How can foreigners in Korea find reliable domestic helpers, house cleaning services, and home maintenance assistance?

Korea has a well-developed home services market, though most services are booked through Korean apps. Here are the main options.

Home cleaning. The most popular apps are Cheong-So Yeon-ae (청소연애, jakSimMan), Mr.청소, and Sungbu (성북). Standard one-time deep cleaning for an 84 square meter apartment costs 100,000 to 200,000 won and takes 3 to 5 hours. Regular bi-weekly or monthly visits run cheaper. Eraundry and Coupang Care services bundle cleaning with laundry pickup.

Move-in and move-out cleaning. Slightly more expensive (150,000 to 400,000 won) but worth it for getting your full deposit back. Companies like Tasking and SoCar offer these specialty services. Some include ondol floor cleaning, window cleaning, and bathroom mold treatment.

Domestic helpers. Live-out housekeepers and nannies are typically arranged through Korean Chinese (조선족) agencies, the Multicultural Family Support Centers, or by word of mouth in expat communities. Daily helpers (5 to 8 hours) cost around 80,000 to 130,000 won per day. Monthly nannies are 2,500,000 to 4,500,000 won and tend to be all-Korean speaking.

For English-speaking helpers, expat Facebook groups like Itaewon Mamas, Seoul Expat Wives, and Yongsan parents forum often share trusted referrals from departing families.

Home maintenance and repairs. Search 출장 (visiting service) plus the issue in Naver. Hancom Korea, Soomgo (숨고), and Tasker (태스커) are platform marketplaces where you post your job (with photos) and get bids from local handymen, plumbers, electricians, and appliance repairers. Average repair visits are 30,000 to 100,000 won.

For regular service contracts, your apartment management office (관리실) can usually recommend trusted vendors for AC cleaning, water purifier maintenance, pest control, etc.