The first "Seoul-style co-living house" for single-person households, where residents can live near a subway station for monthly rent at half the surrounding market rate, is expected to be built in Nokbeon-dong, Eunpyeong District. The Seoul city government decided, after an integrated review, to designate the site as a zone to promote the supply of public-supported private rental dwellings.
According to the Seoul city government on the 2nd, the city is conducting consultations with relevant departments to designate the area around Nokbeon-dong, Eunpyeong District, as a zone to promote the supply of public-supported private rental dwellings. Late last year, the city offered pre-advisory integrated review to a private operator that submitted a project proposal. The private operator then submitted a project plan in Feb., and an integrated review is pending.
A Seoul city official said, "We plan to conduct the integrated review within the first half of this year," and added, "Once the review passes and the designation as a zone to promote the supply of public-supported private rental dwellings is completed, construction can begin immediately." The city is also pushing a plan to supply Seoul-style co-living houses in the area around Yaksu-dong, Jung District.
The Seoul-style co-living house is a rental dormitory for single-person households. Its aim is a "home larger than a gosiwon and cheaper than an officetel." Co-living houses are divided into a private living space for individuals and shared spaces for community activities. The size of a private room is 12㎡ (about 3.63 pyeong), larger than a gosiwon (7㎡). At the time of the project announcement, the city said general-supply rent would be set at 70% of studio market rates, and special supply for housing support recipients at 50% to 60%. Monthly rent for newly built studios near subway stations and major university areas averages 700,000 to 900,000 won. The length of stay is six years for youth under age 39, and up to 10 years for middle-aged and older residents over age 40.
Under the Special Act on Private Rental Housing, when designated as a zone to promote the supply of public-supported private rental dwellings, incentives such as upgrading the zoning district and easing floor area ratio can be applied. For example, if a Type 2 general residential area is upgraded to a quasi-residential area, the maximum floor area ratio increases from 200% to 500%. Private operators can secure business viability by being able to supply more dwellings.
The co-living market is growing as single-person households increase and housing costs rise. According to the "2025 Seoul Co-living Market Report" by commercial real estate data corporations Rsquare, as of Feb. last year there were 7,371 co-living dwellings in Seoul, a 4.7-fold increase from nine years prior. Representative private-supply co-living brands include "Episode," operated by SK D&D, and "Mangrove" by startup MGRV.