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Korean rental contracts — What foreigners should watch for: a prevention guide for common student housing issues
Common deposit disputes, unfair move-out repair fees, and extra management charges that international students often face in Korea. We’ve compiled a prevention checklist and ways to respond. Read through to learn what counts as unfair and how to avoid it.
Life Editor
3 reasons international students face unfair treatment in housing contracts
New international students in Korea are especially vulnerable during contracts.
You might feel cheated but not know where it went wrong.
Language barriers, lack of information, and time pressure — these three create a structural problem.
① Lack of information — many don't even know it's unfair
15–20% of international students reported disadvantages or unfair treatment in housing contracts.
As of end of 2025, there are 308,838 international students in Korea.
At 15–20%, that’s about 46,000–62,000 who may face unfair treatment during rental contracts.
If five international students gather, one has experienced or is experiencing this.
Source: 2022 Gyeonggi Province Foreigners' Human Rights Support Center — Survey on Foreign Students' Housing Rights; Ministry of Justice Immigration & Foreigners Policy Headquarters, 2025
② Signing contracts without sufficient Korean
The biggest cause is the information gap.
In 2023, only 48.2% of foreign students at four-year Korean universities met Korean language requirements.
More than half study below the Korean standard.
If classes are already hard to follow, what about rental contracts?
Terms like landlord, tenant, joint guarantor, restoration to original condition.
It’s inevitable that students sign without understanding these terms.
Source: Ministry of Education & The Korea University Newspaper; Ministry of Justice, 2024
③ No way to respond — even if they know, they can’t fight
The reasons students don’t protest are structural.
Language barrier, complex legal process, fixed visa expiry.
When these overlap, many choose to "just give up."
Why?
Hard to present claims in Korean.
Legal procedures are unfamiliar and costly.
Visa deadlines mean they can’t spend time fighting.
If the disputed amount is only a few hundred thousand won, hiring a lawyer isn’t cost-effective.
So students often accept unfairness — it’s a structural, not individual, problem.
Do you have to pay unfair move-out repairs or management fees?
3 common harm patterns international students face
These situations are common but often not recognized as wrong.
Charges that weren’t in the contract, sudden repair fees at move-out, being locked into long contracts.
Knowing these can be unfair changes everything.
Risk comparison by rental type for international students
Standard studio (1-year, long-term)
Deposit risk: High | Early termination: Difficult | Language support: None | Recommendation: Low
Goshiwon
Deposit risk: Low | Early termination: Flexible | Language support: None | Recommendation: Low
Platforms for foreigners
Deposit risk: None (₩0 deposit) | Early termination: Weekly contracts available
Language support: 7 languages | Recommendation: High
❌ Myth: "Isn't it normal to be charged repair fees at move-out?"
✅ Fact: Normal wear and tear from everyday use is not the tenant's responsibility.
Under Korea's Housing Lease Protection Act, natural wear from normal use is the landlord's responsibility.
If the tenant didn't directly cause the damage, charging repair costs to the tenant can be legally unfair.
Recently, there have been many consultations where landlords unilaterally demand hundreds of thousands of won for repairs and say they'll deduct it from the deposit.
Source: Overseas Koreans News legal column, 2023
Tip: Take date-stamped photos and videos of the property before and after moving in. Evidence helps fight unfair charges.
❌ Myth: "If the landlord asks for costs not in the contract, must I pay?"
✅ Fact: You’re not generally required to pay costs not stated in the contract.
Sudden charges for extra management, cleaning, or internet after move-in are likely unfair if not explained when signing.
To prevent this, choose a place where all costs are included in the rent.
plott LIFE listings include electricity, water, gas, internet, and management fees in the rent — an all-in-one structure.
No unexpected charges after move-in.
❌ Myth: "Do I have to complete a 12-month contract? Will there be penalties for leaving early?"
✅ Fact: It depends on contract terms, but choosing a place with short-term options removes the issue.
Many disputes arise when students are locked into long contracts and need to leave.
Choose accommodations with weekly contracts so you can avoid termination disputes.
5-step checklist to avoid housing scams for international students
① Make sure you understand the contract in your language
If you sign without understanding, it’s hard to object later.
Checkpoint: Confirm the contract is available in multiple languages or the agent will explain in your native language.
Tip: plott LIFE supports the full contract process in multiple languages including English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Mongolian, and Uzbek.
② Confirm clearly whether any costs are extra to rent
Check whether the following are included in the contract or charged separately.
Management fee ✅
Electricity ✅
Water ✅
Gas ✅
Internet ✅
"It's included" isn’t enough.
Make sure it’s written in the contract.
③ Record the full condition of the home on move-in day
Take date-stamped photos and videos of every area before moving in.
Wall scratches, floor marks, window condition
Appliance functionality
Bathroom & kitchen condition
These records let you respond immediately to unfair repair claims at move-out.
④ Prioritize listings with no deposit
Deposits always invite disputes at move-out.
No deposit → no deposit-related disputes.
Tip: On plott LIFE, apply the ʼ₩0 depositʼ filter first when searching listings.
⑤ Try a short-term stay first
Don't lock into a long contract right away.
Live for 1 week–1 month first, check the place, the landlord, and the neighborhood, then decide whether to extend — it's safer.
Tip: plott LIFE offers weekly contracts. Extend if you like it; leave without stress if you don’t.
FAQ — Common questions international students ask about Korean rental contracts
Q. What if a foreigner can't get their deposit back in Korea?
A. First, formalize the return request with a certified letter.
If the lease falls under the Lease Protection Act, you can apply to the Housing Lease Dispute Mediation Committee.
These procedures can be done without cost.
Choosing ₩0 deposit listings from the start avoids this dispute entirely.
Q. Can I refuse if the landlord demands repair fees at move-out?
A. Yes. Normal wear and tear from everyday use is not the tenant’s responsibility.
Under Korea's Housing Lease Protection Act and Civil Code Article 654, normal use damage is the landlord’s burden.
Date-stamped photos and videos from move-in let you respond to unfair claims immediately.
Q. What if the contract is only in Korean?
A. Before signing, request a multilingual contract or an explanation in your language.
If not provided, reconsider signing.
Using a foreigner-focused platform that provides multilingual contracts is the safest choice.
Q. Are international students protected by Korea's Lease Protection Act?
A. Yes. Foreigners with legal status can be protected under the Lease Protection Act.
However, you must register your residence and get a fixed date stamp to protect the deposit.
Choosing ₩0 deposit short-term contracts removes these complex steps while keeping you safe.
Q. How to respond if the landlord charges management fees not in the contract?
A. You’re not obliged to pay costs not specified in the contract.
Request in writing "where in the contract this is specified."
If it's hard to respond, the safest prevention is choosing listings where all utilities and fees are included in the rent.
Start safe from day one
Multilingual contracts · All-in-one costs · ₩0 deposit · Short-term stays
If a place meets these from the start, your chance of unfair treatment drops a lot.
plott LIFE — a housing platform for international students
Multilingual support · ₩0 deposit · Weekly move‑in · All-in-one costs
No more signing without understanding.
No unexpected charges on plott LIFE from day one.
PLOTT LIFE