Hello, foreign friends living in Korea! This is Vijob. 😊
When you study or work in Korea, there will come a time when you need to find a place to live. When you hear unfamiliar words during real estate consultations or while discussing a contract, it can make you nervous. Today, we’ve organized essential Korean words that you often encounter when looking for a home, along with easy example sentences. Take a look at the pronunciations too and read along slowly. 🏠
📌 Words you hear first when talking about housing contracts and costs
계약금: The money you pay first as a sign of commitment when moving forward with a contract.
Example: 계약할 때 계약금을 먼저 냈어요.
Pronunciation: Gyeyakhal ttae gyeyakgeumeul meonjeo naesseoyo.
집세 / 월세: The rent you pay on a fixed date each month to live in the house.
Example: 이번 달 집세를 냈어요.
Pronunciation: Ibeon dal jipsereul naesseoyo.
Deposit and rent are words related to money, so you need to listen especially carefully. If you hear an amount during a consultation, don’t just move on right away; it’s a good habit to confirm the exact figure again.
🏢 Words that often come up when checking location and management conditions
역세권: A term for an area that is close to a subway station and convenient to use on foot.
Example: 역세권이었으면 좋겠어요.
Pronunciation: Yeoksegwonieosseumyeon jokgesseoyo.
관리비: The monthly cost paid to manage the building, such as cleaning and elevator upkeep.
Example: 월세에 관리비가 포함되어 있나요?
Pronunciation: Wolse-e gwanlibiga pohamdoe-eo innayo?
When you go to see a house, carefully check in advance not only the distance to the station (near a subway station) but also the maintenance fee items that are added on top of the monthly rent.
📄 Words used when safely finishing a contract
부동산 중개수수료: The fee paid to the real estate agency that introduced the house to you. (Also called a broker’s fee)
Example: 부동산 중개수수료는 얼마나 나오나요?
Pronunciation: Budongsan junggaesusuryoneun eolmana naonayo?
등기부등본: An important legal document that shows the true owner of the house and the status of any loans (debts).
Example: 계약 전에 등기부등본 좀 볼 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: Gyeyak jeone deunggibudeungbon jom bol su isseulkkayo?
Right before signing the contract, you must check the registry copy to verify the landlord’s information and the safety of the house, which can help prevent fraud.
At first, Korean real estate terms may feel difficult. But if you steadily learn the essential words you learned today, consultations and contract situations will become much easier. If you’re curious about more everyday Korean words, check them out in the Vijob app. Vijob will be cheering on your life in Korea with you! 💙