Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the South Korea Property Pack
Everything you need to know before buying real estate is included in our South Korea Property Pack
Thinking about running an Airbnb in South Korea in 2026? The country's tourism rebound and unique travel culture make it an attractive market for short-term rental hosts.
This guide covers legal requirements, realistic earnings, competition levels, and what property types perform best in Seoul, Busan, and Jeju.
We update this article regularly to reflect the latest data and regulations affecting Airbnb hosts in South Korea.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in South Korea.
Insights
- Seoul hosts achieve around 64% occupancy while Jeju averages only 45%, meaning location dramatically affects how often your Airbnb gets booked.
- The typical South Korea Airbnb earns roughly ₩2.1 million per month ($1,425), but top performers in Hongdae or Haeundae can double that.
- Airbnb began requiring business registration documents from Korean hosts in late 2025, so operating without proper paperwork is no longer viable.
- One-bedroom units dominate bookings because solo travelers and couples make up the largest share of short-term rental guests.
- The price sweet spot sits between ₩80,000 and ₩140,000 per night, which is also where competition is fiercest.
- Seasonal swings are dramatic, with Gangwon ski areas hitting 33% average occupancy but spiking during winter months.
- South Korea has roughly 100,000 active short-term rental listings nationwide, with Seoul alone accounting for over 33,000.
- Building-level restrictions in Korean apartment complexes are often stricter than government rules, so checking HOA bylaws matters greatly.
- The October 2025 policy easing for urban homestays created new opportunities for hosts who were previously blocked from registering.
Can I legally run an Airbnb in South Korea in 2026?
Is short-term renting allowed in South Korea in 2026?
As of early 2026, short-term renting is allowed in South Korea, but only through specific legal pathways like registered tourist accommodation or homestay categories, not just any residential property.
The main legal framework comes from Korea's Tourism Promotion Act, which defines what lodging types can legally host travelers and sets requirements for registration, safety, and zoning compliance.
The most important condition is obtaining proper business registration and accommodation classification, as Airbnb now requires hosts to submit these documents before listings can accept bookings.
Additional restrictions include building-level rules (many apartment complexes prohibit short-term rentals), use-classification constraints for officetels, and varying municipal enforcement priorities.
Penalties for illegal short-term rentals can include fines, forced delisting, and in serious cases, criminal charges under lodging business regulations.
For a more general view, you can read our article detailing what exactly foreigners can own and buy in South Korea.
If you are an American, you might want to read our blog article detailing the property rights of US citizens in South Korea.
Are there minimum-stay rules and maximum nights-per-year caps for Airbnbs in South Korea as of 2026?
As of early 2026, South Korea has no nationwide minimum-stay requirement or annual night cap like some European cities, but the real constraint is whether your property qualifies for legal registration at all.
Rules don't differ by property type in the traditional sense, but your chosen accommodation category may come with operational conditions that shape how you can rent.
Hosts don't need to track nights against a government cap, since Korea's framework focuses on licensing compliance rather than night limits.
In practice, many Seoul hosts set 2-3 night minimums, while a large segment operates with 30+ night minimums to reduce compliance risk and turnover costs.
Do I have to live there, or can I Airbnb a secondary home in South Korea right now?
For most homestay-style legal pathways in South Korea, you typically need to be resident or closely involved with the property.
Owners of secondary homes can legally operate short-term rentals, but they usually need to register under a formal accommodation business category with stricter requirements.
Running a secondary home as an Airbnb requires proper business registration, safety certifications, and potentially building-use approval.
The main difference is that primary residence homestays have simpler registration paths, while secondary homes require the full accommodation business route with more compliance obligations.
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Buying real estate is a significant investment. Don't rely solely on your intuition. Gather the right information to make the best decision.
Can I run multiple Airbnbs under one name in South Korea right now?
You can operate multiple Airbnb listings under one name in South Korea, but each property must be properly registered and compliant with its own accommodation classification.
There's no hard cap on how many properties one person can list, but the practical limit is whether each address can qualify for registration, since homestay categories assume single-property, owner-involved hosting.
Hosts with multiple listings face heavier burdens because Airbnb requires business registration documentation for each property, and unregistered listings can no longer stay active quietly.
Do I need a short-term rental license or a business registration to host in South Korea as of 2026?
As of early 2026, you need both business registration and accommodation classification to legally operate an Airbnb in South Korea, and the platform now enforces document submission before bookings proceed.
The process involves registering with your local district office, obtaining the appropriate accommodation license, and ensuring your property meets safety and building-use requirements, which can take several weeks to months.
Required documents generally include proof of property ownership or lease rights, building safety certifications, and personal identification.
Costs for obtaining a license are relatively modest, typically involving registration fees and periodic safety inspections rather than large upfront payments.
Are there neighborhood bans or restricted zones for Airbnb in South Korea as of 2026?
As of early 2026, South Korea has no simple map of "banned neighborhoods," but restrictions appear at the building level through HOA rules, zoning classifications, and varying municipal enforcement priorities.
The strictest restrictions tend to appear in large apartment complexes where resident associations prohibit short-term rentals, certain officetels with use-classification issues, and areas where authorities have prioritized enforcement.
These building-level restrictions exist because Korean apartment culture values resident community harmony, and management associations have legal authority to set rules that effectively block short-term rentals.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in South Korea compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
How much can an Airbnb earn in South Korea in 2026?
What's the average and median nightly price on Airbnb in South Korea in 2026?
As of early 2026, the average nightly price for an Airbnb in South Korea is approximately ₩137,000 ($95 USD or €87 EUR), while the median sits closer to ₩120,000 ($83 USD or €76 EUR).
The typical price range covering 80% of listings falls between ₩70,000 and ₩220,000 ($48-$152 USD or €44-€139 EUR).
Location is the single biggest factor affecting pricing, with tourist-core neighborhoods and beach areas commanding significantly higher rates than residential outskirts.
By the way, you will find much more detailed profitability rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in South Korea.
How much do nightly prices vary by neighborhood in South Korea in 2026?
As of early 2026, nightly prices vary dramatically, ranging from ₩70,000 ($48 USD) in residential outskirts to over ₩280,000 ($193 USD) in premium destinations like Jeju's Aewol coast or Seoul's Myeongdong.
The highest-priced neighborhoods are Jeju's coastal areas (₩150,000-₩280,000), Seoul's Myeongdong and Jongno (₩140,000-₩230,000), and Busan's Haeundae beach zone (₩130,000-₩220,000).
The lowest prices appear in Seoul's outer residential districts, Incheon's non-airport areas, and smaller inland cities at ₩60,000-₩90,000 ($41-$62 USD), though these still attract budget-conscious domestic travelers.
What's the typical occupancy rate in South Korea in 2026?
As of early 2026, typical occupancy for Airbnb listings in South Korea is approximately 50%, meaning hosts can expect around 15 nights booked per month on average.
The realistic range covering most listings falls between 33% and 64%, with Seoul at the high end and seasonal destinations like Gangwon at the lower end.
South Korea's 50% blended occupancy is comparable to other mature Asian markets, though it masks significant variation between consistently busy Seoul and highly seasonal leisure destinations.
The biggest factor for above-average occupancy is location within a high-demand neighborhood combined with competitive pricing and fast response times.
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What's the average monthly revenue per listing in South Korea in 2026?
As of early 2026, average monthly revenue per Airbnb listing in South Korea is approximately ₩2.1 million ($1,425 USD or €1,305 EUR).
The realistic range covering 80% of listings falls between ₩1.0 million and ₩3.5 million ($690-$2,415 USD), depending on location, quality, and pricing optimization.
Top-performing listings in prime locations can achieve ₩4.0-₩5.5 million monthly ($2,760-$3,795 USD). A well-located Seoul listing at ₩180,000/night with 75% occupancy would generate roughly ₩4.05 million monthly.
Finally, note that we give here all the information you need to buy and rent out a property in South Korea.
What's the typical low-season vs high-season monthly revenue in South Korea in 2026?
As of early 2026, typical monthly revenue during low season ranges from ₩1.3-₩1.7 million ($900-$1,175 USD), while high season brings ₩2.6-₩3.4 million ($1,795-$2,345 USD).
Low season falls during late November through February (outside ski areas) and humid summer weeks in non-coastal cities, while high season peaks during cherry blossom (March-April), summer beach months (July-August), autumn foliage (October), and winter ski season (December-February) in Gangwon.
What's a realistic Airbnb monthly expense range in South Korea in 2026?
As of early 2026, monthly operating expenses range from ₩900,000-₩1.6 million ($620-$1,105 USD) for studios/one-bedrooms, and ₩1.8-₩3.5 million ($1,240-$2,415 USD) for larger detached homes.
Cleaning and turnover costs typically represent the largest expense, especially in high-turnover urban listings where professional cleaning runs ₩50,000-₩100,000 ($35-$70) per turnover.
Hosts should expect to spend 40-55% of gross revenue on operating expenses, with self-managed properties at the lower end and those using property management (15-25% of revenue) at the higher end.
If you want to go into more details, we also have a blog article detailing all the property taxes and fees in South Korea.
What's realistic monthly net profit and profit per available night for Airbnb in South Korea in 2026?
As of early 2026, realistic monthly net profit ranges from ₩500,000-₩1.1 million ($345-$760 USD) for self-managed properties, with profit per available night between ₩17,000-₩37,000 ($12-$26 USD).
The realistic range spans from breakeven for poorly located properties up to ₩1.5 million ($1,035 USD) for well-optimized listings in prime locations.
Hosts typically achieve net profit margins between 25-45% of gross revenue, depending on management approach and turnover cost control.
Break-even occupancy sits around 30-35%, meaning hosts need roughly 9-10 nights booked monthly just to cover costs.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in South Korea, we explain the best strategies to improve your cashflows.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in South Korea versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
How competitive is Airbnb in South Korea as of 2026?
How many active Airbnb listings are in South Korea as of 2026?
As of early 2026, South Korea has approximately 100,000 available short-term rental listings, with Seoul accounting for over 33,000, Jeju roughly 19,400, and Gangwon around 16,000.
This represents continued growth from previous years as tourism rebounded, though new listing growth has moderated as registration enforcement and building restrictions raised barriers to entry.
Which neighborhoods are most saturated in South Korea as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the most saturated neighborhoods are Seoul's Mapo-gu (Hongdae/Hapjeong), Jung-gu (Myeongdong), Jongno-gu (Insadong), Yongsan-gu (Itaewon), Busan's Haeundae and Gwangalli, and Jeju's Aewol and Seogwipo coastal areas.
These areas became saturated because they combine high tourist traffic with abundant small-unit housing stock that's easy to furnish as rentals, plus early reputations that attracted hosts copying successful formulas.
Undersaturated neighborhoods with better opportunities include Seoul's Seongsu-dong, Busan's Seomyeon business district, and secondary Jeju towns away from popular coastal strips.
What local events spike demand in South Korea in 2026?
As of early 2026, main demand spikes come from cherry blossom festivals (March-April), K-pop concerts throughout the year, autumn foliage (October), winter ski season in Gangwon (December-February), and international gatherings like the recent APEC summit in Gyeongju.
During peak events, booking rates increase 30-50% and nightly prices rise 20-40%, with K-pop concert weekends sometimes producing even more dramatic spikes.
Hosts should adjust pricing 4-8 weeks before major events, as travelers often book well in advance for known dates.
What occupancy differences exist between top and average hosts in South Korea in 2026?
As of early 2026, top-performing hosts achieve 70-85% occupancy, which is 15-25 percentage points higher than average hosts in the same neighborhood.
The average host runs at roughly 50% occupancy nationally, while top performers keep calendars consistently booked through better pricing, faster responses, and superior guest experiences.
New hosts typically take 6-12 months to reach top-performer levels, though those starting with excellent photos and competitive pricing can accelerate this timeline.
We give more details about the different Airbnb strategies to adopt in our property pack covering the real estate market in South Korea.
Which price points are most crowded, and where's the "white space" for new hosts in South Korea right now?
The most crowded price range in South Korea falls between ₩80,000-₩140,000 ($55-$97 USD), representing the "budget entire place" segment that dominates supply.
White space exists at ₩180,000-₩280,000 ($124-$193 USD) where family-ready two-bedrooms, legally compliant registered properties, and experience-focused unique stays remain underserved.
To compete in underserved segments, focus on properties offering what the crowded tier cannot: family-friendly features, authentic local experiences, or the peace of mind from clear legal registration.
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What property works best for Airbnb demand in South Korea right now?
What bedroom count gets the most bookings in South Korea as of 2026?
As of early 2026, one-bedroom units (including studios) get the most bookings in South Korea, accounting for the majority of reservations in major urban markets.
The breakdown shows studios/one-bedrooms capturing 55-60% of bookings, two-bedrooms around 25-30%, and three-plus bedrooms taking the remaining 10-15%.
One-bedrooms perform best because solo visitors, couples, and small groups dominate traveler profiles, and Korean housing stock in tourist neighborhoods features abundant small units matching this demand.
What property type performs best in South Korea in 2026?
As of early 2026, apartments and officetels perform best in urban markets like Seoul and Busan, while detached houses and experience-focused properties outperform in leisure destinations like Jeju and Gangwon.
Compact urban units in good locations achieve 60-70% occupancy, while larger detached houses run 40-50% but compensate with higher rates and longer stays.
Apartments and officetels outperform in cities because travelers favor convenient, transit-accessible small spaces over impractical large properties for short city breaks, though these types face the highest building-level restriction risk.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about South Korea, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it's authoritative | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| Korea Law Information Center | Official Korean government portal for all statutes and legal texts. | We anchored our legal section in actual statutory language. We treat it as baseline and only add interpretation when multiple sources align. |
| Korea Legislation Research Institute | Government-affiliated institute providing standard English legal translations. | We cross-checked legal terminology to avoid secondhand summaries. We triangulate operational requirements with government guidance. |
| Airbnb Responsible Hosting in Korea | Airbnb's official compliance page for Korean hosts. | We used it to understand platform requirements. We cross-check against government sources since platform guidance can be broad. |
| Airbnb Korea Tax Guide 2025 | Airbnb's formal tax explainer for Korean hosts. | We used it to frame tax categories hosts face. We don't treat it as a substitute for NTS but as a helpful map. |
| National Tax Service | Korea's national tax authority and definitive source for tax obligations. | We used it as authoritative reference for registration and filing requirements. We rely on it for accuracy. |
| Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism | Central ministry overseeing tourism policy with official statistics. | We used it to understand demand drivers affecting Airbnb performance. We sanity-check private claims against official data. |
| Korea.net Government Portal | Official government communications channel for policy announcements. | We corroborated tourism growth targets and policy direction. We explain enforcement shifts when tourism rebounds. |
| The Korea Times | Major national outlet sourced from Yonhap wire service. | We used it for Airbnb's enforcement timeline into 2026. We cross-checked with platform pages and other press. |
| The Korea Herald | Major English-language national paper with routine policy coverage. | We captured late-2025 policy changes affecting registration. We triangulate with other reporting. |
| AirDNA Seoul | Widely used STR analytics provider with transparent metrics. | We estimated ADR, occupancy, and listing counts for Korea's biggest market. We treat it as market telemetry. |
| AirDNA Jeju Island | Provides consistent STR performance metrics across markets. | We represented resort demand since Jeju behaves differently than Seoul. We build Korea-wide estimates. |
| AirDNA Busan | Standardized STR datasets across Airbnb and Vrbo channels. | We captured Korea's second-largest city dynamics. We blend it so estimates don't mean "Seoul only." |
| AirDNA Methodology | AirDNA's definitions page for active versus available listings. | We avoided misleading listing count interpretations. We align our competition section to these definitions. |
| Bank of Korea | Central bank overseeing monetary and exchange rate frameworks. | We justified KRW conversion approach. We combine with spot rates to express USD data in won. |
| APEC | Official source for summit timing and location. | We anchored event demand spikes with exact dates. We treat it as a demand catalyst reference. |
| Reuters (Visa Policy) | Top-tier wire service with strong sourcing standards. | We supported demand upside from policy-driven tourism tailwinds. We treat it as a macro factor. |
| Reuters (Exchange Rates) | Reliable real-time financial reporting on currency markets. | We established January 2026 exchange rates for conversions. We apply these consistently throughout. |
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of South Korea. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.