Gangnam (강남구) is Seoul's most prestigious district — the heart of Korean business, luxury retail and high-end residential living, spanning Apgujeong, Cheongdam, Yeoksam, Daechi, Gaepo and Gangnam Station. It is a top choice for executives, diplomats and international professionals, with premium apartments, modern officetels and some of the city's best transit. Every Seoul Homes listing in Gangnam is handled by an English-speaking, verified realtor who can guide foreigners through both renting and the new permit rules for buying.
![[ARC possible] Furnished Studio Apartment with City view near Gangnam Station - photo 1](/cdn-cgi/image/width=2560,quality=70,format=webp,fit=scale-down,onerror=redirect/https://data.expertsapiens.com/storage/v1/object/public/property-images/e455fc74-335c-438d-ade2-c51d3f9441b1/properties/1781069082573-1foq.webp?t=1781069083028)
![[ARC possible] Furnished Studio Apartment with City view near Gangnam Station - photo 2](/cdn-cgi/image/width=2560,quality=70,format=webp,fit=scale-down,onerror=redirect/https://data.expertsapiens.com/storage/v1/object/public/property-images/e455fc74-335c-438d-ade2-c51d3f9441b1/properties/1781069116692-g2vf.webp?t=1781069117298)
Gangnam pairs Seoul's best transit — subway Lines 2, 3, 7 and 9, the Sinbundang Line, and the high-speed GTX-A at Suseo — with international-grade hospitals, dining and shopping. Each pocket has its own character:
Korea International School (KIS) runs an early-years to Grade 5 campus in Gaepo-dong, and Gangnam's transit makes it easy to reach other international schools across the city. Note that Daechi-dong's famous academies are Korean cram schools (hagwon), not international schools — a sign of the area's intense focus on education rather than an English-curriculum option.
Renting is open to everyone, with no special permit. You will choose between jeonse (전세) — a large, fully refundable lump-sum deposit with no monthly rent — and wolse (월세) — a smaller deposit plus monthly rent. Officetels and studios near Gangnam and Yeoksam stations are the most accessible entry point; family-sized apartments cluster in Gaepo, Dogok and Daechi.
The rules changed in 2025. Since late August 2025, all 25 Seoul districts — Gangnam included — are designated Foreign Land Transaction Permit Zones. To buy a home (apartment or house), a foreign buyer must obtain a land-transaction permit from the Gangnam-gu office before signing the contract, submit a funding plan, and after approval move in within four months and live in the property for at least two years. This applies regardless of visa status, including ARC holders and F-2 / F-5 residents. Officetels — legally a business-use property type — generally fall outside this residential-permit rule, which is one reason they remain popular with foreign buyers in Seoul; confirm the position for any specific unit with your realtor. Renting is unaffected.
Use the price filters above for current asking prices, and talk to a Seoul Homes realtor for a tailored view of any building or unit.
Yes, but the rules tightened in 2025. Since late August 2025 every Seoul district, including Gangnam, is a Foreign Land Transaction Permit Zone. A foreign buyer must obtain a land-transaction permit from the district office before signing a home-purchase contract, submit a funding plan, and after approval move in within four months and live there for at least two years. This applies to all foreigners, including ARC holders and F-2 / F-5 residents. Our English-speaking realtors guide you through the permit and contract.
Officetels are legally classified as business-use facilities rather than housing, so they generally fall outside the residential foreign-buyer permit regime — which is one reason they remain a practical option for foreign buyers in Seoul. Treatment can depend on how a specific unit is registered, so confirm with your realtor before you commit.
Yes, freely and with no permit. You can rent on jeonse (a large refundable deposit with no monthly rent) or wolse (a smaller deposit plus monthly rent). Studios and officetels near Gangnam and Yeoksam stations are the easiest entry point.
Apgujeong and Cheongdam for luxury living, Yeoksam and Gangnam Station for convenience and officetels, and Gaepo, Dogok and Daechi for families who prioritise space and schools. Korea International School's lower-grades campus is in Gaepo-dong.
Gangnam commands some of the highest prices in Korea, especially Apgujeong and Cheongdam. Officetels and smaller units near Gangnam Station are far more accessible. Use the filters above for current prices.
Every Seoul Homes listing in Gangnam is handled by a verified, English-speaking realtor. They can arrange video viewings, explain jeonse and wolse, and walk foreign buyers through the 2025 permit process. Send an inquiry on any listing to get started.
