Finding a place in Korea comes down to two decisions: what kind of room you're looking for, and what it will actually cost you. This post is the first one. The second is [→ Part 2].
Open any Korean listing site and the same handful of words come up. 고시원. 원룸. 오피스텔. 셰어하우스.
They aren't just different sizes of the same thing. They run on different systems: different contracts, different deposits, different amounts of shared space. Picking the wrong one for your situation is how people end up stuck in a lease they can't leave or a room they can't stand.
Here's what each one actually is.
Two kinds of housing, not many
Before the individual room types, there's a split that explains most of what confuses newcomers. Korean housing divides into stay-type and lease-type, and almost everything follows from which side you're on.
| Stay-type 숙박형 | Lease-type 임대형 | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical options | Goshiwon, boarding house, guesthouse, homestay | One-room, officetel, house, share house |
| Suits | Short stays, roughly 3–6 months | Longer stays, a year or more |
| Deposit | None, or small | Usually required, often large |
| You pay | A monthly fee | Rent plus maintenance fees |
| Contract | Simple, quick | A written lease |
| Space | Smaller room, shared facilities | Your own space |
| Watch for | Facilities, shared areas, meals, whether you can register your address | Deposit, rent, fees, contract length, early-exit terms |
If you're landing without a place arranged, you're looking at stay-type first whether you planned to or not. That's fine. It's the normal path.
The room types
고시원 (goshiwon): the landing pad
A very small private room, usually with shared kitchen and sometimes shared bathroom. Typically no deposit and rented month to month.
- Best for: your first weeks, tight budgets, anyone who needs a place now
- Trade-off: rooms are genuinely small, and thin walls are the norm
- Why it's useful: no deposit and no long contract means you can move in fast and leave fast
하숙집 (hasukjip): boarding house, meals included
A room in a house run by a landlord who usually cooks. Common near universities.
- Best for: anyone who wants company and doesn't want to cook
- Trade-off: house rules, shared spaces, fixed meal times
- Ask first: whether meals are actually included, and how many
원룸 (one-room): the standard studio
One room with a private bathroom and a kitchen area. This is what most young people in Korea actually live in.
- Best for: anyone staying six months or more
- Trade-off: requires a deposit, and usually a proper contract
- Note: "원룸" is Korean-English. Saying "studio" won't help you.
오피스텔 (officetel): the upgrade
A studio in a building that mixes residential and office use. Usually newer, often with security, elevators, and better facilities.
- Best for: more comfort, more convenience
- Trade-off: higher deposit and higher monthly cost, plus building maintenance fees
셰어하우스 (share house): the social option
Shared housing aimed partly at students and young residents. Lower barrier to entry and built-in company, at the cost of privacy.
One thing to know: share houses run very differently from one operator to the next. Some work like stay-type, some like a full lease. Check the deposit, the monthly cost and the contract length before you assume which one you're dealing with.
What comes with the room (옵션)
Listings tell you what's already in the room, and it matters more than it sounds. Furnishing an empty room for a one-year stay means buying appliances you'll have to get rid of when you leave.
풀옵션 (pul-op-syeon, "full option") usually covers a fridge, a washing machine, an air conditioner, and a gas range or induction hob. Some listings go further and include furniture (a desk, a bed) or a TV and a microwave.
Listings that say 풀옵션 normally put the contents in brackets right after the word. Read the bracket, not the label. "Full" is not a fixed standard.
For stay-type places like goshiwon and boarding houses, what's provided varies from one to the next. Some give you bedding, some don't. Bring your own either way: shared bedding isn't worth the hygiene risk.
How people actually find places
- 부동산 (budongsan): the local real estate office. Small storefronts in every neighborhood, with listings taped to the windows. Walk in, say what you're looking for, and they'll show you rooms the same day. Agents charge a commission on a signed contract.
- Apps and websites: several major Korean property apps exist, mostly Korean-only
- University international offices: if you're a student, start here. Always. Some schools also partner with housing services aimed at international residents.
- Facebook groups and community boards for foreign residents: useful, but also where scams show up. Treat urgency as a warning sign.
Whichever route you use, the sequence matters more than the source:
- Book somewhere temporary for your first 2–4 weeks: goshiwon, a short-term rental, a guesthouse
- Land, get your bearings, get your phone working
- Then look at rooms in person, ideally with someone who speaks Korean
Yes, arriving without a permanent place feels uncomfortable. It is much less uncomfortable than the alternative.
The short version
- Stay-type or lease-type decides your deposit and your contract. Work out which one your stay needs.
- Start in a 고시원 or short-term stay, then find your real place in person
- Read what 풀옵션 actually includes. The bracket, not the label
- Share houses vary wildly. Check deposit, cost and contract length before assuming
- Never commit to a room you haven't stood in
That's the first decision. The second one is money: deposits, monthly costs, and what to check before you sign.
Next: [→ Part 2 · Deposits, Rent and Contracts]
This article is general information, not legal, financial, or real estate advice. We are not a licensed real estate agency and we do not broker, inspect, or vouch for any property. Rental practices vary by region, by building and by landlord, and change without notice. Confirm the details with your local district office (주민센터), your school's international office, or a licensed agent. Last updated: [2026.09.27]