Frequently Asked Questions

Your deposit is the same amount as one month's rent — not a separate flat fee. Exact numbers vary by room; see Room Rates for a specific room.

The down payment is your first month's rent plus your last month's rent, paid up front to secure the room. Legally, a down payment (계약금) isn't refundable once it's paid — it's how you confirm you're going ahead with the contract. See Room Rates for the numbers on a specific room.

No — you only ever pay for the months you're actually staying. KCH doesn't collect rent every month; instead, we bill your stay in blocks of up to 6 months, and each block is paid together, up front, before it starts. "6-month lump sum" describes how the payments are grouped, not a minimum you owe. If you're staying 4 months, you pay for 4 months, not 6. If you're staying 10 months, the first block covers months 1 through 6, and a second block covers the rest once the first one is used up. We do it this way because tracking everyone's rent individually, every single month, isn't realistic once a community is this size — a block payment means far fewer transfers to keep track of, for you and for us.

To book a room, the minimum you need up front is the down payment (see above) plus your deposit — you don't have to send a large amount before you've even seen the place. The rest of your first block's rent can wait until you're actually in Korea, but it has to be paid in full before you move in, or you won't be able to move in. Example: on a 4-month stay, you pay the down payment and deposit to book, and the remaining two months' rent (months 2 and 3) any time up to when you arrive — nothing more. On a longer stay, the same applies to your first 6-month block, and the next block's rent comes due once the first one ends. Anything you paid that turns out to be more than what you actually used gets refunded, the same way your deposit is.

Rent doesn't include utilities. Gas, electricity, and water are billed separately and split among the housemates sharing the house.

When you move out, KCH first settles your share of the utility bills, and then refunds your deposit.

KCH holds accounts in KRW, EUR, USD, GBP, AUD, and NZD, and we also use Wise, N26, and Monzo — so most students can pay us without an expensive international wire transfer. We also accept PayPal to hold your booking while you arrange a cheaper transfer: PayPal's fees are higher, so once your actual payment arrives by another method, we refund the PayPal payment in full.

That's normal and not a problem — small differences from exchange rates or bank fees happen all the time. Any shortfall or extra is adjusted against your deposit, and it doesn't affect your booking.

No curfew, and no separate list of house rules — just be considerate of your housemates and keep things quiet, especially at night.

Kitchens are well stocked with pots, pans, dishes, and utensils. Groceries, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies aren't provided — those are on you.

That's not banned, but it's something to work out with your housemates directly, since it affects shared spaces.

Yes, within reason — just don't let it get too loud. In Korea, neighbors will call the police over noise after around 11pm.

Shared rooms are priced per person, so you only pay for your own spot — you don't need to find someone else to fill the rest of the room.

Yes. If you stay together longer than 2 months, there's no extra cost for the second person.