Moving or studying in Korea? Learn key korean language phrases for apartment hunting, contracts, and talking to agents, plus how to learn korean for real-life housing.
Getting An Apartment In Korea: Phrases You'll Actually Use
Looking for an apartment in Korea can feel like playing a game on hard mode: new language, new money system, and a landlord who talks at 3x speed.
Even if you've been using language learning applications or bingeing YouTube and talk to me in korean videos, suddenly you're in a 부동산 (real estate office) and your brain goes blank.
Let's walk through this in a calm way.
You don't need perfect grammar to survive an apartment hunt. You just need:
- A few key words (like 월세, 전세, 보증금)
- Some simple question patterns
- Polite phrases for talking to agents and landlords
I'll give you Korean phrases + romaji + meaning, and explain when you'd actually say them in real life.
1. Quick mini-guide: how renting works in Korea (no deep dive, just vibes)
You'll see these words everywhere:
- 원룸 (won-rum) – a one-room studio
- 오피스텔 (o-pi-seu-tel) – studio-style unit in a building that's half office, half residence
- 월세 (wol-se) – monthly rent + deposit
- 전세 (jeon-se) – big deposit, little or no monthly rent (more advanced, usually not for short stays)
- 보증금 (bo-jeung-geum) – deposit
- 관리비 (gwan-ri-bi) – maintenance fee (for cleaning, elevator, sometimes internet or water)
You don't have to be a contracts expert. Just know what you're roughly asking about, and always read everything carefully (or ask a Korean friend/agent to explain).
If you're using a korean language learning app or a language study app while you prepare to move, this is a good moment to make a custom vocab list in your notes.
2. Phrases for searching online (apps, DMs, and Kakao)
Most younger people in Korea use apps like 직방, 다방, or go through real estate offices near the area. Even if the app is in English, landlords and agents will usually text you in Korean.
Here are some DMs you might send:
2.1. "Hi, is this room still available?"
Korean:
안녕하세요, 이 방 아직 있나요?
Romanization: annyeonghaseyo, i bang ajik innayo?
Meaning: Hi, is this room still available?
Use this when you message about a listing. It's polite and simple. You're basically using the safe "hello in korean" plus a direct question.
2.2. "Can I see it this weekend?"
Korean:
이번 주말에 집 보러 갈 수 있을까요?
Romanization: ibeon jumare jip boreo gal su isseulkkayo?
Meaning: Would it be possible to come see the place this weekend?
The ending ~을까요 keeps it polite and soft, like "Would it be okay if…?"
2.3. "Can you send more photos / a video?"
Korean:
사진이나 영상 더 보내주실 수 있을까요?
Romanization: sajinina yeongsang deo bonaejusil su isseulkkayo?
Meaning: Could you send more photos or a video?
Super useful if you're not in Korea yet and you're hunting from abroad.
3. At the real estate office (부동산): what to say
So you walk into a 부동산 near your dream neighborhood. The sign might say 공인중개사 (licensed realtor), but everybody just says "부동산".
Take a breath, smile, and start with:
3.1. "Hello" + "I'm looking for a studio near here."
Korean:
안녕하세요. 이 근처에서 원룸 찾고 있어요.
Romanization: annyeonghaseyo. i geuncheo-eseo won-rum chatgo isseoyo.
Meaning: Hello. I'm looking for a studio around here.
This is polite, simple, and clear. It's a realistic way to use hello in korean in a housing context.
3.2. "My budget is around…"
Korean:
예산은 보증금 ○○에 월세 ○○ 정도 생각하고 있어요.
Romanization: yesaneun bojeung-geum ○○-e wolse ○○ jeongdo saenggakago isseoyo.
Meaning: For my budget, I'm thinking deposit ○○ and monthly rent ○○.
You can also keep it even simpler and just say your max:
보증금 ○○, 월세 ○○까지 괜찮아요.
(Deposit ○○, monthly up to ○○ is okay.)
3.3. "I'd like something near the station / my school."
Korean:
역이랑 가까운 집이었으면 좋겠어요.
Romanization: yeogirang gakkau n jibieosseumyeon jokesseoyo.
Meaning: I'd like a place that's close to the station.
Korean:
학교에서 너무 멀지 않았으면 좋겠어요.
Romanization: hakgyo-eseo neomu meolji anasseumyeon jokesseoyo.
Meaning: I'd prefer something not too far from my school.
Perfect if you came on exchange and your korean language course campus is your main base.
4. Viewing the place: questions that make you sound like you know what you're doing
You don't have to ask everything. Pick a few things that actually matter for your life: noise, bills, sunlight, internet, and convenience store distance (very important).
4.1. "Are utilities included?"
Korean:
관리비에 뼈가 포함돼요?
Romanization: gwanribi-e mwoga pohamdwaeyo?
Meaning: What's included in the maintenance fee?
Follow-up:
전기, 가스, 인터넷은 따로 내야 해요?
jeongi, gaseu, inteoneseuneun ttaro naeya haeyo?
Do I have to pay electricity, gas, and internet separately?
4.2. "How old is this building?"
Korean:
건물이 지어진 지 얼마나 됐어요?
Romanization: geonmuri jieojin ji eolmana dwaesseoyo?
Meaning: How long ago was this building built?
This helps you guess if insulation or pipes might be a problem.
4.3. "Is it noisy? (Upstairs / main road)"
Korean:
위층이 많이 시끄러운 편인가요?
Romanization: wicheungi mani shikkeureoun pyeon-ingayo?
Meaning: Is the upstairs neighbor pretty noisy?
Korean:
도로 소음은 어떤 편이에요?
Romanization: doro soeumeun eotteon pyeon-ieyo?
Meaning: How's the traffic noise?
Even if your language learning isn't perfect yet, just asking these with a bit of confidence makes a good impression.
4.4. "Can I keep a pet?"
Korean:
반려동물 키워도 괜찮나요?
Romanization: balryeodongmul kiwodo gwaenchan-nayo?
Meaning: Is it okay to have a pet?
A lot of studio buildings don't allow pets, so this is a big one.
5. Talking money & contracts (VERY basic phrases)
You should always be careful here and, if possible, bring a Korean friend or someone who knows the system well. This section is not legal advice, just language support.
5.1. "How much is the deposit and monthly rent?"
Korean:
보증금이랑 월세가 얼마예요?
Romanization: bojeung-geumirang wolsega eolmayeyo?
Meaning: How much are the deposit and monthly rent?
Short and essential.
5.2. "When can I move in?"
Korean:
입주는 언제부터 가능해요?
Romanization: ipjjuneun eonje-buteo ganeunghaeyo?
Meaning: From when is move-in possible?
Useful if you're timing it with the start of a semester or job.
5.3. "How long is the contract?"
Korean:
계약 기간은 얼마나 돼요?
Romanization: gyeyak giganeun eolmana dwaeyo?
Meaning: How long is the contract period?
If they answer too fast, you can follow with:
다시 한 번만 천천히 말해주실 수 있을까요?
dashi han beonman cheoncheonhi malhaejusil su isseulkkayo?
Could you please say that again slowly?
This is a lifesaver in any korean language situation, honestly.
6. Polite closers, "thank you," and not sounding like a jerk
Even if you decide not to take a place, you want to stay polite. Agents talk to each other and you might come back later.
6.1. "Thank you for showing me the room."
Korean:
오늘 집 보여주셔서 감사합니다.
Romanization: oneul jip boyeojusyeoseo gamsahamnida.
Meaning: Thank you for showing me the place today.
A more casual but still polite version:
오늘 보여주셔서 감사합니다.
This is a nice place to actually use thank you in korean in real life.
6.2. "I'll think about it and contact you."
Korean:
생각해 보고 연락드릴게요.
Romanization: saenggakhae bogo yeollak-deurilgeyo.
Meaning: I'll think about it and contact you.
Good when you're not sure yet or you're comparing options.
6.3. "Sorry, I decided to choose another place."
Korean:
죄송하지만 다른 집으로 결정했어요.
Romanization: joesonghajiman dareun jib-euro gyeoljeonghaesseoyo.
Meaning: I'm sorry, but I decided on another place.
This keeps it respectful and not awkward.
7. How to practice these phrases so they don't disappear on viewing day
Reading phrases once is one thing. Saying them while an agent is staring at you is another.
Here are some ways to train without overwhelming yourself:
- Shadow short lines.
Play a recording (or a Teuida-style dialogue) and repeat out loud until your mouth remembers it. This is way more effective than just silently reading, and it fits into whatever language learning routine you already have.
- Turn them into micro-scripts.
For example, write a little script:
- "Hello, I'm looking for a studio near here."
- "My budget is deposit X, monthly Y."
- "What's included in the maintenance fee?"
Read it out loud once a day.
- Use speaking-focused tools, not just text.
A lot of top language learning apps are great for vocab, but if you want to sound natural with agents, you need speaking practice. Look for the best korean language learning app for your life, not just the one with the cutest mascot.
- Mix with other resources.
You can absolutely use big platforms, YouTube, or talk to me in korean for explanations, and then a speaking-first learn korean tool or korean speaking classes (online or in person) to actually say the phrases out loud.
- Don't skip Hangul.
Knowing the korean alphabet makes reading contracts, building names, and addresses way easier, even if you don't understand every word yet.
Remember: you don't need to sound like a lawyer. You just need enough korean language to ask questions, show respect, and understand the basics. The rest you can handle with screenshots, translators, and trusted Korean friends.
You're not "bad at adulting" if this feels scary. Moving and signing a lease is stressful even in your native language. If you're prepping for this while balancing school, work, and maybe trying to learn korean on the side through different language learning applications, you're already doing something pretty brave.
You've got this. One phrase at a time.