How to Find a Real Estate Agent in Korea (as a Foreigner)

What "real estate agent" means in Korea

A 공인중개사 is a state-licensed broker authorized to represent buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants in a property transaction. The license requires passing a national exam and registering the agent's brokerage (상호) with the local district office — every legitimate listing should show this registration. Unlicensed "helpers" who arrange deals informally have no legal standing if something goes wrong with the contract, the deposit, or the registration.

What a licensed agent actually does

• Verifies the property's registry (등기부등본) — confirming who legally owns it and whether there are existing liens or mortgages before you pay a deposit.
• Drafts and explains the lease or sale contract, including jeonse/wolse terms.
• Handles negotiation between the two parties.
• Coordinates the deposit transfer and registration timeline.
• Is legally liable (and insured) for errors in the transaction — the reason the license and registration matter.

The agent fee is capped by law, not negotiated freely

Unlike many countries, Korea caps the brokerage fee (중개보수) by government ordinance — it is not whatever the market will bear. For a purchase in Seoul, the maximum rate rises with price, from 0.6% under ₩50M down to 0.4% for the ₩200–900M band and back up to 0.7% above ₩1.5B. Rental transactions (전세/월세) are capped separately and are generally lower. Buyer and seller (or landlord and tenant) each pay their own agent — there is no shared commission. See the cost of buying a home in Seoul guide for the full fee table.

Finding an agent who works in English

Most 공인중개사 offices operate entirely in Korean, which is the single biggest obstacle for foreign buyers and renters — not the license system itself, which applies equally to everyone. Look for:

• English-speaking or bilingual agents — confirmed directly, not assumed from a translated website.
• A registered brokerage name and registration number displayed on the listing, not just a personal phone number.
• Willingness to walk through the registry document (등기부보) line by line before you commit to a deposit.

How Seoul Homes helps

Every listing on Seoul Homes is handled by a verified, English-speaking realtor — we check the brokerage registration before an agent's account is approved, so you are not vetting a license from scratch. Browse verified listings and realtors directly, or see how much it costs to buy or rent before you start.