●●🟧 Features of Korean Homes
This guide explains what foreign residents should know about housing in Korea
— utilities, heating, deposits, contracts, and realistic living tips.
.jpg "Korean One-Room Officetel") |
●🟦✓Electricity, gas, water, and internet bills are issued based on how much you use according to each meter, and the bill is usually delivered to your mailbox.
You can sign up for automatic payments (autopay), and Korea’s bank transfer system is simple, so there usually isn’t much difficulty adjusting to it.
▶ However, some foreigners who sign up for autopay don’t cancel it after moving out, and end up paying someone else’s bills as well.
▶ If you request it by phone, a refund is always possible,
but some foreigners give up simply because their Korean isn’t fluent and say, “It’s not much anyway.”
Make sure you get it back.
▶ In most cases, a building maintenance fee of about KRW 30,000–70,000 per month is charged separately in addition to the rent.
▶ It’s called a “maintenance fee” for managing the building,
but simply put, you can think of it as a type of rent.
▶ So when you look for a place,
it’s accurate to understand: Rent + maintenance fee = your real monthly rent.
●🟦✓ In Korea, electricity, gas, and water bills
are relatively inexpensive compared to the U.S., Europe, Japan, and so on.
▶ Korea’s tap water is drinking water managed at the national level, and in terms of quality and safety, it is considered very high by global standards.
▶ In Korea, there’s generally no problem drinking tap water as is, but many Korean households and restaurants use water purifiers or bottled water.
→ This is less about necessity and more about convenience and personal preference, as well as the influence of commercial marketing.
→ Looking only at actual water quality standards, it is not behind the U.S., Europe, or Japan at all.
▶ Many foreigners who come to Korea feel the tap water is softer and more refreshing than in their home country, to the point that they take longer showers, and often feel the water quality is very good.
→ Because there is very little limescale, many foreigners also feel that even just showering improves their skin or hair condition.
▶ Korea’s electrical systems have very high safety standards,
and a leakage circuit breaker is installed by default,
so there is almost no danger in everyday life.
→ Using outlets, lighting, and appliances within normal usage limits is not a problem at all, and power outages are also very rare.
→ In Korean living spaces, cool white lighting is commonly used as the default,
so for foreigners from the U.S. or Europe who mainly use warm yellow lighting,
it may feel a bit bright at first.
→ In that case, just changing the bulb color can easily change the feel of your home, so it’s best to adjust and use lighting that feels comfortable for you.
●🟦✓In Korea, everyone takes off their shoes at home.
Even when it’s very cold, many people spend time indoors wearing shorts, light clothing, or even just underwear, which shows how satisfied people tend to be with the heating system.
💊 Caution
many people get confused again once winter starts.
Korea’s housing environment has very stable heating and hot water supply,
so warm indoor living is possible even in the middle of winter.
→ If you’re not familiar with using the boiler, the fastest and most reliable way is to ask briefly a Korean friend, your landlord, or a neighbor.
▶ When you go out, just press the “Away” button to save on heating costs, and when you come home, just press the “On” button.
▶ If the boiler breaks, you can call the customer service center and they will fix it quickly. If your Korean isn’t good, you can tell the landlord, the real estate agent who helped you rent the place, or even a neighbor.
→ Korea’s A/S (after-service) network is world-class, so they fix things quickly. (If there is a cost, tell the landlord—inform either the landlord or the real estate agent.)
❓ Q. Are Korean homes cold in winter?
A. Korea can have occasional extremely cold days, similar to Russia or Canada.
However, those days don’t last all winter—usually they’re concentrated around about 5–7 days per month.
Because Korean housing typically uses underfloor heating (ondol),
once you learn how to use the boiler, many people stay indoors in winter wearing shorts or light clothing.
Sometimes in winter, you may see Koreans outside wearing a puffer jacket with shorts and slippers.
This usually happens because they dress lightly at home and then step out briefly to a nearby supermarket or convenience store.
●🟦✓Korean bathrooms are all connected to a sewage system, which makes them convenient to clean and easy to use.
▶ Foreigners may find it a bit unfamiliar at first,
but after a short time, many people end up being very satisfied.
●●🟧 Things to Watch Out for When Renting a Home in Korea
The more you pay as a deposit, the lower the monthly rent tends to be,
and in many cases, a full jeonse contract is also possible.
💊 For jeonse or high-deposit contracts, foreigners may run into problems,
so in those cases, be sure to go with a Korean person
and proceed with the contract safely.
▶ When foreigners look for a place for the first time,
it is recommended to start with a place with a deposit of around KRW 3,000,000–5,000,000.
💊 If a place doesn’t have an air conditioner, ask the landlord to install one. Many landlords will install it for free while keeping the rent the same.
❓ Q. Why are security deposits so high in Korea?
A. In Korea, the system is structured so that the more you pay as a deposit, the lower your monthly rent tends to be.
The higher the deposit, the less you pay each month, and in some cases, a jeonse contract (living with no monthly rent) is also possible.
Because of this, many Koreans try to pay as much of a deposit as they can within their budget.
Of course, there are also many rental options with smaller deposits.
●🟦✓ Things to check when renting a place
▶ If the unit includes appliances,
be sure to check that the boiler, air conditioner, refrigerator, and digital door lock (keypad lock) are all working properly.
▶ You should check whether there is mold on the walls or ceiling.
▶ Be sure to check whether there are holes in the window screens.
💊 For the deposit and monthly rent,
it is safest to transfer the money to a bank account in the landlord’s name. Problems can happen if you transfer it through the real estate agent’s office.
●🟦✓ Most homes in Korea use a keypad lock (digital door lock).
▶ About 90% or more of homes in Korea
use keypad locks (digital door locks) instead of physical keys.
▶ For how to use the keypad lock and set the password,
if you ask the real estate agent when signing the contract,
they will set it right away to a password that only the tenant knows.
▶ Keypad locks run on batteries, and when the battery life gets low,
a warning sound will beep when you open and close the door.
In that case, if you replace the batteries, you can continue using it normally.
→ If the home does not have a keypad lock installed,
if you request installation from the landlord when signing the contract,
in most cases they will install one.
💊 Note
Foreigners who have never used a keypad lock in their home country
often don’t fully feel how convenient it is at first.
But after getting used to having a keypad lock, when they return to an environment that uses keys, they often find it inconvenient instead
and end up missing Korea’s keypad-lock system.
●🟦✓ Things to Watch Out for When Choosing a Rooftop Room or Basement Room
▶ In smaller cities, rooftop rooms or basement rooms are rare,
but some still exist in big cities like Seoul and Busan.
▶ Because the rent is relatively cheap,
some foreigners choose rooftop or basement rooms due to budget constraints.
→ It may be an unavoidable choice financially,
but in terms of living conditions, the downsides are very clear.
▶ For rooftop rooms, it gets extremely hot in summer,
and in winter the heating efficiency is often low, so it can feel cold.
and they are disadvantageous in terms of ventilation and privacy.
Living in an underground space can become a health burden in the long run.
▶ If you are a foreigner living in Korea for the first time,
if possible, it is recommended to keep rooftop or basement rooms
as a last-resort option.
A loft-style one-room studio officetel in Korea with an internal staircase, offering efficient use of vertical space but sometimes less practical for daily living.
●🟦✓ Things to Watch Out for When Choosing a Loft-Style Officetel
▶ Especially in big cities like Seoul and Busan,
loft-style officetels are increasing a lot.
▶ They often look neat on the outside, and you can use the space more efficiently, so at first they may look appealing.
However, once you actually start living there,
it’s not uncommon to feel inconvenienced.
→ A layout with stairs inside the home is more inconvenient than you might expect.
Even simple things—like sleeping upstairs and then using the downstairs bathroom, or going downstairs to get a drink of water—
can start to feel like a hassle.
→ Also, loft-style layouts often have lower heating efficiency,
so your heating bill may end up being higher than expected.
▶ Since your home is the place you spend the most time each day,
comfort and a sense of stability are important.
If daily inconveniences repeat,
your psychological sense of stability can also decrease.
▶ In fact, even among Korean college students who have lived in loft-style officetels, it’s not uncommon to hear,
“If I had to choose again, I’d avoid a loft.”
▶ If you are a foreigner living in Korea for the first time,
it is recommended to consider loft-style officetels carefully
or decide only after trying it short-term.
●🟦✓ What the Landlord Fixes vs. What the Tenant Should Handle
▶ When you move in, be sure to check that all the lights turn on properly.
→ If from the time you move in the electricity, lighting, or appliances aren’t working properly, then in principle, the landlord should repair or replace them.
→ On the other hand, issues with consumable items that come up while living there are often handled by the tenant.
▶ For example, items like an electric kettle and light bulbs are usually things you buy and replace yourself if they break while you’re living there.
(If it’s hard to do on your own, you can buy the item at Daiso or a supermarket,
and politely ask a Korean friend or the real estate agent for help—most people will help.
In many cases, buying them a single drink is enough.)
▶ For problems like a broken air conditioner, refrigerator, or washing machine,
a boiler breakdown, water leaks, or a clogged drain/sewage line,
always tell the landlord first.
Drain clogs can sometimes be caused by hair or wet wipes,
so in quite a few cases, the tenant’s usage habits are the reason. In those situations,
sometimes the landlord covers the cost, and some stricter landlords
may complain about it.
→ In cases like this, instead of arguing, politely saying,
“I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful,” is usually the fastest way to get it resolved.
▶ If it’s clearly the tenant’s fault—
for example, taking apart the keypad lock (digital door lock)
because they forgot the password,
or damaging the door during a fight—
then in principle, the tenant must pay for the damages.
Of course, if the landlord is understanding,
they may let it go, but basically, it’s safest to think: “Whoever caused the problem is responsible.”
💊 This standard isn’t a culture unique to Korea—
it’s a general rental principle that applies similarly in most countries.
●●🟧 Alternative Housing Options Besides a One-Room
●🟦✓ Gosiwon & Shared Housing (Share House) Options
▶ Gosiwon / Gositel
In many cases, there is no deposit or the deposit is very small,
and the monthly rent often includes electricity, water, internet, and maintenance fees,
so it’s a good option for foreigners to stay short-term right after arriving in Korea.
→ However, the rooms are very small,
and most places use shared kitchens and laundry rooms,
so many people find it inconvenient for long-term living.
→ Depending on the location,
monthly rent is around KRW 400,000–700,000,
and popular areas like Gangnam and Hongdae tend to be more expensive.
▶ Share House / Shared Housing
You have a private room,
and share the kitchen and living room with other people.
→ Compared to a gosiwon, there is more space
and the living environment is relatively comfortable,
but you should consider that you’ll be living with people who may have different lifestyles.
→ Monthly rent is around KRW 500,000–700,000,
and it varies widely depending on the condition of the place, location, and room size.
❓ Q. Is it okay to live in a gosiwon long-term?
A. A gosiwon is very practical as short-term housing right after arriving in Korea,
and long-term living isn’t impossible.
However, the rooms are very small, and many people feel uncomfortable due to privacy issues,
so most foreigners and Koreans tend to move to a studio (one-room) or an officetel for long-term living.
💊 Realistic advice
Gosiwons and shared housing can be very practical
→ as temporary housing for 1–2 months right after arrival,
→ but if you plan to stay long-term,
many people end up moving to a regular studio (one-room) or an officetel.
●🟦✓ Housing Options Beyond a One-Room (2-Room, 3-Room, Apartments)
▶ In Korea, in addition to one-room studios,
there are many 2-room and 3-room homes,
and apartment-style housing for families is also very common.
▶ In the case of apartments, except for small apartments,
a typical layout includes 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a dressing room, storage space, and a balcony,
and apartments are the most common housing type where people live in Korea.
▶ The size is often around 110㎡ or more,
and because the ceiling height and storage space are generous,
it tends to feel much larger than a one-room or an officetel.
▶ In central Seoul,
these apartments are often rented under a deposit + monthly rent structure,
→ and roughly,
a deposit of several hundred million KRW / monthly rent of KRW 3,000,000–6,000,000 is common.
(There are big differences depending on location, whether it’s new construction, and the school district.)
▶ Therefore, apartments are generally more suitable
not for a single foreigner living alone,
but for people staying with their family,
expats posted by foreign companies,
or high-income long-term residents.
▶ Detached houses in Seoul often include many older homes,
or on the other hand are mostly high-end houses,
so there aren’t many typical mid- to low-priced options.
▶ On the other hand, in Gyeonggi-do and suburban areas around the Seoul metro area,
there are relatively more mid- to low-priced detached houses and townhouses available.
●🟦 This guide is continuously updated