Officetels for Rent in Seoul
An officetel is the most practical rental for most foreigners arriving in Seoul — a serviced studio-to-one-bedroom in a managed high-rise, usually furnished-ready, and rented on wolse (deposit + monthly rent) rather than the large lump-sum jeonse deposit that puts most Korean apartments out of reach.
What officetel rent actually costs
As of 2026-07-28, across the officetels currently listed for rent on Seoul Homes:
| Typical | |
|---|---|
| Monthly rent (median) | ₩2,000,000 |
| Middle 50% of listings | ₩1,330,000 – ₩4,100,000 |
| Deposit (median) | ₩10,000,000 |
| Size (median) | 41㎡ (about 12 pyeong) |
| Maintenance fee (median) | ₩300,000 / month |
The maintenance fee is the line most people miss. On an officetel it is high by design — it bundles building management, security, lift maintenance and often heating and water — and it is charged on top of the monthly rent. At a ₩300,000 median it adds roughly 15% to the median rent, so budget from the combined figure, not the headline one.
Rent by district
Rent spreads far more by district than by unit size. Median monthly rent among the officetels listed here:
| District | Listings | Median rent |
|---|---|---|
| Mapo-gu (마포구) | 18 | ₩1,165,000 |
| Seocho-gu (서초구) | 14 | ₩3,200,000 |
| Gangnam-gu (강남구) | 11 | ₩5,500,000 |
| Dongdaemun-gu (동대문구) | 4 | ₩1,790,000 |
| Yeongdeungpo-gu (영등포구) | 3 | ₩1,950,000 |
Gangnam and Seocho carry a large premium for the same unit type. Mapo — Hongdae, Gongdeok, Sangam — is where the same budget goes furthest while staying on a direct subway line into the centre.
Wolse, not jeonse
Almost every officetel here is let on wolse: a refundable deposit plus monthly rent. That matters for foreigners in two ways.
First, the deposit is an order of magnitude smaller than jeonse. A ₩10,000,000 median deposit is a sum most arrivals can actually wire; a jeonse deposit on a comparable apartment routinely runs into the hundreds of millions of won.
Second, deposit and rent trade against each other. Landlords will commonly lower the monthly rent if you raise the deposit, and vice versa — the conversion is negotiable and worth asking about directly if your situation favours one over the other.
Before you sign
- Confirm the unit is registered residential. Officetels can be registered for business (업무용) or residential (주거용) use. The registration affects whether you can complete a resident registration at the address, and it has tax consequences for the owner. Ask which one the unit is.
- Check the deposit is protected. Verify the owner on the property register (등기부등본) matches the person signing, and ask your agent about a confirmed date (확정일자) and move-in registration to secure your claim on the deposit.
- Get the maintenance fee in writing, including exactly what it covers. "Included" varies building to building.
- Ask what stays. Officetels are often let with built-in appliances, but "furnished" is not standardised.
Every listing on this page is handled by a Seoul Homes partner agent, and the listings marked as English-speaking will run the contract review with you in English.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is an officetel for rent in Seoul?
Across officetels currently listed for rent on Seoul Homes (as of 2026-07-28), the median is ₩2,000,000 per month with a ₩10,000,000 deposit, and the middle 50% fall between ₩1,330,000 and ₩4,100,000. Expect a maintenance fee on top — the median is about ₩300,000 per month. District matters most: the Mapo-gu median is ₩1,165,000 while Gangnam-gu is ₩5,500,000.
Can a foreigner rent an officetel in Seoul?
Yes. There is no nationality restriction on renting an officetel. You will normally need your passport, your Alien Registration Card (ARC) if you already have one, and funds for the deposit. Some landlords ask for proof of employment or a guarantor; agents who work with foreigners regularly can steer you to owners who do not.
What is the difference between an officetel and an apartment?
An officetel is a mixed-use building registered under Korea's building code as a business facility that may be lived in, typically studio to one-bedroom, in a managed high-rise with security and lifts. A Korean apartment (아파트) is a purpose-built residential complex, usually larger and more family-oriented, and far more often let on jeonse. Officetels are smaller, cheaper to enter, and much more commonly available on wolse.
Do I need a jeonse deposit to rent an officetel?
Almost never. Officetels are predominantly let on wolse — a modest refundable deposit plus monthly rent. The median deposit among officetels listed here is ₩10,000,000, against jeonse deposits on comparable apartments that commonly run to hundreds of millions of won.
Is the maintenance fee included in the rent?
No. On an officetel the maintenance fee (관리비) is charged separately and is unusually high because it bundles building management, security and often heating and water. The median across these listings is about ₩300,000 per month. Always ask for the fee and what it covers in writing before signing.