Seoul, South Korea – A recent surge in rental prices for small apartments in Seoul and other parts of the metropolitan area has been attributed to a decline in villa rentals, largely due to the aftermath of rental fraud scandals.

According to the Korea Real Estate Board's nationwide housing price trends survey, the monthly rent index for villas in the metropolitan area increased by 2.34% year-on-year as of December 2023. However, the rental index for small apartments with an area of 60 square meters or less exceeded that of villas during the same period.

The surge in demand for small apartments can be attributed to several factors, including a decline in villa rentals following rental fraud scandals and stricter regulations on rental deposit insurance. This has led to a significant increase in the proportion of monthly rental contracts for villas.

In Seoul, the monthly rental index for apartments under 40 square meters increased by 6.71% year-on-year, while the index for apartments between 40 and 60 square meters rose by 6.37%. The average monthly rent for apartments in Seoul also increased by 71,000 won to 1,341,000 won in December 2023.

The increased demand for monthly rentals has been driven by a combination of factors, including concerns about rental fraud, stricter regulations on rental deposit insurance, and a preference for smaller apartments in areas with good schools and other amenities.

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