Curious About Korea's Jeonse (Key Money) Housing System

##StudyInKorea ##Jeonse ##KoreanHousing ##LivingInKorea ##ForeignersInKorea

person

Amelia

2026.07.23 16:26

Hi everyone,

I recently learned that Korea has a unique housing system called Jeonse, and I'm curious about how it works.

From what I understand, the security deposit seems to be very high. Is that true? Also, if you rent a place under a Jeonse contract, do you still have to pay monthly rent, or is it only the deposit?

I'd really appreciate it if someone could explain how Jeonse works and whether it's a good option for international students or foreigners living in Korea.

Thanks in advance! 😊

Comments

inbaem manager 9 days ago

Hello! I think the link below will be helpful. https://inbaem.com/en/guides/student-housing-in-korea-dormitories-homestays-jeonse-monthly-rent-guide In Korea, there are Jeonse and Ban-jeonse (semi-jeonse). With Jeonse, you pay only a large security deposit at the beginning of the contract, and you get it back when the lease ends. There is usually no monthly rent. With Ban-jeonse, the security deposit is lower than Jeonse, but you also pay a small monthly rent. As a rough example, a Jeonse deposit can be around KRW 100 million (though it varies greatly depending on the location and property). Because the deposit is so high, most international students usually rent a one-room apartment near their school and pay monthly rent instead.

🇰🇷 First time studying in Korea?

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