This page follows the order a foreigner goes through when finding an apartment in Korea — type and budget, viewing, the lease and deposit, moving in and the address report, monthly bills, then renewal or moving out — with the questions people actually ask at each step. It is for newcomers, students leaving a dormitory and families; deadlines, amounts and details are in the linked pages.
1. Decide the type of housing and your budget — jeonse, wolse, one-room, officetel
Start with two numbers: how long you will stay and how much cash you can put down at the start. In Korean rentals the deposit (보증금) and the monthly rent trade off against each other, so choosing between jeonse, banjeonse and wolse sets your budget. One-room and two-room describe the layout; officetel, villa and apartment describe the building, so decide each separately before filtering listings.
- Jeonse, banjeonse or wolse — which fits your stay and your cash
- Finding a room in Seoul — what each type costs and where to look
- What apps should I use to find an apartment in Korea?
- What is the difference between monthly rent (월세) and key money deposit (보증금) in Korea, and how does the jeonse system work?
- Best neighborhoods for families with kids?
- My dormitory application was rejected — how do I find a room before classes start?
2. View the room and check before you pay anything
When you visit, check damp, mould, water pressure and heating, and ask for the real monthly total including management fees. Before sending any money, get the exact address and unit number and pull the current property register (등기사항증명서) to confirm that the person you are contracting with is the registered owner and to see any mortgages or seizures. If the Korean contract is hard to follow, get it explained in your own language before you sign.
- Viewing a studio — what to check in the room, and the real monthly total
- You can get property advice in your own language before signing — two Seoul services
- How can I confirm that a rental listing's photos match the real unit before I arrive?
- How far does the Anshim Jeonse app go before I sign a jeonse contract?
- What should I check before signing a share house contract in Korea?
- How do I find housing in Korea that allows pets?
3. Sign the lease and pay in the right order
The lease should state deposit, rent, term, management fees and repair responsibility, and the payment schedule should match it. Ask for any condition you want to be written in as a special clause before you sign, and pay by bank transfer to the landlord named on the contract. If you plan to borrow for a jeonse deposit, eligibility for foreigners differs by loan product, so ask a bank before you fix the contract dates.
- What must be in the lease, and matching it to the payment schedule
- Foreigner Real Estate Contract in Korea: A Complete Guide to Jeonse and Wolse
- What should I know about Korean rental contracts, and how do I protect myself?
- Signing my first wolse lease — what should I check to protect my deposit?
- How do I move to a jeonse apartment but can't pay the full deposit upfront?
- Can an international student pay a Korean dormitory deposit from an overseas bank account?
4. Move in and report your new address within 15 days
Choose a regular or packing move (포장이사), compare quotes and ask about elevator or ladder-truck access. On move-in day, photograph walls, floors, window frames and the bathroom before furniture goes in — it is your evidence when the deposit is settled. As a foreign resident you must file the change-of-residence report within 15 days of moving in; it is handled at the local community service centre (주민센터) together with address registration. Missing the 15-day report is punishable by a fine of up to 1,000,000 won; in practice immigration issues a penalty notice of 100,000–1,000,000 won depending on how late you are. To protect the deposit, also get the confirmed date (확정일자) on your lease. If a landlord says address registration is not allowed, find out why before you sign.
- Four steps that protect your deposit — register, move-in report, confirmed date, guarantee
- What does 전입신고 불가 mean when a landlord refuses address registration, and what should I do?
- Moving in Korea for the first time — how much do packing movers cost?
- What should I ask a Korean moving company about elevator or ladder truck access?
- How do I set up electricity, gas, water and internet in a new apartment in Korea?
- How do I sign up for city gas (도시가스) after moving in, and how do safety inspections work?
5. Monthly costs — rent, management fees, heating and electricity
Management fees (관리비), gas and electricity come on top of the rent. What the fees cover varies by building, so ask the management office to explain the bill, and keep a record of every rent transfer. Winter heating and summer electricity rise most, and how you use the boiler and floor heating (ondol) matters.
- Paying rent in Korea — transfer it, and keep the evidence
- What is 관리비 (management fees) in Korean apartments, and what does it cover?
- How much does heating cost in a Korean apartment in winter, and how can I keep costs down?
- To cut heating costs in a one-room, is an electric blanket better than the boiler?
- How can I live without an air conditioner in Korea, and is buying one on Coupang a good option?
6. Living there — rubbish, repairs and neighbours
Rubbish is separated into volume-rate bags, recyclables and food waste, and collection rules are set by each district, so check your own gu. Large items such as furniture need a separate disposal request. When something breaks, tell the landlord or management office first, by text so there is a record; who pays depends on the lease and the cause.
- Korean recycling rules: bags, fines & district guide
- How does trash disposal and recycling work in Korea, and what are the rules I need to follow?
- How do I dispose of a suitcase and other large household waste in Busan?
- How much does it cost to replace a constantly clogged toilet in a rented villa?
- How do I prevent and remove mold in a Korean apartment, and who is responsible for fixing it?
- What can I do about loud upstairs neighbors in Korea, and what do the noise laws say?
7. Renew or move out — notice, settlement and getting the deposit back
As the lease end approaches, decide whether to renew or leave and tell the landlord within the notice period — the timing is covered in the questions below. Compare the rent increase with the cost of moving. On the last day, settle electricity and gas, clear out your belongings and get the deposit back. If you leave Korea or the landlord does not return the deposit, the lease, transfer records and move-in photos decide the outcome.
- Renewing Your Lease or Moving in Korea: A Cost-Saving Guide for Foreign Tenants
- Housing disputes turn on evidence — what to collect for each type
- How do I end my apartment lease in Korea and get my full deposit (보증금) back?
- In what order do I settle electricity and gas on the day I move out?
- What are my options for throwing away, decluttering or selling everything when moving out in Korea?
- Can I sublet my apartment or break the lease early after taking a job in another city?
- Do Korean tenant protections apply to foreigners when a landlord refuses to return a jeonse deposit?
Other common housing questions
- Should I use Airbnb or short-term rentals for 2-3 months a year in Korea?
- Where can I rent or buy used furniture in Korea for a two-year apartment rental?
- How do I deal with cockroaches, ants and other pests in my Korean apartment?
- How do I get keys copied or find a locksmith in Korea?
Sources: Korea Law Information Center (Immigration Control Act)
Last verified: 2026-10-21