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The options in this chapter can be long term accommodations, but offer more flexibility than a traditional lease.
Goshiwon (고시원) / Goshitel (고시텔)
A goshiwon is a very small furnished room with basic comfort, but it offers all the necessities for living.
The kitchen is shared among all residents, and sometimes the bathroom and toilets are shared as well.
The rent always includes: a desk, 24/7 access to the kitchen (with some basic items provided, such as rice, kimchi, eggs, instant noodles, sliced bread, tea…), as well as a washing machine and internet access.
Depending on the price of your room, you may also get a small window, a private shower and toilet, and even a mini-fridge and a TV.
Basic goshiwons are certainly very cheap (between 300,000 and 400,000 won/month), but they usually don’t have windows, are extremely small, and poorly or not soundproofed at all.
There are better-equipped goshiwons, called goshitels (고시텔) or livingtels, with proper windows, more space, and better comfort. These kinds of goshiwons are more like mini-studios, but the price reflects that greater comfort. So a goshiwon can quickly cost as much as a small apartment.
The real advantage of a goshiwon is the simplicity of renting: no deposit is required (except maybe a small amount of tens of thousands of won), you can rent by the month or even by the day in some cases, and there’s no minimum rental period. However, you’re not allowed to have guests in your room.
Finding a goshiwon
As with apartments, it’s better to wait until you’re in Korea to find a goshiwon. This is especially important because goshiwons can sometimes be in very poor condition. It’s strongly recommended to visit in person before committing, to make sure this type of housing suits you.
You can find goshiwons in various neighborhoods by searching directly on NAVER Map or KakaoMap, typing 고시원 into the search bar. This lets you target specific neighborhoods. Often, the website and phone number of the owner will be listed on the app. Otherwise, you can go directly to the place to find the contact info of the owner.
You can also check the GoshiPages website, which lists many goshiwons available in Seoul.
Airbnb
On Airbnb, it’s now possible to rent accommodations by the month. Prices are higher than traditional rentals, but the advantage is that you bypass the administrative burden of the Korean rental system:
- No 6-month or 1-year lease commitments
- You reserve for as many months as you like
- No deposit required
The housing is furnished, utilities are included in the price, and you have internet access.
This solution is ideal if you’re unsure of your plans during your WHV and don’t want to commit to long-term housing.
You can even spend your entire WHV year using Airbnb, as some WHV holders share in this discussion: Living in Airbnb for a Year in South Korea on a WHV.
Share house
Share houses, international residences, and hasukjib are different types of housing shared by several people. Unlike a typical flatshare, the house is managed by a third party or agency that finds the tenants and manages the operations.
The comfort level is generally better than in a goshiwon, and there are fewer residents.
Finding Shared Housing
On-site:
As with goshiwons, you can search using navigation apps like NAVER Map or KakaoMap, by typing “share house” or “하숙집” (hasukjib) into the search bar.
Online:
Here are some websites that offer shared housing:
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