Ministry of Justice Distributes Translated Versions of Three Types of Standard Residential Lease Agreements for Foreigners with Limited Korean Language Skills
The Ministry of Justice is producing and distributing three translated versions of the standard residential lease agreement—in English, Chinese, and Vietnamese—to assist foreign nationals with limited proficiency in Korean in signing lease agreements. This measure is intended to help foreign tenants better understand the terms of the agreement and clearly understand their rights as tenants.
Key Points
- The Ministry of Justice is producing and distributing the Standard Residential Lease Agreement in three languages: English, Chinese, and Vietnamese.
- The translated forms can be downloaded free from the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport websites.
- The annex explains key tenant protections, such as opposability (daehangnyeok), that a tenant must understand to be covered under Korean law.
- The three languages reflect Korea's foreign-resident makeup, with Chinese nationals at 36.2% and Vietnamese nationals at 11.5%, and more languages are planned.
This measure was implemented in response to a public suggestion to produce and distribute foreign-language translations of the Standard Residential Lease Agreement. The Ministry of Justice announced that it will initially provide translations in three languages—English, Chinese, and Vietnamese—and plans to gradually expand the range of supported languages in the future.
The existing standard contract was available only in Korean, making it difficult for foreign nationals to fully understand the terms when signing a lease agreement. As a result, there were instances where foreign tenants signed contracts without realizing they contained provisions that were disadvantageous to them; the Ministry of Justice aims to reduce such inconveniences through these translations.
The Ministry of Justice cited the fact that Chinese nationals account for 36.2% and Vietnamese nationals for 11.5% of foreign residents in Korea as the basis for selecting these languages as the first priority. The annex to the standard lease agreement contains important information that tenants need to know to receive legal protection, such as the right of priority; users can download the translated versions for free from the Ministry of Justice or Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport websites to review the details.
This article is based on “Lease Contracts to Become Easier for Foreigners with Limited Korean Proficiency,” published by the Ministry of Justice on korea.kr on March 10, 2026. Original URL: https://www.korea.kr/briefing/pressReleaseView.do?newsId=156748086&call_from=rsslink
FAQs
Ministry of Justice Distributes Translated Versions of Three Types of Standard Residential Lease Agreements for Foreigners with Limited Korean Language Skills — What are the key takeaways?
1. The Ministry of Justice is producing and distributing the Standard Residential Lease Agreement in three languages: English, Chinese, and Vietnamese. 2. The translated forms can be downloaded free from the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport websites. 3. The annex explains key tenant protections, such as opposability (daehangnyeok), that a tenant must understand to be covered under Korean law. 4. The three languages reflect Korea's foreign-resident makeup, with Chinese nationals at 36.2% and Vietnamese nationals at 11.5%, and more languages are planned.
What is the analyst note?
For international students renting their first apartment in Korea, signing a Korean-only lease is one of the most common sources of confusion and risk. The Ministry of Justice now offers the Standard Residential Lease Agreement in English, Chinese, and Vietnamese, so tenants can read the terms in a familiar language before they sign. The translated annex spells out protections such as opposability (daehangnyeok), the legal status that determines whether a tenant is shielded under Korean law. The forms are free to download from the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport websites, and the ministry plans to add more languages over time. The move was prompted by a citizen proposal, and the ministry chose these three languages because Chinese nationals (36.2%) and Vietnamese nationals (11.5%) make up the largest shares of foreign residents.
What are the sources of this article?
법무부 (korea.kr), "법무부 (korea.kr), 한국어 서툰 외국인도 임대차 계약 쉬워진다" (https://www.korea.kr/briefing/pressReleaseView.do?newsId=156748086&call_from=rsslink)
What government statistics are relevant?
Vietnam (베트남) students in Korea: 108,099 (2025H2). Source: Korea Ministry of Justice immigration student records via data.go.kr 3069982 (KOGL Type1 license)
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