How Much Is a House in Korea? 2026 Seoul vs Rural Prices
By the RuralRoof Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-11-05 · 4 official sources
How much is a house in Korea? It depends almost entirely on where. In official sales records, the median Seoul apartment sold for ₩940 million, while median detached houses in three rural counties sold for ₩49 million to ₩132 million [1].
This guide compares Seoul with Hongcheon, Uiseong and Jinan, using every reported sale from October 2025 to September 2026. It covers prices, price per square metre, cheap sales, tax bands and the rules foreign buyers meet in Seoul.
- Median sale prices, contracts Oct 2025–Sep 2026: Seoul apartment ₩940m, Seoul detached house ₩1,175m, rural detached houses ₩49.2m–₩132.1m [1].
- Only 0.3% of Seoul apartment sales closed at ₩100 million or less; in Uiseong and Jinan, most detached-house sales did (82% and 72%) [1].
- The standard acquisition tax on a house is 1% up to ₩600 million and 3% above ₩900 million; more than half of Seoul apartment sales sat in the 3% band [1] [3].
- All of Seoul is a foreigner land-transaction permit zone until 25 August 2027; the three rural counties are not on the list [4].
How much is a house in Korea in 2026?
A Seoul apartment's median sale price was ₩940 million. Rural detached houses in our three counties sold for medians of ₩49.2 million to ₩132.1 million [1].
The figures come from the Ministry of Land's sales disclosure system (실거래가 공개시스템). RuralRoof downloaded every reported sale for contracts from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026 and removed cancelled deals [1].
| Area | Type | Sales | Median price | Middle half of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | Apartment | 69,264 | ₩940m | ₩640m–₩1,450m |
| Seoul | Detached / multi-household | 4,083 | ₩1,175m | ₩750m–₩2,000m |
| Hongcheon-gun (Gangwon) | Apartment | 308 | ₩159.5m | ₩111.2m–₩250m |
| Hongcheon-gun (Gangwon) | Detached / multi-household | 234 | ₩132.1m | ₩90m–₩195m |
| Uiseong-gun (Gyeongbuk) | Detached / multi-household | 156 | ₩51.0m | ₩27.2m–₩89m |
| Jinan-gun (Jeonbuk) | Detached / multi-household | 86 | ₩49.2m | ₩30m–₩110.6m |
In practice, the median is a fairer guide than the average. A few very expensive sales pull an average up, while the median is simply the middle sale.
Is the Seoul–rural gap about size or location?
Mostly location. Per square metre, a Seoul detached house sold for about 12 times a Jinan one, and a Seoul apartment for about 5 times a Hongcheon one [1].
| Area and type | Area used | Median floor area | Median price per m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul apartment | Exclusive area (전용면적) | 75.3 m² | ₩13.15m |
| Hongcheon apartment | Exclusive area (전용면적) | 60.0 m² | ₩2.64m |
| Seoul detached | Gross floor area (연면적) | 167.7 m² | ₩7.59m |
| Hongcheon detached | Gross floor area (연면적) | 93.1 m² | ₩1.43m |
| Uiseong detached | Gross floor area (연면적) | 79.7 m² | ₩636,000 |
| Jinan detached | Gross floor area (연면적) | 85.1 m² | ₩625,000 |
Seoul detached houses are larger: the median gross floor area is 167.7 m², against 79.7–93.1 m² in the three counties [1]. However, the gap per square metre remains wide after size is taken into account.
The data records sale prices, not reasons. For example, it cannot tell you whether a cheap Jinan house needs a new roof or a septic system.
What does a rural apartment cost compared with a rural house?
Usually a little more than a detached house in the same county. In Hongcheon, the median apartment sold for ₩159.5 million against ₩132.1 million for a detached house [1].
Rural apartments sell in small numbers. Uiseong recorded 41 apartment sales with a median of ₩129.0 million, and Jinan 27 with a median of ₩85.0 million [1].
With so few sales, one or two deals can move a county's median. Read small-county apartment medians as a rough guide, not a fixed price.
How many houses in Korea sell for under ₩100 million?
Almost none in Seoul, most in Uiseong and Jinan. Of 69,264 Seoul apartment sales, 207 closed at ₩100 million or less, which is 0.3% [1].
In the counties, Uiseong had 128 of 156 detached-house sales at ₩100 million or less, Jinan 62 of 86 and Hongcheon 73 of 234 [1].
Very cheap sales are rarer. Our cheap rural house guide looks at the ₩10 million sales in these counties and what they have in common.
Where do these prices come from, and how reliable are they?
They are reported sales, not asking prices. Buyers and sellers must report the actual price to the city, county or district office within 30 days of the contract (Real Estate Transaction Report Act Art. 3) [2].
The system lists sales by contract date and updates as reports and cancellations come in. RuralRoof removed 2,392 cancelled Seoul apartment sales and 307 cancelled Seoul detached-house sales from the download [1].
"Detached" here is the system's 단독/다가구 category. It includes multi-household houses (다가구): 1,429 of 4,083 Seoul sales, against 1% to 3% in the three counties. Seoul's single detached houses (단독) alone had a median of ₩1,150m [1].
“When using it for statistics, the figures may be distorted, so please use it for reference only; when publishing externally, please use the official statistics compiled by report date.”
So treat these medians as counts from the ministry's records, dated 5 November 2026, not as official price statistics.
What tax do you pay on top of the price?
Acquisition tax, at 1% to 3% for a house at the standard rates. The Local Tax Act sets 1% up to ₩600 million, a sliding rate up to ₩900 million and 3% above (Art. 11(1)8) [3].
According to the sales data, 52.2% of Seoul apartment sales were above ₩900 million. In the three counties, 475 of 476 detached-house sales were at ₩600 million or less [1].
| Median sale | Band | Acquisition tax |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul apartment, ₩940m | 3% | ₩28.2m |
| Hongcheon detached, ₩132.1m | 1% | ₩1.32m |
| Uiseong detached, ₩51.0m | 1% | ₩510,000 |
Owning other homes can raise the rate. Art. 13-2 adds surcharges for a second home in an adjustment area (조정대상지역) and for a third home or more [3]. See the rural house acquisition tax guide.
Can foreigners buy a house in Korea at these prices?
Yes, but Seoul adds a permit step. All of Seoul is a foreigner land-transaction permit zone from 26 August 2026 to 25 August 2027, for detached, multi-household, multi-unit, row houses and apartments [4].
The zone covers Seoul, 23 Gyeonggi cities and counties and 9 Incheon districts. Hongcheon, Uiseong and Jinan are not on the list [4].
According to the ministry, foreign buyers' capital-region house purchases fell 27% in the zone's first ten months, from 6,024 to 4,397. Of those purchases, 81% were at ₩600 million or less [4].
How do you check the price of a specific house?
Pull the same official records for its county and compare. The process is free and takes one online session [1].
- Open rt.molit.go.kr and choose 자료제공 (data download) [1].
- Pick the type: 아파트 (apartment) or 단독/다가구 (detached), and 매매 (sale) [1].
- Choose the province and county, then a 12-month contract period [1].
- Download the CSV, drop rows with a cancellation date (해제사유발생일), and find the median [1].
- Compare the asking price with sales in the same village (리) and a similar floor area [1].
Price is one of eight checks in the rural house checklist. To compare real houses, browse rural listings or look up an address with address search.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a house in Seoul in 2026?
The median Seoul apartment sale was ₩940 million and the median detached or multi-household house ₩1,175 million, for contracts from October 2025 to September 2026 [1].
How much is a house in rural Korea?
In Hongcheon, Uiseong and Jinan, median detached-house sales were ₩132.1 million, ₩51.0 million and ₩49.2 million for contracts from October 2025 to September 2026 [1].
Can you buy a house in Korea for ₩100 million?
In Seoul, rarely: 0.3% of apartment sales closed at ₩100 million or less. In Uiseong, 128 of 156 detached-house sales did [1].
Are MOLIT's sales figures official statistics?
No. The ministry says its download is for reference and that official statistics are compiled by report date. The figures here are RuralRoof's counts from that download [1].
What is the acquisition tax on a ₩940 million apartment?
At the standard rate for a house above ₩900 million, 3%, or ₩28.2 million. Multi-home surcharges and local education tax can change this [3].
Do foreigners need a permit to buy a house in Seoul?
Yes, until at least 25 August 2027. All of Seoul is a foreigner land-transaction permit zone for houses and apartments [4].
How long do I have to report a house purchase?
Thirty days from the contract. The parties report the actual price to the local office (Real Estate Transaction Report Act Art. 3) [2].
Related articles
- Rural House Checklist for Korea: 8 Records to Check (2026)
- Landlocked Land (맹지) in Korea: Road Access Rules (2026)
- Korea's Rural Empty House Bank: How It Works (2026)
- Rural Second Home Tax in Korea: Keep One-Home Relief (2026)
- Nongmak vs Rural Stay Shelter in Korea: 2026 Farmland Rules
- Unregistered Buildings (미등기 건물) in Korea: Buyer Risks (2026)
- How to Read a Korean Property Register: 3 Records (2026)
- Korea's Empty House Law: Rural vs Urban Rules (2026)
- Korea Farmland Register (농지대장): Buyer's Guide 2026
- Leasing Farmland in Korea: 농지은행 and the Law (2026)
- Farmland Acquisition Certificate (농취증) in Korea: 2026 Guide
- Build a House on Farmland in Korea: 2026 Permit Guide
- What Is a Farmhouse in Korea? 농가주택 Legal Meaning 2026
- Cheap Rural Houses in Korea: Real Prices and Costs (2026)
- Rural House Renovation Cost in Korea: Permits & Aid (2026)
- Free Empty House Rent in Rural Korea: What Exists (2026)
- Return-to-Farm Support in Korea: 2026 Loans and Grants
- Return-to-Farm Reality in Korea: 2026 Survey Numbers
- Farmland Disposal Order in Korea (농지 처분명령): 2026 Guide
- Rural House Acquisition Tax in Korea: 2026 Rates Guide
- Buying a House in South Korea as a Foreigner: 2026 Rules
- Alien Registration in Korea After Buying a House (2026)
- Cost of Living in South Korea 2026: Rural vs National
- Hanok Korean House: Buying and Restoring One (2026)
- Can Foreigners Buy Property in Japan? 2026 Akiya Bank Rules
General information, checked against the official sources below on the date shown. No sponsored content: no office, organization, agent or seller named here paid for or reviewed this page. Rules change, so confirm with the office named or a specialist (a licensed agent or a lawyer) before you sign.
Sources
- [1]실거래가 공개시스템, 조건별 자료제공: 아파트·단독/다가구 매매, 서울특별시·홍천군·의성군·진안군, contracts 2025-10-01 to 2026-09-30 · Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) · accessed 2026-11-05
- [2]부동산 거래신고 등에 관한 법률 (Real Estate Transaction Report Act), Art. 3 · Korea Ministry of Government Legislation (law.go.kr) · accessed 2026-11-05
- [3]지방세법 (Local Tax Act), Arts. 11, 13-2 (in force 2026-07-01) · Korea Ministry of Government Legislation (law.go.kr) · accessed 2026-11-05
- [4]외국인 투기 방지를 위해 토지거래허가구역이 1년간 연장된다 (press note and PDF, 2026-08-20) · Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) · accessed 2026-11-05