Off-Campus Housing Options

Apartment

An apartment refers to a five-story or higher multi-unit building consisting of independent houses. Generally, an apartment complex has amenities, stores, and parking lots, and janitors are employed in the complex. Residents should pay management expenses every month, including public utility charges such as electric bills, water fees, gas bills, etc.

Officetel (for residence)

An officetel, a portmanteau of “office” and “hotel”, refers to an office space equipped with residential facilities. It is classified as a business facility under the Building Act. However many office works and single-person households tend to prefer this type of residence because it includes built-in funiture and home appliances for residents’ convenience. Officetel residents should pay management expenses every month, just like apartment residents.

Tenement/multi-household house

A tenement, a type of Western-style multi-occupancy building, refer to a four-story or lower multi-unit building where several households can live together.

Studio apartment

A studio apartment is similar to an officetel, but smaller. Studio apartments are divided in to the separated kitchen type and all-in-one-type, depending on their structure. As the rent is cheaper for a studio apartment than an officetel, they are generally concentrated near colleges.

Source : Seoul Global Center – Guidebook for Living in Seoul

Scholar’s experience

• At first, I looked up a on-campus housing option. After that, according to the Ministry of Government Legislation website, I decided to go for a long-term deposit base housing(전세) which was perfect for my family.

  

  by a scholar with 3 family embers

Useful Resources

Housing contract guidelines in Korea

• Source : Ministry of Government Legislation
• Housing contract procedure
  
  1. STEP 1
     Finding a house to move into through a real estate agency
     Checking the real estate market price and real transaction price
  2. STEP 2
     Things to check after finding a house that you would like to move into
     Checking the managed state of a house, such as the comfort requirement or parts to be repaired etc
  3. STEP 3
     Checking brokerage fee & balance settlement & signing a house contract
     Calculating brokerage fee & balance settlement and registration

  
  • STEP 1
    Finding a house to move into through a real estate agency
    Checking the real estate market price and real transaction price
  • STEP 2
    Things to check after finding a house that you would like to move into
    Checking the managed state of a house, such as the comfort requirement or parts to be repaired etc
  • STEP 3
    Checking brokerage fee & balance settlement & signing a house contract
    Calculating brokerage fee & balance settlement and registration
• Standard realform (양식링크 : hwp, pdf파일 표준임대차계약서)
  • Download PDF
  • Download HWP

  You can download a standard form of the real estate lease agreement in Korea.

  Make sure to double-check the contents of the paper before signing.

For more how to find a house guidelines in Korea, click Ministry of Government Legislation.

Seoul Global Center - Seoul Life Guidebook

• Source : Seoul Global Center
• You can find information on various type of housing options in Seoul. Guidebooks are offered in various languages for your convenience.