In South Korea, boarding houses are called HASKU(하숙). There, meals are provided.
Many HASUK are located close to the university.
In the old days, the main accommodations for students coming from the countryside were mainly HASUK.
Even now, Those are many near the university.
More about HASUK(하숙).
In HASUK(boarding houses), You can stay in a single room. The rooms are furnished with a bed, a desk and a wardrobe.
Bathrooms and washing machines are shared with other students.
The landlord lives in the same building with their tenants. They PROVIDE MEALS for their tenants.
Have you ever watched the Korean Drama TV show [Replay 1994]? It is the story of a group of students living in HASUK（SINCHON HASUK) <신촌하숙> in South Korea.
In that Korean Drama TV show [Replay 1994] you will be able to see the atmosphere of HASUK.
At HASUK, you will have the opportunity to talk with landlords and other students.
- Family-like atmosphere.
- PROVIDE MEALS
- Living with a Landlord
Rent
In HASUK, you do not have to pay a deposit. You pay only rent in advance each month.
Utilities are sometimes added in summer and winter, but are frequently included in the rent. Meals are also included in the rent.
Rent ranges from 400,000-550,000 KRW per month. It all depends on where the house is and how large the room is.
- Pay rent in advance every month.
- No security deposit
- Average rent is about 400,000KRW~550,000KRW
Meal Times
Meals are generally provided from Monday to Friday, breakfast and dinner.
Meal times are fixed. Breakfast is from 7:00 to about 8:30. Dinner is between 6:00 and 8:00.
Meal times vary by boarding house. You are not allowed to eat outside of those hours.
Many boarding houses do not provide meals on weekends. Because students are often out on the weekends.
Also, sometimes students bring free meals to school in a lunch box, but this will upset the landlord!
Meal provided
- Weekday only
- Breakfast , Dinner, No lunch
- No cooking allowed
- Do not take the provided meal in a lunch box.
Contract period
It depends on the landlord, but in many cases, HASUK do not have a specific contract period.
However, if you wish to move, you must inform the landlord of your intention to do so at least one month in advance of the scheduled move date.
- No fixed contract period.
- Notify at least one month before moving out.
Rules
HASUK has rules, because it is not a private space like a studio apartment.
You have to follow the rules.
For example, You must be quiet late at night and do not take a shower in the middle of the night. You must not bother students in other rooms.
When your friend comes to Korea to visit you, you are not allowed to let your friend stay in your room. In addition, the residents of HASUK are mainly university students and young people. Families are not allowed to live in a single room in a boarding house.
Pets are also not allowed.
If you do not follow the rules, the landlord will make you leave.
- No pet friendly
- Friends cannot be invited
- Don’t bother the other roommates.
Where are many HASUK’s located?
The tenants in the boarding house are mainly students. So many HASUKs are located around the university.
The area famous for HASUK in Seoul is SINCHON<신촌>.
Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University, Sogang University, and Hongik University are located near SINCHON<신촌>.
There are many Korean university students, exchange students from abroad, and language students living in this area.
Due to the pandemic, the number of HASUK is decreasing, but there are still some HASUK left in SINCHON<신촌>.
How to find HASUK(하숙)
HASUK’s landlords do not advertise much.
So it is not easy for you to find HASUK on the website.
The best way to find it is to go to the area where you want to live and find it in person. There is always a signboard on the HASUK building with the name and phone number.
Call the phone number on the signboard or send a message. Most landlords do not speak English, so try to send messages in Korean.
Many HASUK’s landlords do not speak English.
If you cannot speak Korean, the landlord of the boarding house may not even show you the room.
You must be able to speak at least simple Korean.
Korean Phrases
| 빈 방 있어요? | Do you have any rooms available? |
| 저는 ○○대학 학생입니다. | I am a student at ○○ University. |
| 6개월 정도 살려고 생각하고 있습니다. | I would like to live for about 6 months. |
| 월세는 얼마예요? | How much is the rent? |
| 방 볼 수 있어요? | Can I see the room? |
| 식사는 있어요? | Are meals available? |
| 여성전용하숙이에요? | Is it for women only? |
| 방이 몇 개 있어요? | How many rooms do you have? |
| 화장실은 몇 개 있어요? | How many bathrooms do you have? |
| 혹시 방 사진 보내줄 수 있으세요? | Could you send me pictures of the rooms? |
| 그 방 계약하고 싶어요. | I would like to take that room. |
| 계약금 얼마예요? | How much is the contract fee? |
You go to the area where you want to live, and contact the HASUK’s landlord and ask to see the room.
You like the room and want to take the room.
You cannot take the room unless you pay the contract fee to the landlord.
The amount of the contract fee depends on the landlord.
The contract fee will be included in the first month’s rent when you move in.
For example, if the rent is 500,000 KRW and the contract fee is 200,000 KRW , you only need to pay the balance 300,000KRW when you move in.
HASUK（boarding hous)e is the best accommodation to experience Korean culture.
It is a little difficult to find a boarding house on a website from abroad. But It is not so difficult to find HASUK’s room in person after you come to Korea.
