Seoul Area Guide
Buying an apartment in Seoul
Seoul is a city of 25 districts with wildly different personalities — and price tags. A standard 84㎡ apartment runs ₩700M–₩1.5B in solid outer districts and ₩1.5B–₩3B in popular central areas, while Gangnam's blue-chip complexes now trade at ₩5B–₩7B for the same size (Banpo's Raemian One Bailey hit ₩7.15B in 2026). At the very top, Hannam-dong's ultra-prime residences — The Hill, Nine One Hannam — change hands at ₩10B–₩25B ($7M–$18M). Here's how the areas foreigners ask about most actually compare.
Gangnam / Seocho
Korea's blue-chip address — top school districts, corporate HQs, and the strongest long-term price resilience. The most expensive, and the most liquid.
Yongsan
The city's geographic center, reshaped by the former US base turned park and major redevelopment. Popular with expats (Itaewon, Hannam) and diplomats; large units and river views.
Mapo / Hongdae
Young, creative, and superbly connected. Strong rental demand from professionals and students; officetels and newer apartment complexes around Gongdeok are investor favorites.
Seongsu
Seoul's Brooklyn — warehouses turned cafés, startup offices, and the Trimage/Acro river skyline. One of the fastest-appreciating districts of the last decade.
Jongno / Jung-gu
The historic core: palaces, hanok villages, and the business district. Fewer large apartment complexes; unique properties including renovated hanok houses.
Three things Seoul buyers should know
Apartments (아파트) dominate: large branded complexes with management offices, security, and the deepest resale market. Officetels are cheaper and rent well, but appreciate differently.
School districts move prices in Seoul the way they do in US suburbs — Gangnam's Daechi area being the classic example. Even if you have no children, buying in a strong school zone protects resale value.
The subway map is the value map. A 5-minute walk to a station versus 15 can mean a double-digit price difference — and it's the first filter Korean buyers apply.
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