Checked against public Korean sources · Updated Nov 7, 2026

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Short answer: Most Korean homes are heated by ondol, a floor heating system run by a gas boiler (보일러). Your heating bill depends mostly on how you use that boiler. Keep the temperature steady instead of switching it off and on, lower it by 1 to 2 degrees, cover windows with bubble wrap, and sign up for the KOGAS gas cashback (도시가스 캐시백) before winter starts.

Do these tips apply to foreigners? Yes. Anyone who pays a gas bill in Korea can use them, and the gas cashback program is open to any household with a city gas account.

How heating works in a Korean home

7 ways to cut your heating bill

1. Keep it steady. Turning the boiler fully off and back on makes it work hard to reheat cold floors. For short absences, lower the temperature by 1 to 2 degrees instead. One Korean guide estimates this alone cuts gas use by about 15%.
2. Use away mode (외출) only for long trips. Away mode keeps the room at a low temperature, around 8 to 10 degrees. For a weekend away it helps; for a normal workday, reheating from that low point can cost more.
3. Lower the hot water setting. Set water temperature to medium (about 40 to 45 degrees) rather than high.
4. Cover your windows. Bubble wrap (뽁뽁이) on windows and a door draft stopper are cheap and sold at Daiso.
5. Don't fully close valves in unused rooms. Close them about halfway so pipes keep circulating and do not freeze.
6. Add humidity. A humidifier keeps air at 40 to 60% humidity, which makes the same temperature feel warmer.
7. Dress for ondol. Warm floors plus socks, a thick blanket or an electric mat on the bed can let you keep the boiler lower at night.

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Get money back: the gas cashback program

The Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) runs a city gas cashback (도시가스 캐시백) every winter, from December to March. If your household uses at least 3% less gas than the same months last year, you get cash back based on how much you saved. Sign up on the cashback website before the season starts. If you just moved in, check whether your account has last year's usage history.

How to read your bill

• Individual heating: the city gas bill (도시가스 요금) arrives monthly. Pay through your bank app, a convenience store or automatic transfer (자동이체).
• District or central heating: look for 난방비 (heating) and 급탕비 (hot water) lines on your 관리비 statement.
• Compare month to month: January and February bills are usually the highest. Note them so you can budget for next winter.

Your winter checklist

1. Find out which heating type your home uses: ask your landlord or check your 관리비 statement.
2. Learn the four buttons on your controller: heating, hot water, timer (예약) and away (외출).
3. Put bubble wrap on windows before the first cold snap.
4. Sign up for the KOGAS gas cashback before December.
5. If the boiler breaks, call the number on the boiler sticker or ask your landlord. Repairs of the boiler itself are usually the landlord's responsibility.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to leave the boiler on all day?

Usually it is cheaper to keep it at a slightly lower steady temperature than to switch it off completely and reheat cold floors every evening.

Who pays for a broken boiler, me or the landlord?

Major repairs or replacement of the boiler are generally the landlord's job. Check your lease and tell your landlord right away.

Can foreigners get energy vouchers?

Government energy vouchers mainly target low-income households registered for basic livelihood support. Ask your local community center (주민센터) whether you qualify.

Moving into a new place this winter? See our guides to avoiding jeonse fraud and cheap phone plans for foreigners.

Last checked: November 7, 2026, against Korean energy-saving guidance and KOGAS cashback information. Check your gas company and KOGAS for current rates and program rules.