Housing

Where to search

Most foreigners start with one of three apps: Zigbang, Dabang, or Naver Real Estate. To verify a listing isn't above market, cross-check actual recorded prices on the government's MOLIT Real Estate Transaction Price portal. For English-speaking help with contracts and disputes, the Seoul Global Center offers free counseling.

Types of rental contracts

월세 (Wolse) — monthly rent

Closest to what most foreigners are used to: a deposit (보증금) plus monthly rent. Deposits are still much larger than back home — typically ₩5,000,000 to ₩20,000,000 for a studio in Seoul, with rent of ₩500,000 to ₩1,200,000/month. Higher deposit usually means lower monthly rent.

전세 (Jeonse) — lump-sum lease

You pay a massive deposit (often 50–80% of the property's value) and pay no monthly rent. The landlord invests the deposit and returns it in full at the end of the lease (usually 2 years). Great if you have the cash, but be cautious of "jeonse scams" — make sure the property isn't over-leveraged.

Short-term options

• Goshiwon (고시원) — tiny private rooms, often without windows. ₩300k–500k/month, no deposit. Fine for a few months.
• Share houses — Western-style coliving, usually English-friendly.
• Serviced apartments / Airbnb — most expensive but no paperwork.

Typical price ranges (2026, rough)

• Seoul studio (one-room), wolse: ₩10M deposit / ₩700k–1M monthly
• Seoul 2-bedroom officetel: ₩20M deposit / ₩1.2–1.8M monthly
• Busan / Daegu studio: ₩5M deposit / ₩400k–600k monthly

Before you sign

1. Check the property registry (등기부등본) — confirm the landlord owns it and how much debt is on it.
2. Register your contract at the local district office (확정일자) on move-in day to protect your deposit.
3. Most landlords expect a real-estate agent to mediate; the fee is regulated and split between landlord and tenant.