How can I confirm that a rental listing's photos match the real unit before I arrive in Korea?
I am moving to Suwon for a new job and want to secure a studio before I fly in. Several listings look almost identical and I cannot visit in person beforehand. What can I reasonably ask an agent to show me, such as a live video walkthrough or the exact building address, and what should make me pause before sending any money?
Note: This is an editorial persona question created from common experiences of foreign residents in Korea.
1 Answer
The single most useful thing you can ask for is a live video walkthrough on KakaoTalk or WhatsApp, with you directing the camera rather than watching a pre-recorded clip. Ask them to show the unit number on the door, the view from the window, the bathroom with the tap running so you can judge the water pressure, the corridor, and the building entrance from the street. An agent with a real unit will do this without hesitation. One who keeps sending photos instead is telling you something.
Then ask for the exact address including the building name and unit number, and check it yourself. Korean map services have street-level imagery, so you can see the actual building, the street width, what is around it and how far the subway really is. Search the same address on the main property apps too, because if the identical unit appears at a different price or with different photos, that is worth a question.
Before any money moves, ask the agent to send you the property register for the unit. A licensed agent can pull this in minutes, and it shows who actually owns the place and whether there is a mortgage on it. Check that the name on the register matches the name on the contract and matches the bank account you are asked to pay into. Also ask for the agent's licence number, which you can verify with the local district office.
The things that should make you stop are all variations of pressure. Refusing a live video, insisting you wire a holding deposit today or lose the unit, giving you an account in a name that is not the registered owner, a price noticeably below similar units, or the phrase that the photos are of a similar unit rather than this one. Honestly, the safest approach for someone arriving from abroad is to book a guesthouse or a monthly room for the first two weeks and view places in person once you land. It costs a fraction of what a lost deposit does, and you will make a much better decision seeing the neighbourhood at night. If your new employer has an HR contact, ask them to look over the listing too.