Types of Houses in Korea

In Korea, 51,439,038 people live in the area of 100,210km². 

And as many of you know, Korea is a very city-centered country where the majority of people live in or near cities, such as Seoul, Busan, and Incheon.

So, where are all these people living?

1. 아파트 Apartment

The most common type of house in Korea. You’ll see apartment complexes that look similar everywhere in Korea. Koreans call an apartment ‘아파트’, which means “apart.”

2. 오피스텔 Officetel

It’s a compound word of ‘office’ and ‘hotel’ that allows one to work and live at the same time. In other words, officetels are for both business and residential use. That’s why it has fully furnished rooms and tends to be located near downtown areas. It’s smaller but cheaper than apartments.

3. 다세대 주택 Multiplex houses

Second most common type of house in Korea. These multiplex houses are located between alleys and streets and are comparably cheaper than apartments. Interestingly, these types of houses are referred to as “villa (빌라)” in Korea. 

4. 단독주택 House

Houses are not often seen in downtown areas, but in places where you need a car to drive. There are usually ‘house’ neighborhoods with many houses built next to each other. It’s more expensive than apartments and ensures privacy. Houses are often seen in the countryside as well.