My dormitory application was rejected — how do I find a room before classes start?
I study in Cheonan and did not get a dormitory place for the second semester, so I have under two weeks to find somewhere. I would rather not sign a one-year lease with a large deposit for what might be a short stay. What short-term options exist near campus, and is it acceptable to ask the international office or the student council for help?
1 Answer
Contact your university's international office first. Asking is not unusual — they see this every semester and know the routes.
Dormitory cancellations are common right before term starts, so additional intakes open or waiting lists move. Some universities also maintain arrangements with nearby rental housing or student houses. Explain your situation and start by asking whether you can be put on a waiting list.
The international student association and the student council are genuinely useful here. At the start of term, posts appear in group chats and campus communities from students leaving suddenly who want to transfer a lease, or from people looking for a roommate. Taking over an existing contract means a much smaller deposit and is the fastest route when time is short. Campus community apps and the estate agents around the university are worth checking alongside.
For a short stay there are realistic options. A goshiwon or one-room-tel requires little or no deposit and you can move in immediately. The rooms are small, but they are enough to get through the first month or two while you look properly. Share houses also take small deposits, and short-term monthly rentals trade a lower deposit for slightly higher rent. A standard one-room usually needs a deposit of five to ten million won, which is what makes it hard to arrange at short notice.
However rushed you are, hold to one rule: do not send a deposit based on photographs. View the place in person. Problems targeting students in a hurry do occur right before term. When you sign, check the property register to confirm the owner, and send the deposit only to an account in the landlord's own name. After moving in, report your change of residence to immigration within 15 days.