How to Find Housing in South Korea: Personal Experience and Practical Tips !~

My name is Kateryna, and I’ve been living in South Korea for three years. During this time, I’ve changed several places of residence, starting with a university dormitory where I studied Korean language courses, then spending a year in a goshiwon, and eventually moving into a one-room apartment. Later, I enrolled in a bachelor's program at a university located in Suwon. After moving from Seoul to Suwon, I found another good one-room apartment.

In this article, I’ll share how to find housing in South Korea, along with helpful tips and Korean phrases that will assist you in your search.

What types of housing are available for students and others?

1. University Dormitory

  University dormitories are one of the most affordable options for students. Dormitory fees are generally much lower than other types of housing. However, the rooms can be small, and you will likely have roommates.

*You can find all the information about university dormitories on the university website or at the university office*

2. Goshiwon (고시원)

   Goshiwons are small rooms with minimal amenities. I lived in a goshiwon for a year. It’s an excellent temporary solution, especially if you need to save money. The price of living in a goshiwon ranges from 200,000 to 500,000 won per month, depending on the area and the condition of the room. I had a small room with a shared kitchen and bathroom.

I paid 300,000 won per month (without a deposit) (Seoul).

If you don't have money for a deposit, then you can live in Goshiwon. Although the room is small, it is your own little room that you can live in!

3. One-Room (원룸)

   After the goshiwon, I moved into a one-room apartment (원룸). This is a popular choice for single people or students who need more space. Rent prices vary depending on the location. For example, in Seoul, renting a one-room apartment can cost between 500,000 and 1,000,000 won per month, while in smaller cities like Suwon, prices tend to be lower.

The deposit for my one-room apartment in Seoul was 3,000,000 won, and I paid 350,000 won per month.

My one-room apartment was in a semi-basement. Despite the renovations, mold started appearing near the front door after a while, which was very upsetting. I recommend looking for one-room apartments on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd floors to minimize the chances of mold on the walls.

My new apartment in Suwon is on the 3rd floor. It has a balcony and three large windows. The deposit was also 3,000,000 won, and I pay 360,000 won per month. Utility services cost up to 50,000 won per month.

I really like this one-room apartment, it is bright here, there are not noisy neighbors and a very kind landlord!~~

Where to search for housing?

There are several ways to find housing in Korea (Korean apps): 

  In Korea, there are a few popular apps for searching for housing. Here are some of them:

  직방 (Jikbang) — one of the most popular apps for finding apartments and rooms. It offers a user-friendly interface in Korean and many housing options.

  다방 (Dabang) — another popular app where you can search for apartments and rooms.

  네이버 부동산 (Naver Real Estate) — this app, from Korea’s largest search engine Naver, features listings from real estate agents.

Real estate agents (부동산):

  If you’re unsure about your Korean language skills or don’t want to search for housing on your own, you can contact a real estate agent (부동산). Agents can help you find housing in the area you want and handle the deal. If you’re not comfortable speaking over the phone, you can visit a real estate agent in person. If you don’t speak Korean well, using a translator app can help you communicate easily.

Also for moving your belongings, you can use the apps 오늘의 집 or 숨고.