Reading Addresses in Korean Leases and Property Documents
If you are renting or buying in Korea, you will notice the address on the lease or property register looks different from the address you use for mail and deliveries. Both are valid — they are two parallel systems.
The two addresses of every Korean building
| Road-name address | Lot-number (jibun) address | |
|---|---|---|
| Example | 152 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu | Yeoksam-dong 737 |
| Based on | Road + building number | Land parcel number |
| Used for | Mail, deliveries, ID registration | Property registers (등기), land records, most leases |
Property documents stay on the jibun system because ownership is recorded against land parcels, not buildings. A lease (전세/월세 계약서) typically shows the jibun address, sometimes with the road-name address alongside.
Checking that they match
Before signing, verify the two addresses refer to the same building: search either form on this site — every building page shows both addresses plus the postal code. If the lease's jibun address doesn't correspond to the road address you were shown, ask the agent why (large parcels can hold several buildings; that can be legitimate, but it should be explainable).
Reading the unit details
101동 1203호= Building 101 (within the complex), Unit 1203 — usually floor 12, unit 03.반지하/B01호= semi-basement unit;옥탑= rooftop unit.- For studios and multi-family houses (다가구), unit numbers are sometimes informal — the officially registered unit matters for your move-in registration (전입신고), so confirm the exact registered detail address with the landlord.
Practical checks before you sign
- Look the building up on Kakao Map or Naver Map using the road-name address from this site — street view helps verify the actual building.
- The property register (등기부등본) can be pulled using the jibun address — check that the owner listed matches who you're dealing with.
- Register your move (전입신고) within 14 days using the road-name address plus your unit number.