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Global
Global Real
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Global Estate
Estate
RealEstate
Real Agency
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Estate in
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Agency in Seoul
Seoul
inSeoul
in Seoul
Seoul
(English
(English
(English
(English
(English speaking
speaking
(Englishspeaking agents)
agents)
speakingagents)
speaking
speaking agents)
agents)
agents) Items to be confirmed after signing a
・Hyundai-Hometown ・Viva-Consulting 792-5500
● Dobong-gu ● Gangdong-gu 0707-4999-002 ・A&A 794-1133 contract and before moving in
・Joeun 990-0708 ・Ziwoo 797-8814
・Lee Jik Sun 470-8946 1. You should inspect the facilities of the house.
● Nowon-gu ・Hill-Top 795-4999

Global Real Estate Agency in Seoul (English Speaking Agents)

● Dongdaemun -gu ・Dreamland 794-0811 2. You should keep all utility bills (gas, electricity, water, management
● Gangseo-gu ・Gaon Auction consulting 987-0880
・Janghanpyung 2249-0088 ・LBA Seoul
・Hyundai-I
2691-1700
2695-4998
● Seocho-gu
・Reamko
・UN
749-9959
792-2558
expenses, etc.) and the acceptance certificate for the key.
3. Telephone, internet, television, home security and fire safety
Real
Real Estate
Estate Rental
Rental Guide
Guide
● Dongjak-gu ・Green 749-8070
・Banpo114 595-5982 equipment, etc.
・LBA Ilsong 2601-5660 ・Samsung 717-3399
・Samsung 814-5848 ・Hanbo 532-7050
・Eaan 711-0599
● Geumcheon-gu ・Posco 525-0024
● Eunpyeong-gu ・Onnuri 796-4955
・Nambuk 577-9498
・Eunpyeong 353-1123
・Cheongho 808-8920 ・Kookil
・Hansol
798-0123
798-6262 Other matters that require attention English
・Yesung 383-2459 ● Seodaemun-gu
● Guro-gu ・Hi-Rent 797-7277
・LBA Moonchanho 1. You should confirm the right relation (debt relation) of the house
・City 860-5656 ・Eden 793-4774
● Gangnam-gu Realty 392-4040
・Asian Tigers Co.,Ltd 790-1844 before signing a contract. Nowadays, it is mandatory by law for the
・Sinsegye 545-8844 ・Dongwon 792-1035 real estate agent to sincerely and accurately explain to the tenant
● Gwanak-gu ● Seongbuk-gu
・Mirae 517-8282 ・LA 790-3555 about the status/location and the right relation of the property and
・Hana 889-7003 ・Orient 3672-4400
・Chungdam Zai 511-6644 ・Hansin 798-9966 also to provide the relevant data, such as the certified copy of
・Prime 983-4589
・G&B Lotte 548-2002 ・New-Town 797-8200
● Gwangjin-gu (Itaewon-dong) register. Therefore, you should be careful when signing a contract
・Seolleung-Youk 558-8949 ● Songpa-gu ・Orient 796-4400 directly with a landlord or a subletter.
・Kangsan 446-0092
・Vantt 575-1006 ・Sobaek 432-8949 ・Excellent Consulting 424-1616 ・C&G 795-9043
・Hankook 578-0508 ・Hanmaru 448-2002 ・Prime 796-0023 2. If you are signing a contract on your own, you should report your
・NewYork 529-2089 ● Jongno-gu ・Pureun 408-4833 ・International 794-8844 change of address to the nearest immigration office or the passport
・Jungang 734-1557 ・Koa 400-5949 ・World 797-0330 holder’s temporary place of residence. This should be done in
・Rexle-Top 576-5765
・Hyundai 763-8833 ・Corea 400-1310 ・Jinny 749-5959
・Taeyoung 541-4008 conjunction with obtaining the fixed date on the lease contract from
・LBA Leaders 456-4989 ・Peace 792-1006
・Jinsol 738-4984 a nearby registry office.
・Sambo 3445-9857 ・Nicerent 793-8866
・Daejong 565-8800 ● Yangcheon-gu ・Summit 765-6820
● Jung-gu
・Best 2191-6694 ・Seoul Realty-Net 796-7114 3. In cases where a lease contract is being signed on behalf of a
・Arum 2233-4800 ・Saeseoul 2651-2244
・IRE 798-9888 corporation or in the name of an organization, collateral security, or
・Samil 543-5885 ・Kukje 2233-2525 ● Yeongdeungpo-gu ・Yongsan 792-7111 leasehold right, is established on the applicable land and building at
・LBA Newstar
Parksangwon 541-8866 ・Hometown 2631-0003 ・Alps 774-1588 a registry office to protect the tenant if a dispute over the rights of
● Jungnang-gu
・Office-Seoul 508-2860 ・Richensia 784-5655 ・JIAI 749-9500 the landlord should arise. However, the tenant is responsible for the
・Kumgang 977-5775
・Star Parks Co.,Ltd 6337-1000 ・New-Town 703-7888 expenses related to establishing the collateral security and leasehold
・Namil 557-0808 (Seogye-dong)
right.
・Global Property Co.,Ltd 568-6886 ● Mapo-gu ● Yongsan-gu
・Jun, Youngsuk 581-3318 ・Sinhwa 338-1550 ・Starvil Co.,Ltd 798-8990
・Onnuri 558-0601 ・Yale 3141-1233 ・Landmark 797-4555 Contact: Dasan Call Center, Metro Seoul
 Ethnic Residential Areas
1. Itaewon/Hannam-dong/UN Village/Ichon-dong
The most popular residential areas among expatriates living in
Seoul; conveniently located with good accessibility, but home
rental prices are relatively high.
2. Seongbuk-dong/Yeonhui-dong/Pyeongchang-dong
Mostly single family housing complexes surrounded with
mountains and parks, which provide fresh air. Rental prices are
very high, due to the majority of large houses in the areas.
However, accessibility to public transportation is poor.
3. Jongno/Gangnam/Yeongdeungpo
Many office workers, singles and couples with no children
prefer these areas and choose to live in high-rise apartments or
serviced apartments. For parents with children who go to
school, however, these areas are not recommended as they are
located off school bus routes.
4. Banpo/Bangbae-dong
French or French speaking peoples have become the largest
community in this area since the French school opened there.
The major types of housing in the area are luxurious low-rise
villas or high-rise apartments.
5. Sinchon/Hongdae/Cheongdam/Apgujeong-dong
The multi-national and generational young (college students,
exchange students, businessmen) live in a harmonious mixture
in these areas, due to the abundance of relatively cheap studios,
one-bed rooms, and apartment type accommodations.
6. Dobong/Nowon/Gangbuk
Favorable residential environment with relatively low-priced
rentals for Korean and expatriate commuters. These areas
feature a wide variety of residential choices from small- to large-
sized types. However, the disadvantage lies in being far away
from downtown and major expatriate communities.
Residence Types
1. Apartments
Apartments are the most popular and preferred type of housing in Seoul for
Koreans as they are convenient in terms of easy management of utility bills,
security, garbage disposal and resident-only community facilities, such as
children's playgrounds, a fitness center, library, the senior's house,
participation of housewives and children in diverse social activities in the
complex, etc.
2. Villa (low-rise condominium)
Villas are the most popular type of housing among the expatriates living in
Seoul because they were built recently and reflect Western style living
conditions. Most villas in the expatriate areas are occupied by foreign
tenants, even though rental costs are very high.
3. Single-unit house
These houses can be leased for one family. They are mostly two or three-story
buildings with private gardens in front or in the back. Despite their high rents,
most foreign Ambassadors and multinational company executives decide to
rent and live in single family houses in Itaewon, Seongbuk-dong, Hannam-
dong, and Pyeongchang-dong.
4. One-room
One room accommodations are similar to Western style studios. Some of
them have separate kitchens, but others are mostly one room with an open
kitchen. Generally, they are a popular type of housing among college
students and young workers. They are located mainly near universities or
subway stations.
5. Office-tel
Office-tels originally referred to offices that included simple residential facilities
in each unit, but nowadays, they are mostly used for residential purposes.
Office-tels are located in commercial zones with easy access to public
transportation, and they are popular among single workers or young couples.
Lease Types
Residential areas are widely spread around the whole city of Seoul. On the
outskirts of Seoul, there are many large-sized residential complexes that have
been developed over the past ten years. There are several types of homes that
can be leased according to the payment method, and the amount of rent
depends on the size, interior design, view, location, age of the residence, etc.
1. Jeonse (lump-sum deposit) system
The jeonse system is very unique to Korea and is the most typical type of
rental system here. Rent for a residence is not paid at all, but instead a certain
amount of deposit - called "jeonsegeum" - is paid to the lessor once during the
whole lease term. The full amount is then refunded to the tenant when the
lease contract ends.
2. Wolse (rent)
Wolse is a lease contract in which the tenant pays a monthly rent or prepays
the whole rent amount of the bilaterally agreed lease term in one payment.
There are two methods of wolse payment that are popular. One is where the
tenant pays a certain amount of deposit and a monthly rent, and the other is
where the tenant prepays the whole rental amount of the lease term in one
payment.
The former is popular and preferred among Koreans. The tenant pays a
certain amount of deposit and then pays a monthly rent. The deposit is
returned when the lease expires.
The latter is most likely to be a popular option for diplomats or top executives
of multinational companies who put down no deposit but pay the full rental
amount for the whole lease term.
Check points to consider before renting
1. Selection of residential area.
a. Commuting time to work and traveling time to school.
b. If this is your first time living in Korea, you are advised to find a home in
an apartment complex or a villa in an ethnic community area.
2. Check whether or not pets are allowed - pets are not allowed in some high-
rise apartment complexes.
3. Check whether or not it is necessary to supply your own home appliances
and furniture.
4. It is necessary to check parking availability and available parking spaces
(number of vehicles).
5. If you have children, it is necessary to check the extent of local traffic, public
security and the bus routes to school zones.
6. Electronic products: check to see if the voltage is 110V and/or 220V. Home
appliances: Korea uses the 60 hz frequency; TV: NTSC.
7. Check if a satellite antenna has been installed: if it can be installed on the
roof (French broadcasting, Russian broadcasting, Italian broadcasting, etc.)
there should be no problem in installing a small satellite antenna.
8. Foreign tenants require lots of help during their period of residence due to
the language barrier, which is why it is necessary to check whether or not
the real estate agent provides a follow-up service.
Items to be prepared and confirmed before
signing a lease contract
1. Required documents
a. Tenant : alien registration card (for individual transactions).
b. Landlord : a copy of the Korean ID card and his or her
personal seal.
c. Real estate agent : original copy of the property registry
(site/housing), land registry, building registry, land use plan
confirmation, lease contract, description of the property, a
copy of the warranty.
2. Lease contract (instructions)
a. Check whether or not the resident (corporation) registration
number is the same as that on the certified copy of register.
b. When paying the balance : check the certified copy of
register one more time.
c. When extending the lease term : provide written notice to
the landlord and agent one to two months before the
expiration date of the current lease.
d. House management.
- Major repairs (heating, air-conditioning, water, gas,
electricity, water leakage, pipe explosion, etc.) are
handled by the landlord.
- The tenant is responsible for minor repairs and damage.
e. Monthly building management fee and private security
service charge (CAPS/S1 or other private security service
company).
f. Provisions for the resolution of disputes - if such provision are
included, no time or cost on unnecessary legal disputes
need occur between the tenant and landlord.