How to Find a Place to Live in Busan as a Foreign Student
Most students start in a university dorm, then move to a one-room after a semester or two. Here is how to search, what it costs, how to sign safely, and what to do after you move in.
Step 1. Decide: dorm or one-room?
- Dorm first is the safest choice for your first semester. No deposit, no contract in Korean, and you are close to classes.
- A one-room gives you more freedom and your own kitchen. In Busan, most one-rooms are rented as wolse: a deposit plus monthly rent. Not sure about the words? Read Types of housing in Korea.
Step 2. Choose an area
Most students live within walking distance of campus or one subway stop away.
| University | Where students live |
|---|---|
| Pusan National University | Jangjeon-dong, around Busan National Univ. Station (Line 1) |
| Kyungsung · Pukyong | Daeyeon-dong, around Kyungsung Univ.·Pukyong Univ. Station (Line 2) |
| Busan University of Foreign Studies | Namsan-dong, near Namsan Station (Line 1) |
| Dong-A University (Seunghak) | Hadan, near Hadan Station (Line 1) |
Step 3. Know the prices
Prices depend on the building, size and how new it is. As a rough guide, recent listings for student one-rooms in Busan often ask for a deposit of about KRW 2–5 million and rent of about KRW 300,000–450,000 a month. Newer buildings near popular stations can cost more. You also pay utilities and often a monthly maintenance fee (관리비).
A higher deposit usually means lower monthly rent. Ask the agent if the landlord will adjust the deposit and rent.
Step 4. Search
- Your university's off-campus housing board. Many Busan universities, including Pukyong and Pusan National University, post rooms for students. This is a good place to start.
- Dabang (다방). Since September 2026, Dabang has a foreigner section with listings translated into many languages.
- Zigbang (직방) and Naver Real Estate (네이버 부동산). Mostly in Korean, but your phone's translation feature helps.
- Walk around. Real estate offices (부동산) near campus have many rooms that are not online.
Step 5. Use a licensed agent
Work with a licensed real estate agent (공인중개사). Their office should show a registration certificate. The agent's fee is capped by law. For a typical student one-room, the fee is usually well under KRW 200,000. For example, with a KRW 5 million deposit and KRW 350,000 rent, the legal maximum is about KRW 147,500 (plus VAT in some cases).
Step 6. View, then sign
- Visit in person. Check water pressure, heating, mold, windows and noise.
- Ask the agent for the property register (등기부등본) and check that the landlord's name matches.
- Ask for the contract in English. Korea's Ministry of Justice released standard lease contracts in English, Chinese and Vietnamese in 2026.
- Be careful with a holding deposit (가계약금). Only pay it if you are sure, and get the terms in writing.
- Pay the deposit by bank transfer to the landlord's account, never in cash.
Step 7. After you move in
- Report your new address within 15 days at the community center (주민센터), immigration office or online on HiKorea. For foreigners, this also counts as the official move-in report that protects your deposit.
- Get a fixed date stamp (확정일자) on your contract at the community center. This gives your deposit priority if something goes wrong.
- Take photos of the room on move-in day, so you can get your full deposit back later.
