Lisa Kolumna: A Korean Flat - Is it different than in Europe?

What is different about living in Korea? In comparison to the flat culture I am used to in Europe, it is certainly a bit different. First of all, the common practice of shared housing with a bunch of flatmates is not very common. Although, the culture is in constant change, usually only foreigners start to share a flat with the occasional Korean flatmate.

From my experience, Koreans usually stay in student dorms or rent out a room in a Goshiwon. It is a Harry Potter style closet with a bed and a toilet/shower squeezed into 8m². Traditionally, you are not expected to leave your parents house, unless you start your own family and marry. Of course, this concept is also changing as there are more and more single people owning a flat as long as they make enough money. Yet, they have to make a lot of money to own their own place and without family support, it is usually close to impossible. The reason for that is the so called 'key money' (전세 'jeon-se') practice. Instead of paying a monthly rent you usually lease a flat for two years or longer. This practice requires a deposit which can equal up to 80% of your apartments total market value. Then your landlord invests your deposit and earns the interest while the tenant can live in the apartment 'rent-free', excluding utilities, for the time of the lease.

Given the fact that Koreans do not usually take on mortgages, this system is very popular. However, it makes it really difficult for anyone to rent/lease a proper apartment because you have to provide A LOT of money (up to 80% of market value!) on the spot. Hence, poor students end up living in dorms, Goshiwon, or do not to move out at all. I just met a guy who is 28 years old, unmarried and worked as an accountant but still lives at home because he cannot afford his own place alone. When you marry, you usually receive a lot off financial support from your families to afford the key money.

Still, I was able to find a flat! Believe it or not, non-Koreans actually cannot afford Key money either. I got in touch with my old landlady, I had found on Craigslist two years ago and she managed to hook me up with a nice room in Sangsu-Dong. Then, what is the difference compared to Europe?

1) Keys do not exist anymore.

Before you enter any private property, you have to know they're door code or, in some cases, let your thumb be scanned and recognized. I can enter my apartment only after I have opened three doors with three different numerical codes.

2) Take off your shoes before you enter the house!

For me this is actually not a big deal because at my German home we handle it the same way. You have to take your shoes off before you enter the house to keep everything clean.

Afterwards you have to put on some proper house shoes, as those on the right pictures. They'll keep your feet nice and warm in the winter :).

3) Bathrooms are similar, yet different to what I am used to.

The shower is all over the bathroom. Hence, whenever you shower, everything will get wet (yes, even the toilet seat). Hence,....