💡 Utility Costs Guide for Foreign Renters in Seoul (Electricity, Gas, Water)
Category | Summer (₩) | Winter (₩) | Notes |
Electricity | 10,000–30,000 | 20,000–50,000 | Can vary widely depending on A/C use; progressive rate applies |
Gas | Under 10,000 | 70,000–150,000+ | Sharp increase in winter due to heating & hot water |
Water | 5,000–15,000 | 5,000–15,000 | Billed every 2 months, based on average usage |
If you're new to renting in Korea, managing your utilities—like electricity, gas, and water—can feel overwhelming at first. In some cases, your landlord might handle these for you. But more often than not, you’ll be responsible for setting up and paying utilities under your own name.
This guide focuses on how foreign renters in Seoul can register and pay for electricity, city gas, and water. We’ll break down the steps, explain what changes depending on your visa type (e.g., working holiday, student, long-term resident), and help you avoid surprise costs and common mistakes. We’ll also share how a platform like ForeignerHome (FOHO) can help simplify these steps.
🔍 Summary Table: Utility Registration & Billing
Service | Provider | How to Register | Required Docs | Billing Cycle | How to Pay |
Electricity | Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) | Call 123 or apply online | ARC (Alien Registration Card) | Monthly | Convenience store, bank, online, auto-debit |
Gas | Seoul City Gas / Regional Gas Co. | Call + on-site inspection | ARC, rental contract (sometimes) | Monthly | Same as above |
Water | Seoul Waterworks or local gov’t | Call 120 → water office | ARC, rental contract (if needed) | Every 2 months | Bank, GIRO, city app, auto-debit |
1. ⚡ Electricity
In Korea, all electricity is supplied by a single provider: KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation). So when you move into a new home, you’ll need to notify KEPCO to switch the electricity account to your name based on the meter reading in your unit.
📝 How to Register
If you're moving into a standard residential unit (5kW or under), the process is simple: call 123 (no area code needed) or register online at the KEPCO website. No extra documents are required in most cases.
During the call, you'll be asked to provide:
- your full name,
- ARC number,
- address, and
- move-in date.
You can also request auto-debit for payments during this same call. While KEPCO’s customer service is open 24/7, English support may be limited—so if you're not confident in Korean, it helps to have a friend assist you during the call.
🛂 ARC Required
To register electricity under your name, you’ll need your Alien Registration Card (ARC). If you’ve just arrived in Korea and don’t yet have your ARC, you may need to temporarily use the previous tenant's or landlord’s account and simply pay the bills yourself. You’ll be able to register officially once your ARC is issued—so apply for it as soon as possible after arrival.
❗ Watch for Unpaid Bills
When moving into a new place, check if there are any unpaid electricity bills from the previous tenant. In Korea, utility accounts are often linked to the address and the meter itself—not the individual—so if the prior tenant left unpaid bills, you might be on the hook for them after the name change.
Before moving in, ask the landlord or previous resident to confirm that everything is settled, or call KEPCO yourself to check the account’s payment history.
📩 Receiving Bills
Electricity is metered and billed monthly. In some apartment complexes, it’s bundled together with other maintenance fees in a single statement. But in studios, villas, or officetels, a physical yellow paper bill is usually mailed to your address each month.
The bill shows:
- billing period,
- consumption in kWh,
- amount due,
- payment deadline,
- and virtual account number.
If your name still doesn’t appear on the bill after a few months, contact KEPCO to ensure the name change was properly processed. It won’t affect payment itself, but it may cause issues later during move-out or service termination.
💳 How to Pay
Paying electricity bills in Korea is extremely convenient:
- Take your paper bill with barcode to any convenience store (CU, GS25, etc.)
- Pay via ATM using barcode recognition
- Use mobile banking apps (e.g., KB, Hana) to transfer to the virtual account listed on the bill
- Scan the bill’s QR code or barcode via KakaoPay or Toss app for instant payment
You can also sign up for auto-debit, either during your initial call with KEPCO or online. Once set up, bills will be automatically deducted from your account—and you’ll get a 0.5% discount on future payments. Just make sure the bank account holder’s name matches the one on the electricity account.
💰 Average Monthly Cost
For a typical one-room or small apartment, expect to pay ₩10,000–30,000/month for electricity. However, during hot summer months, usage from air conditioning can drive bills up significantly.
Korea uses a progressive pricing system—meaning the more electricity you use, the higher your per-unit rate becomes. So if you run your A/C all day, your bill can double or triple, even without major lifestyle changes.
There are verified cases of bills jumping from ₩40,000 in August to over ₩130,000 in September—nearly a 300% increase—simply due to hitting higher pricing tiers.
KEPCO sometimes loosens pricing brackets during peak summer months to help with affordability, but it’s still smart to be mindful:
- keep the thermostat at a moderate level,
- use a fan alongside your A/C,
- unplug devices when not in use.
These small habits can prevent sticker shock.
🔎 Extra Tips
KEPCO offers an English breakdown of the bill on its website—very helpful if you’re not comfortable reading Korean utility terms.
If you ever run into financial difficulty and miss a payment, don’t panic. Late fees are minimal, and power will not be shut off immediately. In fact, it’s not uncommon for electricity to remain on for months after a missed payment, though we don’t recommend testing that!
That said, it’s always better to pay on time to avoid accumulating debt or hurting your future rental history.
2. 🔥 City Gas
Heating and cooking in most Korean homes run on city gas (natural gas), supplied by regional providers. In Seoul, the main provider is Seoul City Gas, but depending on your district, you might be serviced by Yesco (East Seoul), Gunam, or others. Regardless of the provider, you’ll need to either open a new account or transfer the name on the existing one when you move in.
🔧 Activation & Name Change
To start using gas, you first need to schedule an inspection and valve release. When previous tenants move out, they typically shut off the valve and settle the bill. So as a new tenant, you must call the local city gas provider’s customer center to report the start of your usage. For Seoul City Gas, this is 1522-3884; for Yesco, call 1544-3131.
They’ll ask for:
- your name,
- ARC or resident number,
- move-in date,
- address,
- and contact number.
A technician will visit your home on a scheduled date to check the initial meter reading and reopen the valve. If the gas hasn’t been shut off, you might be able to just update the account holder over the phone, sometimes by faxing the necessary documents.
⚠️ You must update the name. Otherwise, legally, all rights and responsibilities from the previous user carry over—including unpaid bills. Some providers will not allow name transfers if there’s outstanding debt, so always check the meter and verify any unpaid balances first.
📄 Required Documents
Gas account transfers usually don’t require paperwork beyond a phone call. However, some providers may ask for a copy of your lease or your Alien Registration Card (ARC) for identity verification. Foreigners are often asked to submit their ARC number even if locals are not. (Bonus: Your ARC can also be used for any discount or benefit programs tied to ID verification.)
🔁 Billing Cycle & How to Pay
Depending on the company and your region, gas is metered monthly or every two months. Seoul City Gas bills monthly, while others may alternate. Expect your gas bill about 10–14 days after the meter reading.
Like electricity, you can pay via:
- Convenience stores (CU, GS25, etc.)
- ATMs (using the barcode)
- Internet/mobile banking
- Auto-debit setup via phone or website
📌 Unlike electricity, there’s usually no discount for auto-debit, but it saves time and avoids missed payments.
💸 Average Cost & Winter Spike
Gas bills vary drastically by season. In summer, usage is typically limited to cooking and hot water, so you might pay less than ₩10,000 per month. But in winter—especially in homes with gas-powered heating—bills can skyrocket.
In one real-world example, a single resident in Seoul paid over ₩130,000 for gas in a one-room apartment during peak winter months. Others reported hitting ₩200,000+ during the 2023 energy price hikes. Even when indoor temperatures were kept at 22–23℃, people described their bills as "shockingly high."
💡 Tips to save on heating costs:
- Keep the boiler at a moderate setting—don’t overheat.
- Use "away" mode when you’re not home.
- Insulate windows and doors with draft stoppers.
- Use curtains to retain heat.
- Supplement with an electric mat or heated blanket.
Due to Korea’s ondol (floor heating) system, once the room warms up, it tends to retain heat. So you may not need to cycle the boiler on and off frequently—keeping a steady setting is often more efficient.
📍 Final Notes
During national energy crises or extreme winters, the Korean government may offer heating subsidies to low-income or vulnerable households. Check with your local district office if you think you might qualify.
Most gas providers also let you submit self-meter readings through their websites. And when you move out, don’t forget to:
- Request a final meter reading
- Cancel auto-debit (if applicable)
- Pay any remaining balance
3. 💧 Water
Water services are handled by your local government’s waterworks department, such as Seoul Waterworks or Busan Waterworks. In apartments, water charges are often bundled with maintenance fees, so you may not need to register separately. Still, it’s best to check and update the user information if necessary.
🔄 Name Registration
If you live in a villa, officetel, or standalone house and your bill arrives under a former tenant’s name, you can call Dasan Call Center (120) in Seoul to be directed to the right waterworks office. They’ll likely ask for:
- your address,
- the customer number on the bill,
- or the water meter number.
Changing the name is usually handled over the phone, but in some cases, you might need to fax your lease and ARC copy. It’s a quick process in most districts.
🔁 Meter Reading & Billing Cycle
Water is typically metered every 2 months, so you’ll get a bill every other month. For example, usage from January–February is billed in March. In large apartments, water is often billed monthly as part of your maintenance fees.
While water rates in Korea include a mild tiered system, they don’t spike as dramatically as electricity. Most one-person households pay ₩10,000–20,000 every two months unless there’s abnormal usage.
You can opt to receive digital bills or SMS alerts via your city’s waterworks website or app.
💳 How to Pay
Payment options include:
- Bank transfer
- Convenience stores
- City payment apps (e.g., Seoul’s ETAX)
- Auto-debit (with small discounts, such as ₩200 per payment)
⚠️ Common Issues
If your water bill is unusually high, check for hidden leaks—especially in toilets that run continuously or silent leaks under the sink. Faulty meters are rare, but if something seems off, contact your local office.
Also note: water bills and service websites are usually in Korean only. If you need help interpreting your bill, ask a Korean-speaking friend, your landlord, or contact a local support center.
4. 🛂 Utility Access by Visa Type
Visa Type | Eligible to Register Utilities | Notes |
Working Holiday (H-1) | ✅ Yes | After ARC is issued |
Student (D-2) | ✅ Yes | May not apply for school dorms |
Long-term Resident (F, E) | ✅ Yes | ARC required |
Tourist/Short-term (C) | ❌ No | Cannot register without ARC |
Most foreigners staying long-term in Korea must obtain an ARC (Alien Registration Card), which functions like a Korean resident ID. With this, you can register all your utilities. Without it, you usually cannot open accounts in your name.
If you’re here short-term or on a tourist visa, utility accounts must stay under the landlord’s or previous tenant’s name, and you’ll simply reimburse them. ARC is also needed for mobile plans and internet, so it’s best to get it early.
Even if your visa is still valid, if you plan to leave Korea or travel for months, remember to:
- Set up auto-pay or
- Designate someone you trust to manage payments while you're gone.
And when your visa ends, cancel utilities before departure to avoid leftover balances or account issues.
5. 🏢 Utility Billing by Housing Type
Housing Type | Billing Method | Notes |
Goshiwon / Share House | Included in rent or flat rate | Sometimes extra for A/C |
One-room / Villa | Individual billing or landlord charges | Check if electric rate is residential or commercial |
Officetel | Varies—can be individual or bundled | Ask building management when you move in |
Apartment | Centralized management office bill | Usually all-in-one bill; name transfer often unnecessary |
Every housing type handles utilities differently. Ask upfront whether you'll receive separate bills, or whether utilities are included in your rent or maintenance fee.
In goshiwons, utilities are usually included. In villas, you may be individually metered or pay a share based on usage. Some landlords use commercial electricity rates, which are higher than residential. Always ask about this during your contract negotiation.
Apartments generally have a management office that consolidates all utilities into a monthly bill, including heating, water, electricity, and TV license fees. If you live in an apartment, you may not need to register separately with KEPCO or the gas company—just make sure to register with the management office.
FOHO Can Simplify It All
Managing utilities might feel overwhelming when you first move to Seoul. And while the systems here are efficient, the language barrier and service fragmentation can make things harder than they need to be.
That’s where FOHO can make a difference. We help you understand what each option really means, verify listings, handle paperwork, and communicate with landlords — so you avoid costly mistakes and stay focused on what brought you to Korea in the first place.
