Housing

Overview

**Korea's Rental System**: Korea has two primary rental structures: 1. **Jeonse (전세)**: Lump-sum deposit (typically 50–80% of property value) paid upfront — no monthly rent. Very capital-intensive; foreigners rarely use it. 2. **Wolse (월세)**: Smaller deposit (typically ₩5–30 million) plus monthly rent. The standard for foreigners. Deposits are refundable at lease end. **Finding Apartments**: - **Naver Real Estate (네이버 부동산)** — the primary platform; Korean only, use Google Translate - **Zigbang / Dabang** — popular apps; some English support - **Foreigner-focused agents**: HelloNest, HiExpat (Seoul) specialize in English-speaking tenants - **Facebook Groups**: 'Expats in Seoul', 'Seoul Apartment Hunters' are active communities **Apartment Types**: Korea's apartments are overwhelmingly high-rise (아파트). Officetels (오피스텔) are studio apartments in mixed office/residential buildings — popular with young expats; slightly more expensive per sqm but easier lease terms. **What to Expect**: Korean apartments include built-in appliances (washer, fridge, AC units), floor heating (ondol — heated floor system), and kimchi refrigerators. All utilities are paid online via automated bank transfer.