Honestly, finding a place to live in Korea as a foreigner isn’t easy.
I can’t say exactly how it compares to other countries—but even for Koreans, house-hunting here can be stressful and confusing.
That’s also why I hesitated to publish “housing” posts for a while. A few blog posts can’t magically solve every problem you’ll face in the actual rental process.
That said, I’m going to do my best to share information that’s realistic, practical, and genuinely helpful.
After my last post on the differences between Jeonse, Wolse, and Ban-jeonse, I want to introduce a few real estate apps and websites you can actually use to find a place in Korea.
(And just to be clear: none of the platforms in this post are affiliate links.)
The most practical tips are at the very end, so I hope you’ll read all the way through.
Alright, let’s get started!
Related Post
Understanding Korean Housing Rental System: Jeonse, Wolse, and Ban-Jeonse (2026)
The house-hunting process in Korea
In Korea, you usually find a place to live in one of two ways.
When you use real estate apps/websites
You can browse listings on an app or website, then visit the real estate office (부동산) that handles the property you’re interested in.
Once you tell the agent what you’re looking for, you’ll visit the place together to check it in person.
If you like the place and decide to move forward, you’ll typically meet with the agent and the landlord to sign the contract.
When you don’t use real estate apps/websites
If you already have a neighborhood in mind and want to see places in person, you can also go straight to a real estate office in that area.
In that case, you’ll still tour properties with an agent based on your preferences. If you find a place you like, you’ll sign the contract with the agent and the landlord.
There’s no single “correct” method.
For example, if you want to explore which neighborhoods in Seoul might fit your lifestyle and where good listings tend to be concentrated, it makes sense to start by opening an app first.
On the other hand, if you prefer to “walk the neighborhood” and find a place by visiting multiple offices in person, you can go straight to a local real estate office.
(Also, agents often have listings that don’t appear in apps—so you may be shown options you wouldn’t find online.)
If this is your first time finding a place in Korea, I recommend browsing real estate apps or websites first, rather than walking into an office without much context.
After you look through enough listings, you’ll start to understand price ranges by neighborhood.
You’ll also get a clearer sense of what kind of room fits your budget.
Real estate apps and websites Koreans use the most
Korea has several well-known real estate platforms.
Unfortunately, most of them are Korean-only.
The three apps I’m introducing here don’t support other languages either.
But if your Korean is decent (or you’ve gotten a bit more comfortable living here), I still recommend checking them out.
They’re major platforms used by a huge number of Koreans, and they tend to have a large volume of listings.
Zigbang (직방)
Zigbang is one of Korea’s biggest real estate search apps, where you can browse everything from small studios and officetels to apartment rentals and even new-build apartments.
Based on multiple news reports and data sources, Zigbang consistently ranks near the top in terms of overall user base, downloads, and listing volume.
One feature worth mentioning is their “fake listing monitoring” system.
The platform runs an internal process to remove listings that are already completed or don’t match the real property information.
This system also manages accounts that repeatedly post misleading ads.
Dabang (다방)
Dabang is another major search app, and it’s especially strong for small studios and officetels, with a wide range of monthly rent and Jeonse listings.
Like Zigbang, Dabang is also widely used in Korea, with a large number of listings and downloads.
If you’re mainly looking for a small studio or a monthly rent option, it can be a smart move to check Dabang.
In real life, many Koreans don’t rely on just one app. They cross-check listings across multiple platforms.
A very common habit is to look up the same property on both Zigbang and Dabang and compare details like maintenance fees, deposit amount, and included options.
Naver Pay Real Estate (네이버 페이 부동산)
Naver Pay Real Estate, which is built into the Naver Pay app, functions more as a real estate search platform than a hands-on support service.
Rather than actively guiding users through the process, it focuses on helping you browse and search listings.
(Which makes sense—Naver is Korea’s largest search platform.)
Naver’s real estate service also shares profile and career information for over 110,000 licensed agents through its partnership with the Korea Association of Realtors, which can be useful when you’re trying to evaluate listings and agents.
Personally, I use Naver Real Estate quite often but I don’t recommend relying on it alone.
It’s best as a “supporting tool” alongside Zigbang and Dabang, especially when you want extra information while cross-checking a listing.
Real estate apps and services designed for foreigners
The apps and websites below are built specifically for foreigners looking for housing in Korea.
English support is standard, and some services also support Chinese and Japanese.
Ziptoss
Ziptoss is a foreigner-focused real estate service (website) that lists rentals mainly around university areas in Seoul.
It supports Korean, English, and Chinese.
Most of the listings are monthly rent, and compared to the major Korean apps above, the total number of listings is smaller.
However, one major advantage is that Ziptoss handles on-site inspections, professional photos, and even landlord information—so it can feel like a safer and more guided experience.
If you don’t see what you want right away or you need advice, you can reach out via the Inquiry Form or their KakaoTalk channel.
Enkostay
Enkostay is a platform that focuses more on short-term rentals than traditional long-term jeonse/wolse contracts.
It supports Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese.
Some listings are short-term stays (like a few nights, similar to Airbnb), but you can also find places that allow stays ranging from two weeks to a year or longer.
I especially recommend Enkostay for exchange students, interns, and anyone who has just arrived in Korea and is looking for a place to stay.
Since there’s no deposit and you can read reviews from previous guests, it helps reduce a lot of stress—especially at the beginning.
They also have a mobile app, which also supports Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese.
A practical approach for foreigners
If you’ve just arrived in Korea and you’re overwhelmed by the question of “where do I even start?”, I think the most realistic strategy is to begin with a short-term rental through Enkostay.
I’ve seen many foreign friends arrive in Korea and struggle while staying in a gosiwon.
For your information, a gosiwon is a type of very small, private single-room accommodation with shared facilities, similar to a dorm or a micro studio, originally designed for students preparing for exams.
Rent is relatively cheap, but rooms are often poorly soundproofed and conditions can be basic.
Of course, if your budget is tight, staying in a gosiwon for a short time isn’t automatically a bad choice.
But if you can afford a bit more and you want better living conditions, I strongly recommend considering a short-term rental as your “starter home” in Korea.
If you’re planning to work in Korea or continue studying here long-term, Ziptoss can be a relatively safe way to experience the process of signing a Korean rental contract.
And of course, it also helps to browse more listings in advance using the major Korean apps like Zigbang and Dabang.
One more tip, speaking honestly as a local: if you’re new to renting in Korea, don’t go to a real estate office alone.
Some offices may have agents who can speak multiple languages, but in most cases, communication will be difficult unless you’re comfortable in Korean.
It’s also easier than you might think to get pressured by common sales tactics.
For example, you may hear things like, “This place is really popular—lots of people are coming to see it. You need to decide quickly.” Or they may try to push you to leave a deposit right away.
Even Koreans fall for this all the time. While it’s sometimes true, it’s often just a tactic.
On top of that, Korean contracts can be complicated, and there are specific things you need to check to prevent scams or problems later.
So if you have a Korean friend who knows what to look for when viewing a place and can help you review the contract carefully, I strongly suggest bringing them with you.
I’ll also write future posts about what to check when viewing a place, how to go through Korean rental contracts, and how to avoid common scams.
Hopefully, this post makes your house-hunting journey in Korea a little less overwhelming. 🇰🇷✨
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