Renting through a Korean real estate agent (부동산)? Enter your deposit and monthly rent, jeonse deposit or purchase price to see the maximum legal brokerage fee (중개수수료) — so you know what is fair before you sign.
Maximum fee rates for housing (since October 2021)
| Contract | Transaction amount | Max rate | Fee cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (jeonse / wolse) | Under ₩50 million | 0.5% | ₩200,000 |
| ₩50M – under ₩100M | 0.4% | ₩300,000 | |
| ₩100M – under ₩600M | 0.3% | — | |
| ₩600M – under ₩1.2B | 0.4% | — | |
| ₩1.2B – under ₩1.5B | 0.5% | — | |
| ₩1.5B and above | 0.6% | — | |
| Purchase | Under ₩50M | 0.6% | ₩250,000 |
| ₩50M – under ₩200M | 0.5% | ₩800,000 | |
| ₩200M – under ₩900M | 0.4% | — | |
| ₩900M – under ₩1.2B | 0.5% | — | |
| ₩1.2B – under ₩1.5B | 0.6% | — | |
| ₩1.5B and above | 0.7% | — |
How monthly rent (wolse) is converted
For wolse, the "transaction amount" is deposit + (monthly rent × 100). If that comes to less than ₩50 million, use deposit + (monthly rent × 70) instead.
Example: ₩10,000,000 deposit and ₩700,000 rent → 10,000,000 + 70,000,000 = ₩80,000,000. That falls in the 0.4% band, so 0.4% = ₩320,000, but the cap is ₩300,000. You pay at most ₩300,000.
Tips before you pay
- The rate is a maximum. Fees are negotiable — agree on the amount (and whether VAT is included) before signing.
- VAT: agents registered as general taxpayers may add 10% VAT. Ask for a cash receipt or tax invoice.
- Officetels follow different rates (up to 0.4% for rent and 0.5% for purchase when used as a home), and commercial property can be higher.
- Tenant and landlord each pay their own side’s fee to the agent.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays the agent fee in Korea?
Both sides. The tenant pays their agent and the landlord pays theirs; with one agent, each pays separately.
Is the agent fee negotiable?
Yes. The law sets the maximum, not a fixed price.
Do I pay the fee if the contract is cancelled?
Generally the fee is earned when the contract is concluded. If it is cancelled through no fault of the agent, disputes are common — put fee terms in writing.
Does Seoul use different rates?
Rates are set by each city or province ordinance, but all follow the same national bands shown above for housing.
Related calculators
Sources: Licensed Real Estate Agents Act and Enforcement Rules (revised October 19, 2021); city and provincial brokerage fee ordinances; Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Information only, not legal advice. Last checked October 2026.
Comments
Post a Comment