Accommodation

There are a number of lodging options in Korea, for both visitors and long-term residents. Tourists can take advantage of inexpensive rates at youth hostels or choose to indulge in the luxury of a five or six-star hotel. Foreign workers in Korea often have housing provided by their employer or may choose to conduct their accommodation search on their own.
 
Visiting South Korea
 
Need to find a place to stay during your trip to Korea? Looking for a little bit of luxury or do you prefer a more casual type of lodging? There are many different options for travelers and others needing short-term lodging in Korea.
 
Hotels – Hotels in South Korea can be separated into 5 categories: Super Deluxe (six-star), Deluxe (five-star), First Class (four-star), Second Class (three-star), and Third Class (two-star). Hotel rates range from 30,000 to 400,000 won (25 to 340 USD). Nearly all hotels in Korea provide online reservation services.

Motels and Inns – Located near bus terminals, motels and inns have inexpensive rates, making them among the most accessible accommodations in the country.

Condominiums – Condominiums are usually found in parks, mountains and ski resorts, and are rented out to members. Non-
  
members are also allowed to rent condos during non-peak seasons.

Youth Hostels – Located in cities, rural areas and tourist areas around South Korea. Rates usually range from 10,000 to 160,000 won (for a family room) (8.50 to 136 USD).

Guest houses – Guest houses are Korean homes that have been remodeled to accommodate foreign visitors. These accommodations aim to give foreigners an authentic Korean experience, while providing opportunities to interact with Korean locals and other travelers. Prices range from 15,000 won to 40,000 won (13 to 34 USD).
 
Hanok (Traditional House) Stays – To experience the Korean life of yesteryear, foreigners can choose to lodge in traditional Korean houses. Staying at hanoks can be very relaxing, as they often have serene surroundings.

Service Apartments (Commonly called 'Residences') – Priced less than hotels while providing similar comforts, residences are popular among foreigners who plan to stay in Korea for a few months. Other features include an individual kitchen, Internet access, a laundry machine and a 24-hour security.
 
Long-Term Housing
 
Employers usually provide housing for their foreign employees as a part of their contracts. The company will often rent a unit near the place of employment, either within walking distance, or a short bus or subway ride. Type of housing provided varies by employer and occupation, and can include dormitories, studio apartments, officetels, larger apartments and houses.

Employers will often both select the housing unit and take care of the lease. Tenants may be responsible to pay Key Money (a deposit), which would be returned at the end of the contract, minus the last month's utilities. Units are often furnished, and usually include furniture such as a bed, table and chairs, a closet, a range, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a microwave, and a TV set.
 
Housing Allowances

Some contracts provide employees with a housing allowance instead of arranging housing for them, especially if the contract is for a short term. Employees may also opt to receive a housing allowance instead of accepting pre-arranged housing, to find a lodging situation that best suits their needs. Employees would be responsible for finding their own accommodations and receive a monthly housing allowance from their employers. The amount of housing allowance provided will vary greatly by employer, occupation and location.
 
Types of Housing
 
Cash dispenser machines only provide cash withdrawal services are generally available 24 hours a day. CDs can commonly be found in convenience stores, subways, railway stations, bus terminals and department stores. Convenient hours and locations enable CDs to charge much higher fees for withdrawals than ATMs. Machines with the Plus and Cirrus logos also allow access to funds from international bank accounts, when using international debit cards with those logos on the back.
 
Apartments – As more families move to metropolitan areas for employment and educational opportunities, the number of high-rise apartments (apateu 아파트) and condominiums has increased in Korea. South Korea's population density is roughly 10 times the world's average, and neighborhoods of tall apartment structures have shot up to provide clean and modern living conditions near businesses, shopping and schools.

Officetels – Young professionals often opt to live in officetels, a term which combines the English words "office" and "hotel." Officetels are often concentrated in areas convenient for the young workforce and consist mainly of studio units, with a single room for sleeping, living and cooking.

Houses – Individual homes, dandok jutaek, are often one or two stories and have small yards.

OneRoom – As the name implies, it is a small studio with only one room in the house. It’s a lot like an officetel but often cheaper and less fancy. No living room or any other space (some have a small balcony) is included, except for the kitchen and bathroom. It’s usually rented to young university students or workers living alone.
 
Renting – Lease Agreement Types
 
Rental agreements in Korea are notable different than in many other countries. The two types of lease agreements in Korea are the 1 to 2 year Jeonsei lease and the monthly Wolsei lease.
 
Jeonsei "paid in full" – A form of lease based on a one-time deposit. Contracts may be for houses, parts of houses or apartments and usually last 1 to 2 years. A tenant would be required to pay 60 to 70% of the property's worth in a lump sum, but would not be required to pay any monthly rental fees during the contract's duration. At the end of the contract, the tenant would have their deposit returned, minus any fees for damages.

Wolsei – Monthly rent. Tenants are required to pay rent each month, plus Key Money (a deposit) which is returned when the tenant moves out. The amount of monthly rent paid can vary, depending on the amount of Key Money paid. If the amount of Key Money is large, tenants would pay a smaller amount monthly. Monthly rents can vary greatly according to the location of the unit, and can range between 0.3 and 1 million won. Key Money for Wolsei lease agreements can range between 3 and 20 million won. Very few employers will offer Key Money to help their employees rent apartments.
 
Buying
 
Purchasing housing is an option for foreigners, although the price of property in Korea is often prohibitive. Real estate agencies provide an easier and safer option for buying property, rather than dealing directly with a property owner. It's important to examine all contract clauses (including terms of contract, earnest money and payment details) and registration of the housing (including collateral security and provisional attachment). Upon moving in, new property owners must notify the dong-samuso (district office) and should receive the fixed date for their tenant protection rights.
 
Before you buy or rent
 
Make sure you check everything is okay before you actually buy or rent a house. Location, water supply, bugs, mold, holes and damage in walls, electricity, furniture, and sunlight are things you need to check.
 
Real Estate Agencies
 
Real estate agencies, budongsan 부동산, serve as mediators between property owners and renters or buyers. Some real estate agencies have realtors that speak a language other than Korean and are familiar with working with clients from other countries, with some specializing in working with foreign clients. Commission is collected from both housing seeker and owner, which is approximately 0.3~0.8% of the rent rate or 0.4~0.9% of the purchase price. Realtors will sometimes specialize in a certain neighborhood and often will show properties that they have exclusive listings for, so working with more than one realtor is a common practice.

  
 
Moving & Shipping
 
Information about moving domestically and internationally is available in the Mail/Shipping/Moving section.
 
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