Korea Releases English, Chinese and Vietnamese Translations of Standard Housing Lease Contract

South Korea’s Ministry of Justice has released English, Chinese and Vietnamese translations of the standard housing lease agreement for foreign residents who may have difficulty understanding a Korean-language contract.

The translations, announced on March 10, 2026, are intended to reduce misunderstandings during housing transactions and help landlords and tenants communicate about the main terms of a lease.

Foreign students can use the translated forms to review items such as the property address, information about the landlord and tenant, the security deposit, monthly rent, contract period, repair responsibilities, termination conditions and special clauses.

A translated form does not guarantee that the property or transaction is safe. Before signing, a tenant should check the property registration record, confirm the legal owner and make sure the address and landlord information on the contract match the official record.

The contract should separate the deposit, rent and maintenance fee and state when each payment is due. Students should also ask which costs are included in the maintenance fee and which must be paid separately, including electricity, gas, water, internet, cleaning or facility charges.

Other points to check include the move-in date, renewal and early-termination rules, responsibility for repairs, and the extent of restoration required when moving out. Any verbal promise should be written into the special-terms section when possible, and both parties should retain the same final version.

If the Korean wording and translation appear inconsistent or a clause is unclear, the tenant should not sign immediately. Assistance may be available from the university’s international student office, a licensed real estate agent, or a legal or housing counseling service. Copies of the contract, receipts, bank transfers and photographs of the property before move-in should be kept.

Checklist for international students

• Verify that the person signing as landlord is the registered owner or has proper authority.
• List the deposit, monthly rent and maintenance fee separately.
• Confirm what is included in the maintenance fee.
• Check the contract period, termination terms, repairs and restoration obligations.
• Do not sign an unclear special clause without an explanation.
• Keep the contract, payment records and move-in condition photographs.