Will I Get My Deposit Back—Safely?

If you are renting a home in Korea for the first time, paying a deposit may feel unfamiliar.

Unlike booking a hotel, using 33m2 means entering into a short-term residential lease. In Korea, a refundable deposit is a standard part of most rental agreements.

To reduce the burden of paying a deposit, 33m2 applies a fixed deposit of 330,000 KRW.  Below, we explain how the deposit works and how it is returned.

1. What Is a 33m2 Deposit?

As mentioned above, 33m2 uses a fixed deposit of 330,000 KRW.

It is paid together with the lease payment and returned after the stay, once the landlord confirms that there are no unpaid charges, property damage, or other unresolved issues. 

2. 33m2 Deposit FAQ

To help you understand deposits in more detail, here are the questions we most commonly receive from first-time tenants and landlords.

Q. Why does 33m2 hold the deposit?

To support safer agreements, 33m2 uses an escrow-based payment system.This means that 33m2 holds the payment as a neutral third party.

Your payment—including rent, maintenance fees, cleaning fees, and the deposit—is held by 33m2 until your move-in is confirmed, rather than being transferred directly to the landlord. This helps reduce the risk of fraudulent listings or losing contact with the landlord before move-in.

For tenants, the escrow system helps ensure that the payment is held securely. For landlords, it provides a structured way to address potential issues if necessary.

Q. How is the deposit returned?

After the tenant moves out, the landlord checks the condition of the property. If there are no unresolved issues or valid deductions, the deposit refund is processed.

The deposit is returned through the original payment method.If you paid by card, the refund is processed as a partial cancellation of the original card transaction. Please note that maintenance fees and cleaning fees are separate charges and are not included in the refundable deposit.t.

Q. Can extra charges be deducted from the deposit?

The deposit is intended to be returned to the tenant after move-out, provided there are no valid deductions.

Any additional costs outside the lease should generally be billed separately. However, if an issue such as confirmed damage or loss occurs during the stay, part of the deposit may be deducted with the agreement of both the tenant and the landlord.