Korean lease system
Textbook전세 계약을 체결하고 싶습니다jeon-se gye-yak-eul che-gyeol-ha-go sip-seup-ni-daI would like to sign a jeonse contract
Real여기 전세 얼마예요? 대출 가능한가요?yeo-gi jeon-se eol-ma-ye-yo? dae-chul ga-neung-han-ga-yo?How much is jeonse here? Can I get a loan?🏷️ Any casual setting
전세 is uniquely Korean: you give a MASSIVE deposit (often 70-90% of property value), pay ZERO monthly rent, and get the deposit back when you leave. It's like an interest-free loan to the landlord. Most Koreans use bank loans (전세 대출) for this.
Contract essential phrases
계약서 꼼꼼히 읽어보겠습니다I'll read the contract carefully
특약 사항이 있나요?Are there any special conditions?
보증보험 가입 가능한가요?Can I get deposit insurance?
수리는 누가 해요?Who handles repairs?
퇴거 시 보증금 언제 돌려받아요?When do I get my deposit back when I move out?
CRITICAL: always get 전세보증보험 (deposit insurance) for 전세 contracts. Without it, if your landlord goes bankrupt, your deposit evaporates. This is a real and serious risk. The insurance costs very little — never skip it.
전세 vs 월세 decision: 전세 if you have savings or can get a loan (effectively free housing). 월세 if you don't have large upfront capital. For foreigners, 월세 is often easier because 전세 loans require Korean credit history. Start with 월세, build credit, then consider 전세.
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