Korea Real Estate Agent Fee Calculator: Sale, Jeonse and Monthly Rent
In Korea the law sets the most a real estate agent can charge for finding you a home, not the price. Enter the deal and you get that legal ceiling for your side, the rate band and cap behind it, VAT as a separate line, and how the fee jumps at band edges. The ceiling is negotiable: the fee is agreed with the agent, up to this amount.
Your result
This is an example. Replace it with your own numbers.
Why this amount: step by step
Monthly rent: the × 100 and × 70 rules side by side
What happens at the edge of a band
The rate and cap table for homes
Estimate only: this is the legal ceiling, not the fee you will be charged. The fee you actually pay is agreed between you and the agent, up to this ceiling. The figure is one side's share and does not include VAT or actual costs.
Paying the fee: when, when not, and what else may be charged
- Who pays. The agent takes a fee from each side of the deal separately, and the ceiling applies to each side. The amount above is one side's ceiling, not the total of both sides (Enforcement Rule Art. 20(1)).
- Which city's rule. For homes the rate limit is set by the city or province ordinance. If the agent's office and the property are in different cities or provinces, the office's location decides (Enforcement Rule Art. 20(3)). The Korean version of this calculator, 중개수수료 계산기, applies the same basis.
- When you pay. As agreed between you and the agent. If nothing is agreed, the fee is due on the day the payment for the deal is completed (Enforcement Decree Art. 27-2). Put the timing in writing.
- When no fee is due. If the agent's intent or negligence makes the deal between the two sides void, cancelled or terminated, the agent is not entitled to the fee (Act Art. 32(1), proviso).
- Costs on top of the fee. The Rule limits actual costs to two things: checking the rights over the property, and securing the return of deposit money paid at signing. The agent claims them with receipts (Enforcement Rule Art. 20(2); Act Art. 32(2)). This is not the same as a deposit guarantee insurance for a lease.
- Charging more than allowed. Taking money above the fee and those costs under any name, such as thanks or a gift, is prohibited (Act Art. 33(1) item 3).
- Non-home properties. The agent must post the highest rate they want to charge, and may not charge more than that rate (Enforcement Rule Art. 20(7)).
- English contract or interpreting. The Act and the Enforcement Rule say nothing about fees for an English contract or interpreting. Whether a separate paid service like this falls under the ban on charging above the legal fee (Act Art. 33(1) item 3) is not settled in the sources used here. Agree in writing first, and ask your district office if in doubt.
Legal basis
Each law is linked to its Korean original on law.go.kr, the Ministry of Government Legislation's site. English titles are our translation. The Korean text is what counts legally. Quotes are not checked letter by letter; the Korean text prevails. For a reference translation, see the Korea Legislation Research Institute's English law site; it is a reference translation, not legally binding, and may not include every provision used here.
| Law (our translation) | Articles | Effective date | Last checked |
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Official English guide (reference, not law): Seoul Land Information, brokerage fee page. The VAT point rests on a legal interpretation by the Ministry of Government Legislation, No. 15-0523 (Korean), which is guidance and not a statute.
Limitations: what this calculator does not cover
Please keep these four in mind first.
- The result is a ceiling for one side before VAT, not the fee you will be charged. The real fee is agreed with the agent, up to the ceiling.
- VAT is shown only as a separate line for a general taxpayer. For a simplified taxpayer or an exempt office, the VAT rate and whether VAT applies are not calculated; ask the agent. The statement that the ceiling excludes VAT rests on a legal interpretation (not a statute).
- For homes, the rate limit comes from city and province ordinances. This calculator uses the national table in the Enforcement Rule. See the ordinance item in the full list below.
- Buildings that mix homes and shops, pre-sale or occupancy rights, and linked deals that include a sale are not calculated. The Act and the Enforcement Rule say nothing about fees for an English contract or interpreting, and whether a separate paid service like this is allowed is not settled in the sources used here.
See all 10 limitations
- Ordinances: 15 of 17 city and province ordinances were confirmed to use the same table (Nov 2, 2026). The table text for Chungbuk and Gyeongbuk is not confirmed, and for Gwangju and Jeonnam we are checking which ordinance applies after the merged name. Treat results for those areas as unconfirmed.
- Rounding below ₩1 follows common practice (round down) because the law gives no rule. The VAT line is rounded down the same way. A real bill can differ by a few won.
- Actual costs (checking the rights over the property, securing the return of deposit money) are not added. They are set apart from the fee.
- We do not decide whether an officetel meets the three conditions. We follow your ticks.
- For a monthly rent lease we take the deposit and rent you enter as the deal amount. We do not check them against the contract.
- Exchanges, renewals of a monthly rent lease, deposit guarantee insurance (such as HUG) and taxes are outside this calculator.
- The VAT rate for simplified taxpayers and whether this service is VAT-exempt are not calculated. The 10% line assumes a general taxpayer.
- The law we read has no rule on paying a holding deposit or paying the fee before signing, beyond Enforcement Decree Art. 27-2 (agreement first, otherwise the day the payment is completed).
- Quotes from the laws are not checked letter by letter; the Korean text prevails. Laws that take effect after the date they were last checked are not reflected.
- Amounts are accepted only inside the calculator's input limits (shown in the error message if you go beyond them). We do not convert currencies.
What this calculator does
It works out the highest fee a real estate agent can charge one side of a sale, a jeonse lease or a monthly rent lease in Korea. It follows the table in the Enforcement Rule of the Licensed Real Estate Agents Act (our translation), including the cap for the lower bands.
It also shows which rate band was used, how a monthly rent is turned into a deal amount, VAT as a separate line for a general taxpayer, and how the ceiling changes at the edge of a band. Every result is an Estimate. The Effective date and the Last checked date of each law are in "Legal basis".
How to fill in each input
- Type of deal. Sale, jeonse (deposit only) or monthly rent (deposit plus rent each month).
- Type of property. A home, an officetel, or other property such as a shop, an office or land.
- Amount. The sale price, the jeonse deposit, or the deposit of a monthly rent lease. For a monthly rent lease, also enter the monthly rent.
- Officetel conditions. Tick only the conditions that are true. The register of the building shows them.
- The agent's VAT status. Choose General taxpayer only if the agent told you so. If you are not sure, leave "Other or unsure" and ask.
- The fee your agent quoted. Optional. Enter the amount before VAT to see whether it is within the ceiling.
How to read the results
- The ceiling. The most one side can be charged, before VAT. You may agree to less.
- The band and the cap. For homes, the deal amount decides the band and its rate. In the lower bands a cap can be lower than the rate alone would give; the page says when the cap was used.
- The VAT line. Shown only for a general taxpayer. Otherwise the page tells you to ask the agent.
- The edge of a band. A table shows the ceiling just below and at the nearest band edges, so you can see how much it moves.
- Your quote. If you entered one, the page says whether it is within the ceiling, and by how much it is over.
Frequently asked questions
Is the agent's fee fixed by law?
No. The law sets a ceiling, not a price. For homes, you and the agent agree on the fee within the rate limit set by the city or province ordinance. For shops, land and officetels that do not meet the three conditions, the Enforcement Rule says up to 0.9% of the deal amount, agreed between you and the agent. This calculator shows the ceiling, and agreeing to less is allowed. (Enforcement Rule Art. 20(1) and (4); our translation)
Do the buyer and the seller each pay a fee?
Yes. The agent receives a fee from each side of the deal separately, and the ceiling applies to each side. The amount shown is the ceiling for your side only. In a lease, the tenant and the landlord are the two sides. (Enforcement Rule Art. 20(1); our translation)
Is VAT included in the ceiling?
No. The ceiling is the amount before VAT, according to a legal interpretation by the Ministry of Government Legislation (No. 15-0523; guidance, not a statute). If the agent is a general VAT taxpayer, VAT of 10% can be added on top, and the calculator shows that as a separate line. If the agent is a simplified taxpayer or exempt, we do not calculate VAT; ask the agent which one they are. (VAT Act Art. 30; our translation)
How is a monthly rent turned into a deal amount?
Take the deposit and add the monthly rent times 100. If that total is under ₩50,000,000, use the monthly rent times 70 instead. A total of exactly that amount keeps the times 100 figure. The result is the deal amount used to find the rate. A jeonse lease uses the deposit as it is. (Enforcement Rule Art. 20(5) item 1; our translation)
When do I pay the fee, and when is no fee due?
You pay as agreed between you and the agent. If nothing is agreed, the fee is due on the day the payment for the deal is completed. Put the timing in writing. If the deal between the two sides becomes void, cancelled or terminated because of the agent's intent or negligence, the agent is not entitled to the fee. (Enforcement Decree Art. 27-2; Act Art. 32(1); our translation)
Can the agent charge extra for an English contract or interpreting?
The Act and the Enforcement Rule say nothing about fees for an English contract or interpreting. Whether a separate paid service like this falls under the ban on charging above the legal fee (Act Art. 33(1) item 3) is not settled in the sources used here. Agree in writing first, and ask your district office if in doubt. (our translation)
Does the ceiling depend on the city?
For homes, the rate limit is set by each city or province's ordinance, within the limits of the Enforcement Rule. When the agent's office and the property are in different places, the office's location decides which ordinance applies. This calculator uses the national table in the Enforcement Rule; the ordinances we confirmed repeat it, and Limitations lists the ones not confirmed. (Act Art. 32(4); Enforcement Rule Art. 20(3); our translation)
Which rate does an officetel get?
An officetel gets the flat rate of 0.5% for a sale or 0.4% for a lease only if it meets all three conditions: an exclusive floor area of 85 m² or less, a private kitchen set up for standing use (입식 부엌, our translation) with water supply and drainage, and a private flush toilet with bathing facility. If any one is missing, it is treated like other property and the fee is agreed up to 0.9%. Check the building register. (Enforcement Rule Art. 20(4) and Table 2; our translation)
See also
- 중개수수료 계산기 — the Korean version of this calculator
- Korea Take-Home Pay Calculator — monthly pay after tax and insurance
- Korea 19% Flat Tax Calculator for Foreigners — flat tax or regular rates for a full year
- Korea Part-Time Pay Calculator for Foreign Workers — pay for a part-time job and take-home pay
- Sembaro home (English)
Update log
- Nov 5, 2026 — Page added. The Licensed Real Estate Agents Act, its Enforcement Decree and its Enforcement Rule were checked on Nov 5, 2026; the fee tables, the monthly rent rule and the VAT rate were last checked on Nov 2, 2026. The ceiling is shown before VAT.