Renting in Korea without losing your deposit
Jeonse, wolse, and the deposit paperwork.
Guides
Start with how the deposit systems work, then move to the contract checks and the steps that protect your money.
How Jeonse Works
The lump-sum deposit system (전세): how much you put down, how you get it back, and the risks to watch.
Read guideWolse Explained
Monthly rent (월세) with a smaller deposit: how the deposit-to-rent math works and when it beats jeonse.
Read guideKorean Apartment Types
Apartment, villa, officetel, and what each label actually means for size, cost, and management fees.
Read guideGoshiwon vs Officetel vs One-Room
The budget end of the market compared, so you know what you are trading off at each price point.
Read guideLease Documents Checklist
What to check on the contract and the property register before you sign, line by line.
Read guideGetting Your Deposit Back
The move-out timeline, the move-in date registration (확정일자) that protects you, and how refunds work.
Read guideAvoiding Deposit Scams
The jeonse fraud patterns that have cost foreign residents their deposits, and how to check before you pay.
Read guideWhen the Landlord Won't Return Your Deposit
Your legal options when a deposit is withheld, and the dispute process that actually works.
Read guideKorea Housing FAQ
Quick answers to the questions that come up most when foreign residents rent in Korea.
Read guideJeonse or wolse: the deposit is the decision
Korean rentals come in two shapes, and the difference is where your money sits.
- Jeonse (전세): one large lump-sum deposit, often 50% or more of the property value, and no monthly rent. You get the full deposit back at the end of the lease, so the risk is entirely about getting that money back safely.
- Wolse (월세): a smaller deposit plus monthly rent. Lower upfront cost, higher running cost, and less exposure if something goes wrong.
Whichever you choose, the protections are the same: register your move-in date (확정일자), check the property register, and confirm any debts registered against the property before you hand over a deposit. Our guide to how jeonse works walks through both contract types and the checks that protect your money, and the cost of living calculator puts a monthly figure on whichever one you pick.
Related: moving in and beyond
Once the lease is signed, these guides cover the rest of getting settled.
First-Month Housing Timeline
The order of operations for finding and moving into your first place in Korea.
Read guideSetting Up Utilities
Electricity, gas, water, and internet: what to set up after you move in and how billing works.
Read guidePet-Friendly Housing
Finding a rental that allows pets, and what landlords in Korea typically ask for.
Read guideRent Tax Credit
The monthly-rent tax credit foreign residents can claim at year-end settlement.
Read guide