How to Read Korean Rent Listings: Deposit, Monthly Rent and Jeonse Explained
What 1000/50, 보증금, 월세, 전세 and 관리비 mean on Korean real-estate apps, how to read the numbers in 만 won, and what to check before you sign.
Open a Korean real-estate app such as Zigbang, Dabang or Naver Real Estate and you will see listings like 월세 1000/50. No currency, no zeros, and two numbers separated by a slash. Once you know the pattern, every listing reads the same way.
The numbers are in units of 10,000 won
Korean listings almost always drop the word 만 (man, 10,000). So 1000/50 means:
The first number is the deposit (보증금, bojeunggeum) and the second is the monthly rent (월세, wolse). Bigger amounts switch to 억 (eok, 100,000,000): 1억 5천 means ₩150,000,000. If a number looks strange, paste it into the Man/Eok converter.
Three ways to rent in Korea
Wolse (월세): deposit + monthly rent
The most common choice for newcomers. You pay a deposit up front and rent every month. The landlord returns the deposit when you move out, minus any unpaid rent or damage. Deposits for a studio often fall somewhere between ₩5 million and ₩20 million, and a larger deposit usually means lower monthly rent.
Jeonse (전세): one big deposit, no monthly rent
A system that is almost unique to Korea. You hand over a very large deposit, often a large share of the property's value, and pay no monthly rent. The landlord returns the full deposit at the end of the contract, usually two years. Listings show only one number, for example 전세 2억 (₩200,000,000).
Banjeonse (반전세): somewhere in between
A high deposit with a low monthly rent, such as 5000/30 (₩50 million deposit, ₩300,000 rent).
Other words you will see
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 관리비 | Maintenance fee, paid monthly on top of rent. Ask what it covers: cleaning of shared areas, water, internet or TV. |
| 매매 | For sale (purchase price), not for rent. |
| 원룸 / 투룸 / 쓰리룸 | Studio / two rooms / three rooms. |
| 오피스텔 | Officetel: a studio-style unit in a mixed office/residential building. |
| 빌라 | A low-rise apartment building (not a villa in the Western sense). |
| 전용 25㎡ | Exclusive (living) area of 25 m², about 7.6 pyeong. See apartment sizes explained. |
| 반지하 / 옥탑 | Semi-basement / rooftop unit. Usually cheaper, often colder, hotter or damper. |
| 풀옵션 | “Full option”: comes with basic appliances such as a fridge, washing machine and air conditioner. |
| 입주 가능일 / 즉시 입주 | Available move-in date / available now. |
| 중개수수료 | Real-estate agent's fee. It has a legal maximum that depends on the deal size; ask the agent for the exact amount before signing. |
Example: reading a real-style listing
This is a studio with a ₩5,000,000 deposit, ₩450,000 monthly rent plus ₩70,000 maintenance fee, about 23 m² (7 pyeong) of living space on the 3rd floor, furnished with basic appliances, available now. Your real monthly cost is about ₩520,000 before electricity and gas.
Protect your deposit before you sign
- Check the property registry (등기부등본). It shows the real owner and any mortgages (근저당) on the property. A large mortgage plus your deposit can be risky. You can ask the agent to show it to you.
- Sign with the real owner, or with someone holding a proper power of attorney, and pay the deposit to the owner's account.
- Report your move-in and get a fixed date. After moving in, file a move-in report (전입신고) and get a fixed-date stamp (확정일자) on your contract at the community service center or online. Together these help protect your deposit if the home is sold or auctioned.
- Consider deposit insurance for large jeonse deposits. Guarantee products exist for this; ask your bank or agent.
Laws and fees change, so treat this as a starting point and confirm details with your agent or a legal aid service before signing.