Find Your K-Drama Dream Home on a Budget!

Hello! This is [Everyday Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Have you ever watched a K-drama and thought, “Wow, I want to live there!”? Finding a place to live in Korea is an exciting dream for many, but talking about money and locations can be tricky. Today, we’ll learn the essential Korean phrases to talk about your budget and the neighborhood you want to live in, just like a local!

Lately in Korea, trendy neighborhoods like Seongsu-dong or Yeonnam-dong, often seen in dramas and frequented by idols, are becoming super popular. If you want to find your own perfect spot in a cool area, you need the right vocabulary. Let’s learn how to confidently tell a real estate agent exactly what you’re looking for!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are the key phrases that will make your apartment hunt in Korea a breeze.

1. 예산은 ~ 정도예요 (Yesan-eun ~ jeongdo-yeyo)

• Romanization: Yesan-eun ~ jeongdo-yeyo
• English Meaning: My budget is around…
• Detailed Explanation: This is the most direct and polite way to state your overall budget. 예산 (yesan) means “budget,” and ~정도 (jeongdo) means “about” or “approximately.” You can use this for your total budget, or specifically for the deposit or rent. It’s a very natural and common expression.

2. 보증금 [금액]에 월세 [금액]으로 찾고 있어요 (Bojeunggeum [amount]-e wolse [amount]-euro chatgo isseoyo)

• Romanization: Bojeunggeum [geumaek]-e wolse [geumaek]-euro chatgo isseoyo
• English Meaning: I’m looking for a place with a deposit of [amount] and a monthly rent of [amount].
• Detailed Explanation: This phrase is a lifesaver! Korea’s rental system usually involves a 보증금 (bojeunggeum), a large security deposit that you get back when you move out, and 월세 (wolse), the monthly rent. Using this sentence clearly communicates the two most important numbers to your real estate agent.

3. ~ 쪽으로 알아보고 있어요 (~ jjogeuro arabogo isseoyo)

• Romanization: ~ jjogeuro arabogo isseoyo
• English Meaning: I’m looking into/around the ~ area.
• Detailed Explanation: Instead of just saying “I want to live in Gangnam,” this expression sounds much more natural to a native speaker. 쪽 (jjok) means “side” or “direction,” and 알아보다 (araboda) means “to look into” or “to research.” It shows that you have a specific area in mind.

4. 역세권이었으면 좋겠어요 (Yeoksekwon-ieosse면 jokgesseoyo)

• Romanization: Yeoksekwon-ieosseu-myeon jokgesseoyo
• English Meaning: It would be great if it’s near a subway station.
• Detailed Explanation: 역세권 (yeoksekwon) is a crucial word in Korean real estate! It literally means “station influence area,” referring to a location that’s conveniently close to a subway station (usually within a 5-10 minute walk). The grammar ~(이)었으면 좋겠다 means “I hope/wish it were…” and is a great way to politely state your preferences.

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation between a real estate agent (A) and you (B)!

A: 안녕하세요! 어떤 집을 찾으세요?
(Hello! What kind of place are you looking for?)

B: 안녕하세요. 저는 홍대 쪽으로 알아보고 있어요. 친구들이 그 동네가 재미있다고 해서요.
(Hello. I’m looking around the Hongdae area. My friends told me it’s a fun neighborhood.)

A: 아, 네! 홍대 좋죠. 그럼 예산은 어느 정도 생각하세요?
(Ah, yes! Hongdae is great. Then, what is your budget?)

B: 보증금은 1,000만 원에 월세는 70만 원으로 찾고 있어요.
(I’m looking for a place with a 10 million won deposit and 700,000 won monthly rent.)

A: 알겠습니다. 특별히 원하는 조건이 더 있으세요?
(I see. Are there any other specific conditions you’d like?)

B: 네, 가능하면 역세권이었으면 좋겠어요.
(Yes, if possible, I hope it’s near a subway station.)

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

In the dialogue, B mentions Hongdae, a neighborhood famous for its youthful energy, arts, and music scene. This is a great example of how location defines lifestyle in Seoul.

Why knowing the trends matters: When you say, “성수동 쪽으로 알아보고 있어요” (I’m looking around Seongsu-dong), you’re not just naming a place. You’re showing that you know about the “Brooklyn of Seoul,” famous for its trendy cafes, art galleries, and pop-up stores for famous K-pop groups like BTS and SEVENTEEN. Mentioning a hot neighborhood shows you’re in the know!

Korean Gen Z often uses the word 힙하다 (hip-hada), which means “to be hip,” to describe these areas. Saying “성수동은 정말 힙해요!” (Seongsu-dong is so hip!) will definitely make you sound like a local. Using today’s phrases to talk about these trendy spots will make your real estate agent think, “Wow, this person really knows Korea!”

Let’s Wrap It Up & Practice!

Great job today! You’ve learned how to confidently express your housing needs in Korean, from budget to your dream location. Now you’re ready to find that perfect home you’ve seen in the dramas!

Practice Time!

1. Fill in the blank: You want to live near Gangnam Station and your budget for monthly rent is 1 million won.
   

   월세 예산은 ______ 정도예요. (My monthly rent budget is around ______.)

2. Make a sentence: You want to tell the agent, “I’m looking around the Myeongdong area.” How would you say it?

Leave your answers and your own dream sentences in the comments below! Where in Korea would you love to live? 오늘 배운 표현으로 댓글을 남겨주세요!