Goshiwon
A Goshiwon is a small room somewhere around three square meters that students will often live in for a number of months in order to focus on a test. It usually has very limited space but is commonly fumished with an air-conditioner, desk, and bed. Usually there is a shared laundry machine and some goshiwons have kitchen attached. Careful decision should be made considering safety and emergency procedures in case of incidents such as fire.
Goshiwons are very affordable near each college or university. The cost may differ depending on options such as facilities and meals. The cost ranges from 300,000 KRW - 550,000 KRW per month.
Renting a room
Renting refers to the act of finding a room and taking care of matters such as cooking and washing by yourself
The types of available housing in Korea can categorized as follows:
- (1) (1) Type of rental housing: one-room studio apartments, houses, and apartments
- (2) Types of rental payment agreements: wolse, jeonse
- (3) You can find places available to rent through real estate offices (using their personal webpages or through mobile phone apps) and online communities at your university. The advantage of using a real estate office is that it allows you to easily compare several room types and rates.
Real estate offices are business that oversee rental agreements on behalf of another person or act as intermediaries and charge a fee.
- (a) Wolse (monthly rent): This type of rent is paid every month. There are two types of wolse payments. In some cases, renters will pay a specified sum of deposit money up front and then continue to make monthly rent payments. In other cases, there is no upfront deposit, and renters will simply pay a monthly rental payment.
- (b) Jeonse (Key money deposit): Jeonse or key money deposit is a housing rental system specific to Korea. Instead of paying monthly rent to a landlord, a large lump sum payment is deposited into the landlord's bank account for the duration of the contract. By law, Jeonse contracts are signed for two years. At the end of the contract, the deposited amount is returned to the renter
- 1Studio flat(One Room): The rooms more furnished and closer to subway or bus stop are more expensive. One room includes facilities for eating, sleeping, and cooking
- 2House: Students can rent one room or several rooms. The more expensive ones have better facilities and location
- 3Town house: It is composed of two bedrooms, living room, bathroom, and balcony.
- 4Apartment
In Korea, it is common that no furniture and home appliances are provided to tenants. Therefore, tenants should their rooms by themselves
When making a contract for a studio (one-room), flats or apartments, it is safest and wisest to use real estate agents.
Tip Things to consider when renting a room
- What is fumished: air-conditioner, desk, bed?
- Is the place furnished with a washing machine?
- What are the conditions of the lease?
- Are utilities included?
- How much is the monthly maintenance fee?
- Is Internet connection free?
- How should I dispose of the garbage?