Student Housing in Seoul: Dorms, Officetels & Finding Your Place

Where You'll Sleep, Study, and Live Your Seoul Life

Your housing choice in Seoul will shape your experience more than almost any other decision. Live in a university dorm and you'll have a built-in social network, easy access to campus, and a soft landing in a new city. Rent a private officetel in Mapo-gu and you'll have independence, a real kitchen, and a neighborhood that becomes your own.

The good news: Seoul's student housing is affordable by global standards and surprisingly varied. The confusing news: the Korean rental system works differently from what you're used to, and the terminology — officetel, one-room, goshiwon, wolse, jeonse — can feel like a foreign language.

Here's every option broken down with real costs, real pros and cons, and practical advice on how to actually find a place.

For the complete cost picture, check our cost of living in Seoul guide.

University Dormitories: The Easy Landing

Cost: 00–00/month | Deposit: /bin/sh–00 | Lease: Semester-based

Most Korean universities offer on-campus housing for international students, and it's the best option for your first semester — no question.

What you get: A furnished single or double room with a bed, desk, closet, and usually a small refrigerator. Communal kitchens, laundry rooms, and study rooms. Some dorms have private bathrooms; most have shared facilities on each floor. Internet is included.

The best university dorms for international students:

• Yonsei International Dorm: Modern, well-maintained, close to campus, with a strong international community. Single rooms available but competitive.
• Korea University International House: Clean, comfortable, and right on campus. Mix of single and double rooms.
• SNU Gwanak Dormitory: Large complex with multiple buildings. International students are grouped together, which helps with community but can create an international-student bubble.
• Ewha Womans University Dorm: Well-located in Sinchon, modern facilities, strong sense of community.

The catch: Spaces are limited. Most universities allocate dorm spots on a first-come, first-served basis, and international students need to apply 3–4 months before the semester starts. Apply the moment applications open.

What this means for you: University dorms are the lowest-friction housing option. No deposit, no real estate agent, no Korean-language lease. You walk in, move in, and start your semester. The social connections you make in a dorm — Korean and international — will be some of the most important of your time in Seoul.

Officetels: The Modern Studio

Cost: 00–00/month | Deposit: ,000–0,000 | Lease: 6–12 months

An officetel (오피스텔) is a studio apartment in a mixed-use building — part office, part residential. They're the most popular private housing option for international students and young professionals in Seoul.

What you get: A self-contained studio of 20–35 square meters with a kitchenette, bathroom, sleeping area, and often a small balcony. Most come furnished with a bed, desk, wardrobe, washing machine, and sometimes a TV. Internet is usually included. Many buildings have security systems, CCTV, and a front desk.

Best neighborhoods for student officetels:

• Sinchon/Ewha area: Walking distance to Yonsei and Ewha. Vibrant, youthful, packed with restaurants and cafes.
• Mapo-gu/Hongdae: Creative, energetic, close to Hongik University. Great nightlife and food scene.
• Nowon-gu: Near Korea University. More residential, quieter, and cheaper than central Seoul.
• Gwanak-gu: Near SNU. Affordable, with good bus connections to the rest of the city.

The deposit system: This is the biggest culture shock. Korean landlords require a refundable deposit (called wolse deposit) that can range from ,000 to 0,000 — even for a small officetel. You get this back when you move out, but it's a significant upfront cost. You can negotiate: higher monthly rent = lower deposit, or lower rent = higher deposit.

What this means for you: If you can handle the deposit, an officetel gives you independence, privacy, and a real sense of living in Seoul. The location matters — choose somewhere near your university's subway line to keep your commute under 30 minutes.

One-Room Apartments: More Space, More Commitment

Cost: 00–,200/month | Deposit: ,000–0,000 | Lease: 6–24 months

A "one-room" (원룸) is a standard studio apartment — slightly larger than an officetel, typically 25–40 square meters, with a more clearly defined kitchen area and sometimes a separate bathroom. They're found in residential buildings throughout Seoul.

What you get: More space and a more residential feel than an officetel. You'll have a proper kitchen with more counter space, a full bathroom, and often better insulation and soundproofing. The trade-off is that one-rooms are harder to find without Korean language skills and a local guarantor.

How to find one: You'll need to work with a Korean real estate agent (부동산, budongsan). Every neighborhood has several — look for the shops with listings posted in the window. The agent's fee is typically one month's rent. Bring your ARC (Alien Registration Card), passport, and proof of income or a Korean guarantor.

What this means for you: One-rooms are ideal if you're staying for a full year or more and want more space than an officetel. They require more Korean language ability and familiarity with the rental process, so they're better for second-semester students or those on longer programs.

Goshiwon: The Budget Option

Cost: 00–00/month | Deposit: 0–00 | Lease: Month-to-month

A goshiwon (고시원, literally "exam room") is a tiny single room — 3–5 square meters — originally designed for students preparing for Korea's brutal civil service exams. They're the cheapest housing option in Seoul.

What you get: A bed-sized room with a desk, a shared bathroom (sometimes en-suite), and very thin walls. Most goshiwon include utilities, internet, and basic provisions like free ramen, rice, and kimchi in a communal kitchen. Some have shared showers on each floor.

The good: Extremely cheap, no deposit (or a tiny one), month-to-month leases, no agent fees, and they're everywhere.

The bad: The rooms are very small. You can touch both walls with your arms outstretched. Sound insulation is minimal. You'll hear your neighbor breathing.

What this means for you: If budget is your top priority and you're comfortable with minimal space, a goshiwon is a legitimate option. Many students use goshiwon for short-term stays while they search for a permanent place. They're also a genuinely Korean experience — you'll understand something about this country's educational intensity by living in a room designed for exam prep.

How to Find Housing: Step by Step

For university dorms: Apply through your university's housing office when applications open (usually 3–4 months before the semester). Have your acceptance letter and deposit ready.

For officetels and one-rooms:

1. Get your ARC first. You can't sign a lease without your Alien Registration Card.
2. Search online. Use Zigbang (직방) or Dabang (다방) — Korea's main rental listing apps. Both have English interfaces.
3. Visit a budongsan (real estate agent). Every neighborhood has them. They'll show you listings, arrange viewings, and handle the paperwork. Fee: one month's rent.
4. View the property. Check water pressure, heating/AC, mold, noise levels, and proximity to the subway.
5. Sign the lease. You'll need your ARC, passport, deposit, and first month's rent. The agent will translate key terms.

What this means for you: The process is straightforward once you have your ARC. The biggest challenge for new arrivals is the deposit — if ,000–0,000 upfront is prohibitive, start with a university dorm and save while you plan your next move.

Neighborhood Guide for Students

Neighborhood	Near	Vibe	Avg. Rent
Sinchon	Yonsei, Ewha	Young, vibrant, student central	00–00
Hongdae	Hongik University	Creative, nightlife, arts	50–,000
Nowon-gu	Korea University	Residential, quiet, affordable	50–00
Gwanak-gu	SNU	Suburban, green, budget-friendly	00–50
Mapo-gu	Sogang, Hongik	Trendy, food-focused, walkable	50–50
Itaewon	Central Seoul	International, diverse, pricier	00–,200

Find Your Place in Seoul

Housing is one of the first — and most important — decisions you'll make for your time in Korea. Whether you choose the community of a university dorm or the independence of a private officetel, you'll be living in one of the world's most exciting cities at a price that's hard to believe.

Start planning with our guides on cost of living in Seoul and top universities, or book a consultation with our advisors to find the housing option that fits your budget and lifestyle.