A Complete Guide On How To Find Housing In Seoul
Looking To Move To Seoul? Here Is A Guide To Seoul Housing By Each District, Key Money And Rental Prices, And More!
Are you looking to move to Korea? Say you've landed a job, assessed the cost of living, and ready to find somewhere to live.
Not sure where to start? Well we hope this guide helps you find Seoul housing. We've included information about terms you should know, types of housing, and a brief profile of the districts and example housing prices.
TERMS TO KNOW FOR SEOUL HOUSING
There are essential terms of rental contracts for housing in Seoul that you should know before you start house hunting.
Key Money Deposit
(전세 · Jeonse/Chonse)
This style is where you pay a deposit, but it can be a lot of money upfront. But you do not have to pay a monthly rent. You would just need to cover monthly utilities and maintenance fees.
If you choose to move out, you do get this deposit back. This option is becoming more and more rare amongst land owners.
Monthly Rent + Deposit
(월세 · Wolse)
For this contract style, you pay a deposit but the amount is much less upfront. Instead you pay a monthly rent along with utilities.
You can negotiate the deposit and the monthly rent depending on how much cash you have on hand.
For example, if there's a unit that's out for 10,000,000 won deposit and 700,000 monthly rent, you can negotiate with the realtor and the landlord for a 30,000,000 won deposit and a 630,000 monthly rent.
You can also lower the deposit and offer to pay a higher amount in monthly rent. Many landlords are willing to be flexible, so just ask!
You get your deposit back when you move out, but you do not get your rent money back.
Monthly Maintenance Fee
(관리비 · Gwanlibee)
This is what you'll pay each month to the building's maintenance office. Maintenance fees differ by building, some as low as 20,000 won and some as high as 250,000 won or even more!
Internet, TV, electricity, heat, water, etc may or may not be included in the maintenance fee, so it's crucial to triple check what the monthly maintenance fee includes.
Brokerage Fee
(중개비 · Joonggaebee)
The way of calculating the legal fee is quite complicated. We suggest you use Naver's brokerage fee calculator.
The first button of the first line is residential and the second is officetel. For most cases, you'll press the first button unless the unit you'd like to rent is an officetel.
Next, you'll select the region. We'll go ahead with Seoul (서울시).
If you've found a jeonse property, select the second button. The next line is where you'll put in your deposit amount (보증금). Leave the last line (agreed service rate) blank and press the blue button.
For a wolse property, select the third button. On the next line, put in your deposit amount (Let's just say 10,000,000 won). Then, put in your monthly rent (Let's say 600,000 won).
The amount shown in red at the top is the maximum amount of fee you have to pay within legal boundaries. If a realtor asks for more than this set amount, I suggest you leave the place right away and look for a better realtor.
Remember to haggle down the brokerage fee depending on how much work your realtor had to put in for you to choose a property to live in, too.
HOUSING OPTIONS IN SEOUL
SERVICED RESIDENCES
These are furnished apartments geared for foreigners. They are available for short or long term visitors.
Staying at a serviced residence is like staying in a bigger hotel room because of the amenity and service options.
Easiest option for foreigners in terms of not having to deal with figuring out wolse/jeonse, and language accessibility.
OFFICE-TELS
As the name implies, this type of housing is a double-functioning building that works both as office spaces and living spaces.
There can be various options of office-tels: One room, lofted, two room. Prices vary by size and style and monthly maintenance fees tend to be high at over 100,000 won on average.
These options are most common in business areas of Seoul.
ONE ROOM
One rooms, like the name implies, are just one room. These are simple and small living spaces.
This option tends to be geared for students so they are more common in areas near universities.
Best option for those who live alone and looking to pay a lower price.
There are a range of apartment types depending on location. For example, apartments in more affluent areas will be bigger, more luxurious and unaffordable for the majority.
Prices for apartments vary on size, number of rooms, and location. Many come with amenities including a fitness room, 24-hour security guards on site, study room, and more, driving up the monthly maintenance fee.
Apartment rentals are rare and tend to be a lot more expensive than renting one rooms or office-tels. So you'll see a lot more jeonse options available for this type of housing which are also quite pricey.
Overall, it's a housing option that provides comfort and a sense of security, but it is also the most expensive. It's a dream for many locals to move into an apartment building.
VILLAS
There are a range of villa types but the majority are multi-unit buildings that are about 2 to 4 storeys tall.
Villas usually don't come with the amenities that apartments have, so maintenance fees tend to be cheaper.
It's rare you'll find a 24-hour security guard on site, so it may not feel as safe as living in an apartment. However, resident buildings in Korea tend to have surveillance cameras in every angle, so there's no need to worry!
There are other housing options for students like goshiwons or dorms. But for the remainder of this blog we will focus on on office-tels, one rooms, apartments, and villas. Note there are many factors that can influence pricing like neighborhood area, and size of housing (pyeong).
DISTRICTS IN SEOUL
There are a total of 25 districts (gu) in Seoul, each with different pros and cons. Each district is made up of neighborhoods (dong).
Each area varies in terms of what type of housing is predominately available. For example, districts with colleges/universities will have a lot more one rooms than villas or office-tels. Whereas districts with a lot of businesses will have a lot more office-tels available.
Hopefully this list well help you learn more about each district and the pricing range of housing. All prices are in KRW.
These prices are examples to give you a general idea of the price range of housing in Seoul. You may be able to find cheaper units in a certain neighbourhood depending on your luck. These prices can also fluctuate depending on the housing market status.
These sample prices are from when we did our research on Jan 14th, 2021.
Some places were difficult to find some sample prices, especially for key money deposits, because there were not many listings when we were researching.
DOBONG-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 180,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 700,000 | 80,000 |
| One Room | 75,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 400,000 | 50,000 |
| Apartment | 170,000,000 | 7,000,000 | 300,000 | 140,000 |
| Villa | 195,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 500,000 | 50,000 |
This is a more rural area of Seoul, the overall prices can be cheaper than other districts.
However, it is fairly detached from the main city. So, if you need to commute to an office downtown, then this area may not be the best option for you.
It is great area if you are an avid hiker because there are many trails you can explore like Dobongsan Mountain.
There are e-marts in this area, but you can also take advantage of local supermarkets near apartments.
Some popular subway stations in this area include Dobongsan, Chang-dong, Dobong. Lines 1, 4, & 7 run through this district.
DONGDAEMUN-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 280,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 700,000 | 55,000 |
| One Room | 45,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 500,000 | 50,000 |
| Apartment | 300,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 800,000 | 160,000 |
| Villa | 280,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 500,000 | 40,000 |
Something worth noting, this is not the district where Dongdaemun Market is located. However there is Gyeongdong Market which is one of Seoul's largest medicinal and agricultural markets.
This area is very accessible with public transportation, many buses, and subways pass though this district.
Monthly maintenance fees in this district are about 160,000 KRW.
Some popular subway stations are Cheongnyangni, Sinseol-dong, and Hoegi. Some subway lines that run through this district are lines 1, 2, 5, Gyeongchun Line, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, Bundang Line, and Wooe-Sinseol Line.
DONGJAK-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 270,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 600,000 | 50,000 |
| One Room | 70,000,000 | 70,000,000 | 300,000 | 70,000 |
| Apartment | 400,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 600,000 | 200,000 |
| Villa | 400,000,000 | 180,000,000 | 380,000 | 100,000 |
This district is located south of Han River, so there are some nice riverside parks in the area. This district is primarily residential with many local supermarkets.
It neighbors Seocho-gu which is where many of the more popular shopping areas and businesses are located.
The most popular attraction in this area is Noryangjin Fish Market.
Subway lines 1, 2, 4, & 7 run through this district and some of the popular stations are Noryangjin, Dongjak, Sadang, and Heukseok.
EUNPYEONG-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 90,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 400,000 | 50,000 |
| One Room | 130,000,000 | 50,000,000 | 400,000 | 50,000 |
| Apartment | 200,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 1,100,000 | 200,000 |
| Villa | 260,000,000 | 50,000,000 | 500,000 | 40,000 |
Similar to Dobong-gu, this area is great if you are an avid hiker because you can access Bukhansan National Park as well as the beautiful hanok village.
You can find an e-mart in this area along with small independent supermarkets in residential areas.
Subway lines 3 and 6 run through this district. Some popular stations are Gupabal, Yeonsinnae, and Bulgwang.
GANGBUK-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | NA | 30,000,000 | 450,000 | 70,000 |
| One Room | 130,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 400,000 | 50,000 |
| Apartment | 160,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 400,000 | 120,000 |
| Villa | 150,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 500,000 | 35,000 |
Aptly named "river north," Gangbuk-gu is located on the northern cusp of Seoul. It is popular for it's accessibility to Bukhansan National Park.
It is a great area if you like to be away from the hustle and bustle of the main city. However, there is accessibility to some big name stores like e-mart, and Lotte Mart.
There is one subway line in this area (line 4) and the main subway stations are Suyu, Mia, and Miasageori.
GANGDONG-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 210,000,000 | 30,000,000 | 500,000 | 70,000 |
| One Room | 210,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 500,000 | 70,000 |
| Apartment | 200,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 900,000 | 120,000 |
| Villa | 260,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 730,000 | 50,000 |
This district is named "river east" therefore located in eastern Seoul. It is a quieter residential area, but you can reach Gangnam in about 30 minutes by public transportation.
There are a couple e-marts in the area, and of course many local supermarkets. However, this is not a common area for foreigners.
You can use subway lines 5 & 8, and some popular subway stations include Cheonho, Gangdong, and Gangdong-gu Office.
GANGNAM-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | NA | 10,000,000 | 950,000 | 150,000 |
| One Room | 180,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 700,000 | 80,000 |
| Apartment | 600,000,000 | 200,000,000 | 1,400,000 | 150,000 |
| Villa | 580,000,000 | 30,000,000 | 1,200,000 | 130,000 |
This district is named "river south" which means this district is south of Han River. Gangnam is probably one of Korea's most famous areas since PSY's song Gangnam Style.
There are many shopping areas like COEX Mall, Garosugil, and Apgujeong Rodeo Street.
Because there are many attractions in this area, housing is difficult to find and very expensive.
Some popular subway stations are Gangnam, Gangnam-gu Office, and Cheongdam, and lines 2, 3, 7, 9, Bundang Line, and Shinbundang Line pass through this district.
GANGSEO-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 220,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 600,000 | 70,000 |
| One Room | 75,000,000 | 25,000,000 | 350,000 | 60,000 |
| Apartment | 280,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 700,000 | 200,000 |
| Villa | 280,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 400,000 | 40,000 |
Named "river west" this district is located in western Seoul.
This district is home to Gimpo International Airport. It is a convenient location if you ever need to fly to cities like Busan, Gwangju, Jeju, etc.
You can access subway lines 2, 5, 9, and Uijeongbu (U) Line, Airport Railroad Line. Some popular subway stations are Balsan, Kkachisan, and Sinbanghwa.
GEUMCHEON-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 229,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 600,000 | 75,000 |
| One Room | 40,000,000 | 30,000,000 | 300,000 | 80,000 |
| Apartment | 140,000,000 | 350,000,000 | 350,000 | 70,000 |
| Villa | 290,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 290,000 | 60,000 |
This is a more business district and home to many technology companies. This is one of the smaller districts in Seoul.
You can find a lot of office-tels in this area.
Some popular subway stations are Geumcheon-gu Office, Doksan, and Gasan Digital Complex. Lines 1 & 7 run through this district.
GURO-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 170,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 800,000 | 70,000 |
| One Room | 300,000,000 | 50,000,000 | 300,000 | 80,000 |
| Apartment | 295,000,000 | 40,000,000 | 520,000 | 200,000 |
| Villa | 220,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 600,000 | 100,000 |
This area is popular information technology (IT). So there are a lot more office-tels than the other options.
There are a large e-mart in Guro.
Some popular subway stations include Gaebong, Guro, Namguro, Dorimcheon, and Sindorim. You can access subway lines 1, 2, & 7.
GWANAK-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 160,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 500,000 | 70,000 |
| One Room | 70,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 450,000 | 70,000 |
| Apartment | 380,000,000 | 250,000,000 | 500,000 | 75,000 |
| Villa | 270,000,000 | 130,000,000 | 550,000 | 120,000 |
This district is home to Seoul National University, so there are a lot of students in the area. Therefore, you can find a lot more one room options than the others.
There are many parks in the area, and fairly accessible to the downtown areas of Seoul.
For those who like to hike there is Gwanak Mountain nearby.
You can access subway lines 2 & 4. Some popular subway stations are Sillim, Seoul Nat'l University, and Bongcheon.
GWANGJIN-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 320,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 600,000 | 80,000 |
| One Room | 130,000,000 | 30,000,000 | 350,000 | 100,000 |
| Apartment | NA | 100,000,000 | 550,000 | 180,000 |
| Villa | 110,000,000 | 50,000,000 | 350,000 | 70,000 |
There are many appeals to Gwangjin-gu, it is home to Achasan Mountain, Ttukseom, Konkuk University, and Sejong University.
Since there are universities in this district, there are a lot more one room options than anything else.
There are big name supermarkets like e-mart, and Lotte Mart in the area.
Some popular subway stations include Guui, Achasan, Junggok, and Konkok University. These stations are on subway lines 2, 5, and 7.
JONGNO-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 360,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 750,000 | 100,000 |
| One Room | 90,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 550,000 | 80,000 |
| Apartment | 60,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 750,000 | 80,000 |
| Villa | 200,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 550,000 | 100,000 |
Jongno-gu is located in the downtown area of Seoul.
There are plenty of attractions in this area like Gwanghwamun Plaza, Gwangjang Market, Bukchon Hanok Village, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and more!
This is where many embassies, including the U.S embassy, are located so it is great for foreigners.
There are many neighborhoods in this area that range from business areas, to residential areas. The business neighborhoods will have a lot more office-tel options, whereas the residential neighborhoods are mostly private houses.
Some main subway stations are Jongno 5(o)-ga, Jongno 3-ga, Gwanghwamun, and Gyeongbokgung. Lines 1, 3, & 5 run through this district.
JUNG-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 100,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 650,000 | 90,000 |
| One Room | 95,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 500,000 | 60,000 |
| Apartment | NA | 10,000,000 | 500,000 | 150,000 |
| Villa | 150,000,000 | 30,000,000 | 800,000 | 40,000 |
Jung-gu is next to Jongno-gu. So you can easily go between these two popular areas.
There are a lot of places to shop like Namdaemun Market, Dongdaemun Market, and Myeongdong!
For more cultural parts of Seoul there is Seoul City Hall, Deoksugung Palace, and Seoul Museum of Art.
Those who want to hike Namsan Mountain and reach Namsan Tower can do so.
There are also big name brands in the area like e-mart, Lotte Mart, and Shinsegae Department Store.
Some popular subway stations include Myeongdong, Euljiro 3(sam)-ga, City Hall, and Dongguk University. There are many subway lines that pass this district including, lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and Airport Railroad Line.
JUNGNANG-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 13,500,000 | 5,000,000 | 500,000 | 170,000 |
| One Room | 90,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 500,000 | 50,000 |
| Apartment | 370,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 550,000 | 170,000 |
| Villa | 350,000,000 | 40,000,000 | 600,000 | 50,000 |
There are a couple e-marts in the area, but for those who like bulk shopping, there is a Costco.
This area is not common for foreigners but still a decent place to live with all the necessary amenities.
Subway stations in the area include Jungnang, and Sangbong. This district is serviced by lines 6 & 7, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, and Gyeongchun Line.
MAPO-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 200,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 750,000 | 50,000 |
| One Room | 320,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 750,000 | 55,000 |
| Apartment | 357,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 970,000 | 100,000 |
| Villa | 320,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 900,000 | 40,000 |
This is a popular district for young people because there are a lot of trendy cafes, restaurants, and bars, especially in Hongdae.
There is also Hongik University in this district. Which means there are a lot of one rooms.
Since there are many students living in the area, an innovative e-mart in Sinchon stocks items that would appeal to college students/small households.
Also there are a lot of high-rise apartments in this district.
Some popular subway stations are Hongik University, Hapjeong, and Mapo-gu Office. Lines 2, 5, 6, Airport Railroad, and Gyeongui-Jungang Line run through this district.
NOWON-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | NA | 5,000,000 | 400,000 | 85,000 |
| One Room | 80,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 450,000 | 50,000 |
| Apartment | 530,000,000 | 200,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 200,000 |
| Villa | 250,000,000 | 50,000,000 | 350,000 | 30,000 |
There are a few university campuses in this district including Seoul Women's University, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Kwangwoon University, etc.
It is said that this is a more leisurely area of Seoul, so if the fast-paced city life isn't your style, this may be the place for you!
There are big name supermarkets in e-mart and Lotte Mart in Nowon-gu.
You can use subway lines 1, 4, 6, and 7 in this district. Some popular subway stations are Seokgye, Taereung, Goneneung, Kwangwoon University, and Nowon.
SEOCHO-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 230,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 750,000 | 70,000 |
| One Room | 130,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 600,000 | 80,000 |
| Apartment | 550,000,000 | 150,000,000 | 550,000 | 300,000 |
| Villa | 500,000,000 | 30,000,000 | 900,000 | 60,000 |
This is one of Seoul's largest districts.
There are many transportation options to get to downtown, or Gangnam. You can even go to Nambu Bus Terminal, or Seoul Express Bus Terminal to go to places outside of Seoul city limits (Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, etc).
For those who love bulk shopping at Costco, there is one in Yangjae. There are also e-mart, and Lotte Mart.
Some popular subway stations include Express Bus Terminal, Yangjae, and Seoul Nat'l Univ. of Education. Lines 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, Bundang, and Shinbundang service this district.
SEODAEMUN-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 220,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 600,000 | 105,000 |
| One Room | 80,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 450,000 | 55,000 |
| Apartment | 300,000,000 | 30,000,000 | 500,000 | 140,000 |
| Villa | 250,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 650,000 | 250,000 |
This is primarily a university district including Yonsei Univeristy, and Ewha Women's University. Therefore, many more one rooms available.
While there aren't any big name supermarkets in this area, you can utilize smaller local supermarkets.
Some subway stations include Seodaemun, Chungjeongro, and Hongje. You can use subway lines 2, 3 & 5 in this district.
SEONGBUK-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 264,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 600,000 | 70,000 |
| One Room | 150,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 500,000 | 50,000 |
| Apartment | 120,000,000 | 40,000,000 | 550,000 | 180,000 |
| Villa | 280,000,000 | 50,000,000 | 600,000 | 80,000 |
Seongbuk-gu is close to the popular areas of downtown, but still a bit detached.
It also is home to Korea University in Anam-dong. Also there are many other university campuses, so a popular area for students.
For those who are interested in furniture, Korea Furniture Museum is located in this district.
Popular subway stations include Bomun, Anam, Wolgok, and Sungshin Woman's Univerisity. Subway lines 4 & 6, and Uijeongbu (U) Line pass through this district.
SEONGDONG-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 230,000,000 | 30,000,000 | 900,000 | 110,000 |
| One Room | 150,000,000 | 60,000,000 | 500,000 | 100,000 |
| Apartment | 900,000,000 | 875,000,000 | 900,000 | 200,000 |
| Villa | 210,000,000 | 50,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 80,000 |
A popular attraction in this district is Seoul Forest, which is a great place to hang out or exercise.
There are many luxury high-rise apartments in this area, and tends to be on the pricy end.
There is an e-mart in Seongsu-dong.
Some popular subway stations are Wangsimni, Seongsu, and Oksu. Subway lines 2 & 5, Bundang, and Gyeongui-Jungang run through this district.
SONGPA-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 260,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 850,000 | 90,000 |
| One Room | 150,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 600,000 | 80,000 |
| Apartment | 600,000,000 | 50,000,000 | 1,200,000 | 90,000 |
| Villa | 350,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 1,100,000 | 95,000 |
Songpa-gu is home to Jamsil, which is a popular business and shopping area.
There are many attractions in this area like Seokchon Lake, Lotte World Tower, Lotte World, and Olympic Stadium (built for 1988 Summer Olympics).
Olympic Stadium is now used for big-scale concerts, or sporting events like games for Korean soccer team Seoul E-Land FC.
Subway lines 2, 5, 8, 9, and Bundang run through this area. Some popular subway stations are Jamsil, Seokchon, Garak Market, and Olympic Park.
YANGCHEON-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 300,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 650,000 | 115,000 |
| One Room | 110,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 420,000 | 100,000 |
| Apartment | 380,000,000 | 300,000,000 | 700,000 | 250,000 |
| Villa | 270,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 700,000 | 40,000 |
This is mostly a residential district with more apartments than the other options.
There is an e-mart, and many local supermarkets.
Some popular subway stations are Yangcheon-gu Office, and Mok-dong. Lines 2 & 5 service this district.
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 330,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 850,000 | 80,000 |
| One Room | 120,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 450,000 | 70,000 |
| Apartment | 500,000,000 | 370,000,000 | 400,000 | 260,000 |
| Villa | 340,000,000 | 170,000,000 | 150,000 | 50,000 |
This is one of Seoul's business and finance hubs. It tends to sway high end professionals in terms of demographics.
You can find more office-tels or apartments in this district.
Some attractions include 63 Square, and Yeouido Park.
Some big name markets in this area are e-mart, Lotte Mart, and Costco.
Some subway stations in this district are Yeongdeungpo-gu Office, Singil, Yeouido, Borame, and National Assembly. Subway lines 1, 2, 5, 7, & 9 run through this district.
YONGSAN-GU
| Jeonse | Wolse | Mnt. Fees | ||
| Deposit | Rent | |||
| Office-tel | 190,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 600,000 | 80,000 |
| One Room | 200,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 500,000 | 70,000 |
| Apartment | 750,000,000 | 30,000,000 | 1,500,000 | 130,000 |
| Villa | 450,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 700,000 | 60,000 |
Yongsan-gu is probably the most common place to live for foreigners. The main reasons being the many foreign embassies, and U.S. military base.
If you're looking for electronics, one of the biggest places in Seoul is Yongsan Electronics Market.
Itaewon is becoming more popular due to webtoon-turned-kdrama Itaewon Class. But it is true that Itaewon is a hodge-podge of different cultures. You can find a lot of small businesses owned by foreigners.
Some popular subway stations are Itaewon, Yongsan, and Seoul Station. You can access subway lines 1,4, 6, and Gyeongui-Jungang from this district.
RESOURCES
We have a blog that goes more in depth on renting an apartment in Seoul.
A great resource we include in this blog is real estate agencies that can speak English by district.
You can make appointments with these realtors through our Creatrip website!
Naver is Korea's most famous search engine. Naver Land is specifically for real estate in Korea.
The site is in Korean, but it is fairly easy to use. All you have to do is click on a district in Seoul and a list of open housing will appear on the left. Just scroll and find!
It is also where you'll find the most reliable information on prices, pictures and etc.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government put together some tips for foreigners to get housing in Seoul!
The site is in English and gives more information about the documents you would need, and a list of real estate agencies that can speak other languages.
This is a common site for people to sell unused items, post jobs, and post housing!
You can scroll though the options and filter according to the housing features you prefer.
We hope this guide helps you to find Seoul housing. Good luck and we hope you get settled soon in your new home in Seoul!