Korean estate agent fee
What a Korean estate agent may legally charge you for a jeonse or wolse contract. The result is the maximum fee for your side of the contract; the landlord pays separately.
₩900,000
Rate applied 0.3%
With VAT ₩990,000
Combined fees if both pay the maximum ₩1,800,000
You can negotiate within this legal maximum. You and the landlord pay separate fees
Agent fee on a jeonse contract
| Deposit | Rate | You pay at most | With VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₩50,000,000 | 0.4% | ₩200,000 | ₩220,000 |
| ₩100,000,000 | 0.3% | ₩300,000 | ₩330,000 |
| ₩200,000,000 | 0.3% | ₩600,000 | ₩660,000 |
| ₩300,000,000 | 0.3% | ₩900,000 | ₩990,000 |
| ₩500,000,000 | 0.3% | ₩1,500,000 | ₩1,650,000 |
| ₩700,000,000 | 0.4% | ₩2,800,000 | ₩3,080,000 |
What one side pays, before VAT. The rate is the legal maximum — you can negotiate the final fee within that limit. Note the drop at ₩100m and the jump again above ₩600m.
Housing lease brokerage rate bands
| Deposit is under | Rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| ₩50,000,000 | 0.5% | ₩200,000 |
| ₩100,000,000 | 0.4% | ₩300,000 |
| ₩600,000,000 | 0.3% | None |
| ₩1,200,000,000 | 0.4% | None |
| ₩1,500,000,000 | 0.5% | None |
| ₩∞ | 0.6% | None |
Set by ordinance for housing leases. The rate does not climb steadily — it falls to 0.3% in the middle band and rises again above ₩600m, so a slightly larger deposit can cost more than proportionally.
Jeonse and wolse, and why the fee differs
Jeonse is a deposit with no monthly rent. You pay the landlord a large refundable deposit instead of monthly rent. The contractual obligation to return it does not guarantee repayment; check the deposit protection arrangements before signing.
Wolse is a small deposit plus monthly rent, paid to the landlord during the lease.
The fee is charged on a deal amount, and for wolse it combines the deposit and monthly rent. The rule is deposit plus 100 times the monthly rent. So ₩10,000,000 with ₩500,000 a month counts as a deal of ₩60,000,000 and the fee is ₩240,000.
If that sum is less than ₩50,000,000, the multiplier drops to 70 instead.
Tenant and landlord pay separately
For this calculation, the fee cap applies separately to the tenant and the landlord. Each negotiates a fee within that cap.
On a ₩300,000,000 jeonse, you pay up to ₩900,000 and the same cap applies to the landlord. If both pay the maximum, the agent receives ₩1,800,000 for one contract.
VAT is on top if the agency is a standard taxpayer — 10% more. Small-scale agencies charge less or none, so ask which they are before signing.
And the published rate is a maximum, not a price list. The fee can be negotiated within the applicable ceiling. Confirm the agreed fee in writing.
How the fee bands change
Housing-lease commission rates fall and then rise again. Under ₩50,000,000 it is 0.5%, then 0.4%, then it drops to 0.3% for the whole range up to ₩600,000,000 — and climbs back to 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6% above that.
The two lowest bands also have cash caps — ₩200,000 and ₩300,000 — which limit the fee even if multiplying by the rate gives a higher amount.
At the next boundary, crossing ₩600,000,000 raises the rate on the entire deposit. The higher rate is not limited to the amount above the boundary.
Officetels are charged differently again — a flat rate rather than bands, because they are not classed as housing.
Agent fee and deposit checks before signing
Ask for the agent’s registration. Only a licensed agent may charge this fee, and the licence number belongs on the contract.
Get the fee in writing before viewing. Keep the agreed amount with the contract documents.
A jeonse deposit is a large unsecured sum. Check the registration and deposit-protection requirements for your lease before transferring money. This commission estimate does not assess whether your deposit is protected.
Working out how big the place actually is? See pyeong and square meters. Buying rather than renting brings acquisition tax too.
Common questions
How much is the estate agent fee in Korea?
For a housing lease it runs from 0.3% to 0.6% of the deposit depending on the band. A ₩300,000,000 jeonse costs up to ₩900,000 per side, before VAT.
Do the tenant and landlord split the fee?
No. Each pays a separately agreed fee. If both pay the maximum, the agent receives ₩1,800,000 on a ₩300,000,000 jeonse. The amounts shown assume each side pays the maximum.
How is the fee worked out for wolse?
The deposit plus 100 times the monthly rent becomes the deal amount, and the rate applies to that. If the result is under ₩50,000,000, the multiplier is 70 instead.
Can I negotiate the agent fee?
Yes. The published rate is a legal ceiling, not a fixed price, and the actual fee is agreed within that ceiling. Settle the number in writing before viewing properties.
What is jeonse?
A Korean lease with a large refundable deposit and no monthly rent. The contract requires the landlord to return the deposit, but repayment is not guaranteed. Check the deposit protection arrangements before signing.
Is VAT included in the fee?
No, VAT of 10% is added on top when the agency is a standard taxpayer. Smaller agencies may charge a reduced rate or none, so ask which applies.
Sources and review
- Basis
- Enforcement Rule of the Licensed Real Estate Agents Act Article 20 and Annexes 1–2
- Last checked
- August 28, 2026
- Maintained by
- Calcmemo operator, review method
Limits of this estimate. The result is a statutory ceiling for one party, not a required price. The agreed amount, the applicable city or provincial ordinance, the property classification, and the agent’s VAT status can change what is actually invoiced.
If a result differs from the source or misses an important condition, please report a correction.