” and aims to offer a blend of business and leisure experiences. According to its website, the club is designed for people who want to share their “vision and taste with a small group of attractive people.”
Inspired by the World’s Elite Clubs
DYAD has reportedly modeled itself after renowned global private clubs, citing inspirations like the Core Club in New York and London’s Soho House. The club’s facilities will include advanced fitness and meditation programs, a “biohacking lab,” and luxurious business meeting spaces.
A Kookmin Ilbo journalist noted that the club’s kitchen alone includes custom fixtures costing KRW 100 million (about $73,000) per unit. Over 100 people have already signed up ahead of the official opening, the report said.
Park Ae-jung, head of DYAD’s marketing and public relations, confirmed:
“Our members include businesspeople, startup CEOs, and people from the worlds of culture and the arts. We have selected some customers and contacted them first. But there are also people who heard about it through acquaintances and reached out themselves.”
South Korea’s Casa Cipriani—But Much More Expensive
The club reportedly aspires to become the “Casa Cipriani of South Korea,” referencing the upscale New York social club known for its celebrity members including Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds, and John Legend. However, DYAD’s membership fee dwarfs Casa Cipriani’s annual $5,000 cost.
A recent survey from financial group KEB Hana found that over half of South Koreans have engaged in crypto trading. Despite the growing popularity of digital assets, it seems that crypto wealth may not carry the same social capital within elite circles—at least not at DYAD.
