Small Deposit Priority Repayment Calculator
Choose the region and enter the deposit. You see whether you qualify and how much is protected.
Housing Lease Protection Act Art. 8, Enforcement Decree Arts. 10–11 (amended Feb 21, 2023)
| Deposit threshold | – |
|---|---|
| Maximum protected | – |
| Qualifies? | – |
The result is an estimate from the figures you enter and the rules in Korean law. Your actual contract, the court or the agency decides the real amount. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Thresholds and amounts by region
| Region | Deposit (at or below) | Paid first (up to) |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul | ₩165 million | ₩55 million |
| Overcrowding control areas (excl. Seoul), Sejong, Yongin, Hwaseong, Gimpo | ₩145 million | ₩48 million |
| Metropolitan cities (excl. overcrowding control areas and counties), Ansan, Gwangju (Gyeonggi), Paju, Icheon, Pyeongtaek | ₩85 million | ₩28 million |
| Everywhere else | ₩75 million | ₩25 million |
Small Deposit Priority Repayment Calculator: common questions
Q. What is small-deposit priority repayment?
A. If the home you rent is sold at auction, a tenant whose deposit is at or below a set amount gets part of the deposit back before mortgage holders and other secured creditors. It comes from Article 8 of the Housing Lease Protection Act.
Q. What is the threshold in Seoul?
A. In Seoul, a deposit of ₩165 million or less qualifies, and up to ₩55 million is paid first (Enforcement Decree Arts. 10 and 11, as amended on February 21, 2023).
Q. What do I need to qualify?
A. You must have moved in and completed your move-in report before the auction is registered (Act Art. 8(1) and Art. 3(1)). For a registered foreign resident, the change-of-residence report (체류지 변경신고) counts as the move-in report (Immigration Act Art. 88-2(2)). You also need to file a claim for distribution with the court during the auction.
Q. Does an older mortgage change the amount?
A. Yes. Under the addendum to the 2023 amendment, a creditor who took a mortgage or other security before February 21, 2023 is subject to the earlier, lower thresholds. Check the mortgage date on the property register (등기부등본) before you sign.
Q. Will I get the whole deposit back?
A. Not necessarily. Priority repayment covers only part of the deposit, and the total cannot exceed half the value of the home including the land (Act Art. 8(3), Decree Art. 10(2)).
Legal basis (Korean):주택임대차보호법 · 주택임대차보호법 시행령 · 출입국관리법
Korean version: 한국어 계산기 · Found an error? Tell us