Accommodation for Foreign Exchange Students in Korea

When deciding to study abroad in Korea, the first priority is to apply for a language school, and then to secure a place to live. If you are unable to successfully apply for a dormitory, what should you do? Some may want to compare the costs of dormitories and private rentals to find a cheaper option. In any case, it is important to gather information. Today, through Creatrip, we will look into the dormitories and rentals supported by language schools!

Dormitories

A dormitory is a residential space provided by each university. They are mostly located on-campus or near the university and have the convenience of not having to purchase items such as furniture that are difficult to handle when returning home. In addition, there is an advantage in being able to easily interact with various international students who have come to study for the same purpose, as well as Korean students within the university.

However, each school has different types of dormitories, procedures, etc., so let's take a look at each school.

Seoul National University

Seoul National University has three types of dormitories: Seoul National University Dormitory, Language Education Institute Dormitory 1-person room, and Language Education Institute Dormitory 2-person room.

1. Operating Regulations

• Qualification
  • Students registered for regular courses (morning, afternoon, research)
• Residence period
  • Gwanaksa: up to 2 semesters
  • Dormitory Double Room: Up to 3 semesters
  • Dormitory Single Room: No limit

2. Move-in Procedure

The process for moving into the dormitory consists of six steps: dormitory application > acceptance announcement > payment of dormitory fees > additional acceptance announcement > room assignment > move-in.

3. Dormitory Introduction

※ Other items such as bed sheets, blankets, and pillows must be purchased individually, and the deposit will be refunded excluding cleaning and repair costs upon departure.

Yonsei University

The Yonsei University dormitory on campus is called the SK Global House & International House, and currently, International House is a female-only dormitory, so male students can only apply to SK Global House. In addition, there is a dormitory in the suburbs (DMC Ville) for the three-week short-term course, and it is exclusively for foreigners.

1. Operating Regulations

• Qualifications
  • SK Global House & International House: Regular program/University Korean Language Course
  • DMC Ville: 3-week Short-term Course
• Period of Stay
  • SK Global House & International House: Maximum of 2 semesters
  • DMC Ville: Spring 1 semester, Spring 2 semester, Summer 2 semester, Winter semester

2. Move-in Procedures

The process for moving into SK Global House & International House consists of five steps: dormitory application > acceptance announcement > payment of dormitory fee > check-in > move-in.

As the types and costs of rooms in DMC Ville (an external foreigner-only accommodation) may vary each semester, you should check the announcements for more information.

3. Dormitory Introduction

University of Seoul

University of Seoul holds a lottery for applicants. The target audience includes international students, undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers.

To apply, you must submit an online application on the dormitory website during the application period, which is available on the dormitory notice board.

Korea University

Korea University offers two types of dormitories for international students, which are CJ International House and Anam Global House. You can refer to their official website for the application dates.

*Prices in KRW.

Sungkyunkwan University

1. Operational Regulations

• Qualifications
  • Undergraduate/graduate students or currently enrolled students who are eligible for the semester in which recruitment takes place.
• Required documents
  • A tuberculosis screening result obtained within two months prior to the date of employment

2. Move-in Process

3. Introduction to the Dormitory

Sungkyunkwan University dormitory is divided into 10 types, and because the eligibility for each type is different, you should check carefully when applying.

If you visit the Sungkyunkwan University dormitory link, you can find detailed introductions for each dormitory type, and English is also supported.

4. Selection Criteria for the Dormitory

• Priority is given to foreign students (including enrolled students)
• Second round of recruitment for vacancies caused by non-payment after the first round of selection
• All dormitories may be assigned to foreign students and roommates

Ewha Womans University

1. Operating Regulations

• Qualifications
  • Enrollment in the relevant semester of the intensive course
• Residence Period
  • Each student can only reside for a maximum of two semesters

2. Application Process

The application process is divided into four stages: Dormitory application > Confirmation of application results (random draw) > Announcement of successful applicants > Payment of dormitory fees.

3. Dormitory Introduction (I-House)

Type	Room type	Price
C	Single	2,120,300 KRW
	Double	1,251,200 KRW
D	Double	1,251,200 KRW

Kyunghee University

Kyung Hee University dormitories consist of two types: the 2-person room "Ujeongwon" and the 1-person room "Neoville". Ujeongwon is a studio-type dormitory with a private bathroom and toilet for each room, located on the campus, while Neoville is an off-campus dormitory located in front of the main gate of the international campus.

1. Operating Regulations

• Ujeongwon: Only available for application during the spring and fall semesters, and only 2-person rooms can be applied for.
• Neoville: Available for application in all four semesters: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Rice and kimchi are provided in the lounge.

2. Application Procedure

Application > Announcement of successful applicants > Payment of dormitory fee > Roommate application > Regular move-in

3. Move-in Procedure

Room verification > Submission of documents > Reception of room key > Registration of hand vein > Verification of equipment status > Registration of personal account at Kyung Hee University Infonet21

4. Introduction of Dormitories

Sogang University

Sogang University only accepts dormitory applications from applicants of the Summer Special Program, so regular program applicants must find their own accommodation.

1. Operation Regulation

• Qualification: Applicants of the Summer Special Program (First come, first served basis)

2. Introduction to Dormitory

• Name: Kkumjaga International House
• Type: Double occupancy room (for 2 people)
• Facilities: less Copy code
  • Inside the room: Desk, bed, wardrobe, air conditioning, bathroom, internet, etc.
  • Shared facilities: Cafeteria, fitness center, prayer room, laundry room, etc.
• Cost: 750,000 won (for 4-week program, including breakfast and dinner)

Hanguk University of Foreign Studies

1. Application

Apply for a double room on the admission application site > Announcement of results (by email) > Sign the pledge and move in

2. Introduction to dormitory

Global Home
Type	Double
# of rooms	40 rooms (double)
Capacity	80 students
Location	1-minute walk from the front gate
Facilities	Personal bed, desk, wardrobe, refrigerator, internet router, key card, lounge, laundry room, study cafe.

3. Price

※ In the case of a deposit refund, apply for resignation 3 weeks before the end of the semester, and after confirming the payment items, dormitory condition, etc., the deposit will be refunded. Deduction from the deposit in case of damage to the property.

Renting a Place

When it comes to renting a place, international students are often concerned because they have to find their own place to live through various channels and proceed with the final contract. So, let me introduce the ways and precautions to find a suburban residence.

First of all, rental is divided into a short-term rental and long-term rental. Short-term rental means a contract for at least 1 week up to several months, and long-term rental refers to a monthly rent or a lump-sum contract.

Short-term rentals are not easy to find compared to long-term rentals, but there are still ways to find properties. Shall we take a look at them?

1. Studio Apartment

Since most international students come alone, they mostly look for studio apartments. You can easily find a long-term rental studio apartment according to your conditions and budget because there are a lot of them. However, in this case, the minimum contract period is usually one year. But for those who attend language schools, they usually look for short-term rentals (3-6 months). Short-term studio apartments are not easy to find, so you need to search in several places. Let's divide it into three methods!

1) Use real estate applications

*The two applications introduced below only provide Korean language services.

• Peter Panz

This app has a short-term rental option, so you can select the type of room you want and choose short-term rentals to find the available rooms.

Once you find the room you want, you can click on the heart in the upper right corner of the property to bookmark it or contact the responsible real estate agent directly to inquire about it.

• 33m²

33m² is a short-term rental platform. You can set your desired filters and search for available properties.

If you find a property you like, you can enter your move-in date and duration of stay to get a booking approval at the end.

The advantage of this platform is that you can rent for as short as a week, making it useful not only for international students but also for locals who need to stay temporarily in a certain area for job interviews or business.

2) Visit Real Estate Agents

You can visit several real estate agents in the area where you plan to live and see available properties through an agent.

The important thing here is to not just visit one agent but visit multiple ones. The properties available with different agents can vary and there may be some agents who try to deceive you. Additionally, most real estate agents may not speak foreign languages, so it's recommended to bring a Korean-speaking friend or accompany a Korean person.

3) Use Ziptoss, a real estate agency affiliated with Creatrip, for real estate brokerage services

Both of the above cases require knowledge of the Korean language and there may be some unease due to the inability to verify the reliability of the property. While this cannot be completely resolved, the safest method recommended by the editor is to use Ziptoss, which is affiliated with Creatrip. Ziptoss is a well-known real estate brokerage platform in Korea, with about 11 directly managed real estates in Seoul. It provides services in three languages: Korean, Chinese, and English, and has relatively many short-term rental properties for foreigners, making it easy to find a property. If you are interested, you can get a free online consultation through the link below!

Ziptoss Real Estate Brokerage Service | Book Now

2. Sharehouses

A sharehouse refers to a living arrangement where several people live together in one house, and we will introduce the largest company among them. The site we want to introduce is called 'Sharehouse Woojoo', which mainly deals with properties near Seoul. It offers a range of prices, from low to premium, and operates separate accommodations for women and men. You can live with foreigners or Koreans (isn't this the charm of sharehouses?) They also have English/Chinese pages and can respond in those languages, so if you are interested in sharehouses, please inquire!

3. Airbnb

As a global platform, many international students use it for short-term stays in Korea. It includes various types of accommodations such as guesthouses, private rentals, studios or goshiwons run by companies. If you enter the region and occupancy period, you can see the corresponding rooms, making it easy to book the desired room. In addition, you can leave a review, making it helpful to refer to before booking.

4. Language School Websites

Some university language school websites provide information not only on dormitories but also on nearby accommodations. Schools that provide such information include Seoul National University, Ewha Womans University, Korea University, and Sogang University. We can also see Share House Woojoo and Ziptoss introduced above!

1) Seoul National University

2) Ewha Women's University

3) Korea University

4) Seogang University

Things to Consider When Finding a House

Finally, let's learn about how to find a short-term studio apartment without regret. Everyone knows to inspect the living environment and facilities, such as water and heating, by going directly to the location, but there are three more things you should check. Shall we take a look at what they are?

1. Affordable Housing

Most studio apartments are rented on a monthly basis, so many people try to find a studio with a lower rent to reduce their monthly expenses. However, as the saying goes, "you get what you pay for," and there may be many issues with safety, management, and facilities, which could ultimately cost you more money in the long run. Of course, there are rare cases where a good house is available at a lower price, so be sure to check for hidden costs before signing the contract.

2. Transportation

Transportation is important not only for commuting or going to school but also for going out to have fun. Even if the house is nice, if the transportation is bad, you will waste more time and money. Studio apartments located near subway stations or bus stops may have slightly higher rent, but they can improve your living efficiency by reducing transportation costs.

3. Surrounding Facilities

Depending on your lifestyle, you may prefer certain surrounding facilities. For example, if you enjoy walking or exercising, the location of parks or gyms is important. If you prefer eating out or grabbing snacks, the location of restaurants and convenience stores matters. In addition, if police stations, fire stations, and hospitals are nearby, you will be relatively safe in emergency situations. Therefore, it is wise to choose a residence that meets your needs.

We have looked into A to Z about international student accommodations, and we hope it was helpful. We hope you can refer to this in the future and have a more enjoyable international student life!

If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com! You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!