SOUTH KOREA

Housing
Types of Accommodation in Korea

Apartments – these are more luxurious in Korea. Apartments here are high-rise complexes comprised of
8–16 buildings. The height and the number of the buildings might differ in smaller cities, but in general
they are owned by a company that has its own brand (e.g.: Hyundai or Lotte). The apartments
themselves are often bigger, with more than one room, about 30 pyeong. This is one of the pricier
options available.

Officetels – as the name suggests, these are a combination of an office and a hotel. These types of
spaces are small and popular among people that live on their own and allow for the tenants to register
their business at the address. They are studio-type rentals that have all the essentials in one room.
These are an affordable option, especially for those living in big cities.

Villas – while it might sound like a big fancy house, villas are actually apartment buildings as well. These
are usually situated further away from the center and have fewer than six floors. Typically, villas are
individually owned, so your landlord might be living next door to you. The accommodation in these
buildings is more spacious, with no elevator, and fewer residents. Compared to other options, villas are
usually cheaper both in terms of rent and utilities.

Houses – single story homes are very rare and expensive in South Korea. However, they are available
further away from the big cities. If you want to rent a house while still enjoying the commodities offered
by local metropolises, you will need to pay a substantial amount for both, your deposit and the monthly
rent.

South Korea House Prices

In general, one can say that buying a house in South Korea is expensive. While the government is taking
serious measures to curb the increasing house prices in the country, the so-called speculation zones
with overblown prices are still unavoidable. That is especially notable in the country’s capital Seoul.
Hence, if you are looking for a cheaper option, consider buying property in smaller cities or the suburbs.

In general, you should expect to pay around 1.5–2.5 million KRW (130,000–215,000 USD) for a small
apartment or a studio in Korea. Prices for bigger accommodation start at about 4 million KRW (340,000
USD). However, here––the sky is the limit.

Types of Property

The most common types of for-sale properties in Korea are apartments. Their price might depend on:

 the age of the building;

 the brand name of the building;
 the proximity to public transportation;
 which floor the apartment is on (the higher the better);
 which side the windows are facing (the more sunlight, the higher the price).

https://www.internations.org/go/moving-to-south-korea/housing

Why are there so many types of housing in Korea?

Goshiwon, one-room, two-room, three-room, villa, apart, officetel, dandokjutaek…

Familiarizing yourself with all these terms is a challenge at first. The reason there are so many different
names is because each of them is governed by different law. This makes a whole lot of difference in
pricing, housing condition, contract condition, renter protection, etc.

1. Officetel

Officetel is probably the fanciest option you will get as a single person living in Korea. Officetel is
built in a commercial district by big developers and usually is close to the subway, located on a major
road. Officetel is built to be a live-and-work place and often not protected by residential renter
protection law. The concept of officetel is relatively new, so most buildings are less than 10-15 years old.
Although many residents use it for residential purposes, you will find many businesses such as nail salon,
massage shop, travel agency office operating on the same floor. Room conditions are usually the best
among options for singles and definitely the priciest option. Most officetels are studio-style, some come
in duplex-style while very rarely, in 2BR-style.

Fancy building, high-end, commercial area

Rent example
1) Hongik University Station vicinity
Deposit ₩10,000,000 / Monthly Rent ₩850,000 + Maintenance Fee ₩200,000
2) Gwanghwamun Station vicinity (near Gyeongbok Palace, main CBD area)
Deposit ₩10,000,000 / Monthly Rent ₩1,200,000 + Maintenance Fee ₩250,000

2. One-room

One-room is a studio, a housing unit that has no separate bedroom, in a small building. One-
room buildings or villas are mostly built by individual owner on a small lot of land, not by developer
companies, therefore, housing conditions are not as good. These buildings are typically built within 3
months by small local house builder compromises such as thinner walls or sewage pipes have been
made. Typically comes with a kitchenette, stove, washing machine and many also include air
conditioner, fridge, desk, even a bed.

Small humble building, middle-end, local residential neighbourhood

Rent example
Hongik University Station vicinity
Deposit ₩10,000,000 / Monthly Rent ₩600,000 + Maintenance Fee ₩50,000
3. Goshiwon

Goshiwon is a super tiny room dormitory room. Goshi means national exam to be civil
servants.Goshiwon originally started out as a small room for students studying 16 hours a day for Goshi
to sleep in an environment with no distractions. Goshiwon rooms are not recognized as a housing unit
so building conditions are the poorest. Some units come with individual shower booth/toilet while
others come with shared bathrooms in the hall. The in-unit shower booth is usually so small that you
need to sit over your toilet during shower. The walls between each unit are made with plywood so noise
can be a problem. Air ventilation is also not very good. Some units may not even have a window.

Despite these drawbacks, many international students choose to live in goshiwon. It’s cheap and only
requires one month’s rent as deposit. Unlike one-room, officetel, two-rooms which all usually require 1
or 2-year rental period and huge deposit, goshiwon is commitment-free. Also, it comes furnished with a
bed, table, chair, fridge, tv, communal washing machine and usually free rice and kimchi as well.

Dorimitory style, cheap, no commitment

Rent example
Hongik University Station vicinity
Deposit ₩500,000 / Monthly Rent ₩500,000

4. Two-room, three-room

Two-rooms and three-rooms are units that have 2 and 3 bedrooms, again, in a small building
(villa). You won’t call a 3BR condominium unit a three-room because it’s in a big building. These are built
by local homeowners which may live in the same building, usually on the top floor. From the 2000’s,
one-room buildings became trendy, so most surviving two-rooms and three-rooms are older.

Unlike one-rooms that come partially furnished, two-rooms and three-rooms do not come furnished.
You need to bring your stove, closet, air conditioner, fridge, etc. However, if you invest the money to
furnish and sublet the other rooms, your monthly rent expenditure will be much less than other options.
 Rent example
Hongik University Station vicinity
Deposit ₩20,000,000 / Monthly Rent ₩700,000 + Maintenance Fee ₩0

5. Apt (아파트)

Apt(아파트) which comes from the English word “apartment” is used a little differently in Korea
than from the States or elsewhere. Apt is residential multi-room housing in a big building and usually is
built on a large plot of land, forming a closed residents-only complex. Apt is most close in definition to
condominiums in the U.S. Living in a nice apt danji (condominium complex) is a symbol of success, so
many young couples either delay their marriage until they can afford an apt or rely on their parents to
rent/buy one. For apt rentals, monthly rental (wolse) is not as common as jeonse, paying about 60 –
80% of the sales price as the refundable deposit.

Big building in complex, high-end, most suitable for families

https://blog.mykoreatrip.com/dont-go-house-hunting-korea-without-hailey-many-types-housing-
options/

EDUCATION

Following the Korean War, the Korean government shifted authority for education from local
school boards to the Ministry of Education. The 1949 Basic Education Law established six years of
primary school, beginning at age 6, followed by three years of lower secondary school and then three
years of upper secondary school. By the mid-1960s, 90 percent of children ages 6 to 12 were attending
school, which eliminated what had been widespread illiteracy. By 1979, children were enrolled in lower
secondary schools at the same rates, and by 2018, some 98 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds had
completed upper secondary education—the highest rate among OECD countries. By that same year, 70
percent of this age group had also completed postsecondary education, again the highest rate among
OECD countries, and that rate continues to grow.

Korea’s education system was and remains highly test-driven, despite recent efforts to change.
In Korea, most education and career opportunities depend on which upper secondary school and college
or university students attend, and admissions decisions are still based largely on test scores. As of 2018,
more than 70 percent of Korean primary and secondary school students worked with private tutors,
often at after-school tutoring centers (hagwons).
Supports for Young Children and Their Families

Korea has struggled with declining fertility rates in recent years: the average number of
children per woman fell below one in 2018, a record low since the government began collecting data in
1970 and well below the OECD average of 1.7. In response, the government has dramatically expanded
supports for young children and their families.

Korea provides new parents with 90 days of maternity leave, fully paid by employers for the
first 60 days and then subsidized by the government, and 10 days of employer-paid paternity leave
(increased from three days in 2019). In addition, each parent is entitled to one year of government-
subsidized parental leave, paid at 80 percent of salary for the first nine months and 40 percent for the
last three months. In 2019, the government introduced a new benefit allowing each parent to work
reduced hours for an additional year after a child’s birth while receiving 80 percent of their full salary.
Parents can take off one to five hours each day, for which the government subsidizes employers.

The government has made a concerted effort to increase the historically low share of fathers
taking leave, in hopes that more evenly distributed childcare responsibilities will encourage more
women to have children. Measures include the 2014 increase in the monthly parental leave payment if
a second parent takes leave; the 2019 increase in the duration of paid paternity leave; and the 2020 law
allowing both parents to take parental leave simultaneously., Korea has seen progress, with the
number of fathers taking leave increasing by 26 percent in 2019 compared to the prior year.

In addition to leave policies, Korea provides ongoing financial support to all families of young
children. All expectant parents receive a “Citizen-Happiness Voucher” to cover expenses related to
pregnancy and childbirth. In 2018, a monthly child allowance was introduced for children up to age 6
in all but the highest-earning families, and in 2019, the allowance was expanded to cover all families
with children up to age 7, regardless of income.

Supports for School Aged Children

Students from immigrant families and from North Korea have access to targeted counseling and
welfare services, and the government has instituted a “Global Bridge” program for multicultural
students, defined in Korea as children with one Korean parent and one foreign parent. There are about
100,000 multicultural students in Korea, or about 1.7 percent of the student population. The Global
Bridge program, which selects 100 multicultural students to participate each year, is intended to provide
connections between Korea and students’ home countries.

The government provided US$16 million (19 billion KRW) for support of the plan in 2017.

Learning System

Preschool

Preschool programs in Korea serve children ages 3-5. Participation is nearly universal, with about 95
percent of three- to five-year-olds enrolled in preschool as of 2017. About half of preschools are public
and half are private.
Primary and Secondary Education

Children between the ages of 6 and 15 are required to attend school in Korea. There are six years of
primary school, three years of lower secondary school, and three years of upper secondary school,
which is either general or vocational in focus.

https://ncee.org/country/korea/

Primary Education

Kindergarten is optional in South Korea and most parents prefer to keep their little ones at home as long
as possible. However, at age 6 their child must move on to 6 years compulsory chodeung-hakgyo
elementary education. There they learn subjects like English, Fine Arts, Korean, Maths, Moral Education,
Music, Physical Education, Practical Arts, Science and Social Studies, usually all presented by a single
teacher. Some parents send their children to private hagwon schools after hours, where English may be
better taught.

Middle Education

Places in secondary schools are awarded by lottery and everybody gets an equal chance. The transition
to 3 years of middle school can be difficult because studies are taken far more seriously. Discipline is
stricter too with uniforms, haircuts and punctuality strictly enforced. This time though, specialist
teachers move between classrooms teaching core subjects, including English, Korean, Maths, as well
Social Science and Pure Science. Optional programs include Art, Ethics, History, Home Economics, Music,
Physical Education, Technology, and Hanja Chinese Characters.

Secondary Education

The final 3 years of school education take place at high schools. These may specialize according to
subjects taught (e.g. Science versus Languages), or present more general academic curriculae. Some are
state owned and some are privately run. The quality of their results is legendary. Standards are high.

Vocational Education

Approximately 25% of middle school graduates prefer to go on to vocational schools where they are
taught skills in 5 fields including Agriculture, Commerce, Fishery, Home Economics and Technology. The
1st of 3 grades follows a common program, where after students specialize.

Tertiary Education

The greater majority of Korean high school students write a college scholastic ability test with a view to
studying further. Standards are high and some students start preparing as early as in kindergarten years.
The 5 sections of the test investigate knowledge of English, Korean and Maths, and also elective subjects
such as Social Sciences, Physical Sciences and the Humanities.
 At university, students encounter unfamiliar standards of excellence and whole families become
involved in helping them to pass. At examination times, businesses even open for shorter hours in
recognition of this fact. A student who passes though, has a qualification that meets top international
standards, and of which he or she may be justifiably proud. Korea - living proof of the power of a
knowledge-based economy.

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  Education School/Level Grades Age s Notes

Primary   1–6 8–13 6  

13– Correspond to U.S. grades 7-

Middle Middle School 1–3 3
15 9, England grades 3 - 5

16–
Secondary High School 9–12 3  
18

17–
Vocational Vocational High School 2–3 2 last 2 years of high school
18

Vocational Junior Vocational Colleges 2  

Tertiary Bachelor's 4 130 -140 credits

Tertiary Master's 2 24 credits

60 credits including 24 credits

Tertiary Doctorate 3
earned in Master's program

https://www.scholaro.com/pro/Countries/South-Korea/Education-System