Relocating to Seoul: A Practical Guide for Foreign Families
Moving to a new country is a lot to hold in your head at once — a school that fits your children, a neighborhood where your family feels at home, and a commute that does not eat your evenings. Seoul makes this easier than most cities its size: there are well-established foreign communities, world-class international schools, and a fast subway network that ties it all together. This guide orients you across the three things most transferees decide first — school, neighborhood, and commute — and points you to the deeper guides for each.
Relocating employees to Seoul?
We help HR, GA, and relocation teams house transferees (주재원) and their families — foreigner-friendly homes, corporate leases, and English-speaking agents.
Set up a corporate housing programHousing near international schools
Expat neighborhoods
Housing near work districts
Housing near universities
Three decisions, in the order that matters
Most families who relocate to Seoul make three choices, usually in this order: which school, which neighborhood, and how long the commute to the office. Get the school right and the shortlist of neighborhoods narrows on its own — many of Seoul's expat enclaves grew up around a particular school or embassy cluster. From there it is mostly about lifestyle and your daily trip to work.
Neighborhoods where foreign families settle
Seoul has a handful of long-established international neighborhoods, each with its own character. Hannam-dong and UN Village in Yongsan are the premier diplomatic and executive addresses. Itaewon is the most international district for food, nightlife, and a genuinely mixed community. Ichon-dong is Seoul's long-standing Japanese community — calm, riverside, and very family-friendly. Seorae Village in Seocho is the French quarter, full of bakeries and quiet streets with strong Gangnam access. For more space and greenery, Pyeongchang-dong and Seongbuk-dong offer hillside, low-density homes near embassies and nature. See the full breakdown in our where to live in Seoul guide.
Living near your child's school
If your decision starts with the school, it is worth knowing where each campus sits. Seoul Foreign School draws families to leafy Yeonhui-dong in the northwest; Yongsan International School puts you right in the Hannam–Itaewon expat core; Dwight School Seoul anchors riverside eastern Seoul; and Dulwich College Seoul sits near Banpo and Seorae Village. Our international schools in Seoul guide covers curricula, locations, and the neighborhoods each school's families tend to choose.
Living near where you work
Commute shapes daily life more than people expect. Gangnam and Teheran-ro are the tech and finance core, well served by Lines 2 and 9 and the Sinbundang Line. Yeouido is the banking island. Pangyo — Korea's Silicon Valley — sits just south in Bundang, with very family-friendly new-town apartments. Jongno/Gwanghwamun is the historic downtown CBD, and Sangam DMC is the media hub in the west. Where staff live usually follows these clusters along a single subway line.
Leases, deposits, and furnished homes
Korean leases work differently from most countries. Jeonse is a large refundable deposit with no monthly rent; wolse is a smaller deposit plus monthly rent — the more common choice for foreign tenants. Our renting in Seoul as a foreigner guide and jeonse vs wolse vs buying explainer walk through both. If you are arriving with little furniture, furnished homes let you move in immediately. You can also browse apartments and check typical rental prices before you commit.
Relocating a team or moving on a company package?
If your move is sponsored by an employer — or you are the HR or relocation manager arranging housing for inbound staff — we run a dedicated service for corporate placements: corporate-name (법인) leases, tax invoices, company-handled deposits, and a single point of contact across every expat area and school. See our corporate housing partnership page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do most foreign families live in Seoul?
The long-established expat neighborhoods are Hannam-dong and UN Village, Itaewon, Ichon-dong (a Japanese community), Seorae Village (French), and the greener Pyeongchang-dong and Seongbuk-dong. Most families pick one based on their school and commute.
Should I choose my neighborhood or my school first?
Usually the school. Many of Seoul's expat enclaves grew up around a specific international school or embassy cluster, so once the school is set, the shortlist of neighborhoods narrows on its own.
What lease type do foreigners usually take in Seoul?
Most foreign tenants choose wolse, which is a smaller deposit plus monthly rent. Jeonse uses a large refundable deposit and no monthly rent. Both are explained in our renting and jeonse-vs-wolse guides.
Can I find furnished homes for a quick move-in?
Yes. Furnished apartments and officetels let you move in immediately, which suits transferees arriving with little furniture or on shorter assignments.
My company is paying for the move. Is there help for that?
Yes. We run a dedicated corporate housing service with corporate-name leases, tax invoices, company-handled deposits, and a single point of contact. See the corporate housing page for details.