What to say at a Korean flat viewing (집 보기 / jip bogi)

The listing is on 직방 (jikbang) or 다방 (dabang). The person who meets you is usually a 공인중개사 (gongin junggaesa), not the owner. Twenty minutes in a 원룸 (wollum), then they want to know whether you are doing 월세 (wolse) or 전세 (jeonse), because those are different piles of money.

The Korean housing phrase page has the short lines for the door. This is the rest: the message that books the viewing, the 관리비 (gwanribi) that is not the rent, and the stamp that protects the deposit — 확정일자 (hwakjeong ilja) under the Housing Lease Protection Act. The 전입신고 guide is the morning after you get the keys.

The message that gets you in

A Seoul ad is a code. 월세 (wolse) is monthly rent plus a 보증금 (bojeunggeum). 전세 (jeonse) is a huge deposit and little or no monthly rent. 관리비 (gwanribi) is the building fee, often not in the 월세 (wolse). 원룸 (wollum) is one room. 투룸 (turum) is two. 단기 (dangi) is short-term and the rules change.

A message that works:

안녕하세요. 직방에서 [동] 매물을 봤습니다. 아직 비어 있나요? 오늘 오후에 집 볼 수 있을까요? [이름]입니다.

Annyeonghaseyo. Jikbangeseo [dong] maemureul bwatseumnida. Ajik bieo innayo? Oneul ohue jip bol su isseulkka yo? [Ireum]imnida.

아직 비어 있나요? (ajik bieo innayo) and 오늘 오후에 집 볼 수 있을까요? (oneul ohue jip bol su isseulkka yo) are already on the housing page. Use polite 요 (yo). Tell them 월세 (wolse) or 전세 (jeonse) in the first reply so they do not walk you through the wrong pile.

What you actually ask in the flat

They will say 들어와요. (deureowayo) You take off your shoes if they do.

• 관리비 포함인가요? (gwanribi poham ingayo) — Is the building fee included?
• 보증금이 얼마인가요? (bojeunggeumi eolma ingayo) — How much is the deposit?
• 월세는 얼마인가요? (wolseneun eolma ingayo) — How much is the monthly rent?
• 언제부터 입주할 수 있나요? (eonjebuteo ipjuhal su innayo) — When can I move in?
• 가구가 있는 집인가요? (gaguga inneun jibingayo) — Is it furnished?
• 등기부등본 볼 수 있을까요? (deunggibudeungbon bol su isseulkka yo) — who owns it, and what is already borrowed against it.
• 확정일자 받을 수 있는 계약서인가요? (hwakjeongilja badeul su inneun gyeyakseo ingayo) — Is this a contract that can take a confirmed-date stamp?

욕실에 곰팡이가 있어요 (yoksire gompangiga isseoyo) is already on the housing page. Point, name it, take a photo. Ask whether 가스 (gaseu), 전기 (jeongi), 수도 (sudo), 인터넷 (inteonet) sit inside 관리비 (gwanribi) or arrive as their own bills.

For 전세 (jeonse), the viewing is not enough. Ask to see the registry and the landlord’s other deposits on the same building. A cheap 전세 (jeonse) with a story is how people lose the pile.

Money words that are different in Korea

보증금 (bojeunggeum) is the deposit. There is no German-style three-month cap; 전세 (jeonse) deposits are a different scale. Protection is the combination of moving in, 전입신고 (jeonip singo), and 확정일자 (hwakjeong ilja) on the original contract at the 주민센터 (jumin senteo). Easy Law is the official explainer. A receipt without the address and the dates is not a contract they can stamp.

Other words that show up the day you sign:

• 중개수수료 (junggae susuryo) — the agent’s fee, set on a sliding scale. Ask the number before you book a second visit.
• 계약금 / 중도금 / 잔금 (gyeyakgeum / jungdogeum / jangeum) — booking money, middle payment, balance. Do not send 계약금 (gyeyakgeum) to a personal account the shop will not name.
• 복비 (bokbi) — what people call the agent fee in speech.
• 계약이 일 년인가요? (gyeyagi il nyeon ingayo) — two years is common for 전세 (jeonse); 월세 (wolse) can be one.

If you want it: 여기로 하고 싶습니다. 다음 절차가 뭔가요? (yeogiro hago sipseumnida. daeum jeolchaga mwongayo) If you do not: 감사합니다. 생각해 볼게요. (gamsahamnida. saenggakhae bolgeyo) You do not owe them a speech about the mould.