Living in Hannam-dong and UN Village: An Expat Guide to Seoul's Premier Address

Who lives in Hannam-dong

Hannam is home to a long-standing community of diplomats, senior corporate transferees (주재원) and international families. The hillside enclave known as UN Village sits above the neighbourhood and is a byword for high-end living, while embassies and ambassadors' residences are scattered throughout. The mix is genuinely international, which makes settling in easier for families arriving without much Korean.

UN Village

UN Village (유엔빌리지) is the hillside pocket on the Han River side of Hannam-dong. It took shape from 1956 as housing for the families of United Nations forces personnel, and the name stayed. Today it is one of the most expensive addresses in Seoul: low-rise luxury villas and a few detached houses.

In Korea a villa (빌라) is a low-rise building with a handful of homes, not a detached house. In UN Village they are large. The four villas listed for rent on Seoul Homes on 8 October 2026 that their agents place in UN Village have three or four rooms, measure 155㎡ to 217㎡, and ask ₩8.5 million to ₩12 million a month. Across Hannam-dong as a whole, the nine villas listed that day ran from ₩5.5 million to ₩12 million a month. These are this site's own listings on one day, not an area average; the list on this page shows what is available now.

Because the enclave sits on a hill, check the walk to shops, the school bus stop and the nearest station when you view a home. To compare with other neighbourhoods, browse villas in Seoul.

The foreigner draw

The appeal is a rare combination of calm and convenience. You are minutes from the global dining and nightlife of Itaewon, a short hop from the Han River, and surrounded by designer retail along the Hannam stretch. For families weighing neighbourhoods, our where to live in Seoul guide puts Hannam in context against the other expat hubs.

Homes in Hannam-dong

Expect higher-end stock: spacious apartments in well-managed complexes, low-rise villas and detached houses on the UN Village hillside, and a growing number of furnished homes aimed at shorter corporate stays. Standalone apartments with hotel-style amenities are common. Because budgets here run above the Seoul average, it pays to understand lease structures early — see jeonse vs wolse vs buying and our cost of renting in Seoul guide.

Schools and family fit

Hannam sits in the heart of the international-school catchment. Yongsan International School (YISS) is close by, and many of the city's other international options are an easy commute. Our international schools in Seoul guide maps the curricula and locations so you can match a school to a neighbourhood before signing a lease.

Getting around and commute

Hannam offers fast road and subway access to the Gangnam business district across the river and to the downtown CBD around Jongno. Embassy staff and executives often value the central position, which keeps most commutes short. Renting as a foreigner can feel daunting at first — our renting in Seoul as a foreigner guide covers deposits, contracts and what landlords expect.

Relocating a team or a family

If a company is arranging the move, our corporate housing service handles foreigner-friendly landlords, verified agents (many English-speaking) and 법인 (corporate) leases with a single point of contact.