Short-Term & Co-Living Rentals in Seoul: A Foreigner's Guide

The short-stay options at a glance

• Co-living — a private furnished room or studio plus shared lounges, kitchens and events, billed as one all-inclusive monthly price. Flexible terms; popular with young professionals, students and new arrivals.
• Serviced apartments / residences — hotel-style, fully furnished, often with housekeeping and front-desk service. The most convenient and the most expensive.
• Furnished monthly rental (wolse) — a regular furnished officetel or studio let on a monthly contract with a smaller deposit. The cheapest of the three for a stay of a few months.

What is co-living?

Co-living gives you a private, furnished room or compact studio while sharing generous common spaces — lounges, co-working areas, kitchens and sometimes a gym. The defining feature is all-inclusive pricing: one monthly fee usually covers rent, utilities, internet, cleaning of shared areas and building amenities, with little or no large deposit. Lease terms are flexible (often month-to-month with a short minimum), which is why it suits people who want to land in Seoul without committing to a long contract or buying furniture.

Several branded operators run co-living buildings across Seoul — you may have come across names such as Weave, Mangrove, Episode or Dears. They cluster around business districts, universities and transit hubs. (Seoul Homes lists individual units rather than operating these residences; this guide explains the category so you can compare it with a standard rental.)

Serviced apartments and residences

Serviced residences sit between a hotel and an apartment: a fully furnished home with hotel-like services (reception, housekeeping, sometimes breakfast or a gym). They bill weekly or monthly, need no Korean lease paperwork, and are the easiest option for a very short or uncertain stay — at a premium price. Good for business travellers and for bridging your first weeks while you search for a longer-term home.

Furnished monthly rentals (wolse)

If you have a few months and want the lowest cost, a furnished officetel or studio on a monthly wolse contract is usually the best value: a manageable deposit plus monthly rent, fully equipped, near transit. Browse these on the furnished rentals and short-term pages. See how to rent in Seoul as a foreigner for the contract and deposit-safety steps.

What it costs

• Co-living / serviced: one all-inclusive monthly figure. Convenient, but you pay a premium for the flexibility, furnishings and bundled utilities.
• Furnished wolse: deposit + monthly rent + the 관리비 (maintenance fee) + utilities. Often cheaper overall for a multi-month stay, especially with a larger deposit. See the cost of renting in Seoul and median rents by district.

What to check before you book

• Minimum stay and how much notice you must give to leave.
• Exactly what is included — utilities, internet, cleaning, 관리비.
• The deposit and its refund terms (small or none for co-living; standard for wolse).
• Location and commute to your office or campus.

Which is right for you?

• Under ~1 month: a serviced residence or hotel — no lease, maximum flexibility.
• 1–6 months: co-living for convenience and community, or a furnished monthly wolse for lower cost.
• 6 months or more: a standard furnished rental on a normal lease is usually the best value.

How Seoul Homes helps

Tell your verified, English-speaking realtor your dates and budget, and they will shortlist furnished and short-term homes that fit — and confirm the minimum stay, the all-in monthly cost and what is included before you commit.