First ‘Hanok Rental’ a Hit, With Competition Reaching 956 to 1

[Financial News] A total of 2,093 people applied for seven units of the Mirinae House-linked Public Hanok supplied by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to help newlyweds secure stable housing. The average competition rate reached 299:1, which observers say demonstrates strong public interest in hanok (traditional Korean house) living.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 23rd the results of its tenant recruitment for public hanok, which was conducted over two days on the 15th and 16th. Under the Mirinae House-linked Public Hanok scheme, public hanok are rented to households with newborns, newlyweds, and engaged couples at 60–70% of market rates. If a child is born while living there, tenants can apply for priority relocation to long-term jeonse housing after 10 years, ensuring continuity in their housing. The first call for tenants was issued on December 30 last year.
The most popular unit was Bomun-dong Unit 7 (41-17 Bomun-dong 6-ga), which recorded a competition rate of 956 to 1. It was followed by Wonso-dong House No. 5 (38 Wonso-dong) at 284 to 1, and Gahoe-dong No. 1 (35-2 Gahoe-dong) at 263 to 1.
Bomun-dong Unit 7 is located in a general residential area where apartments and detached houses coexist, offering good access to local amenities. Its 51.1-square-meter layout with three bedrooms also proved highly attractive.
Wonso-dong House No. 5 appears to have appealed to applicants with its flexible interior space that can be divided and used in various ways, along with views of Changdeokgung Palace. Gahoe-dong No. 1 drew interest for features that match many people’s ideal of a hanok, including a spacious yard and an attic space.
This round’s competition rates surpassed both the previous record high—759 to 1 for a 59-square-meter unit at Hoban Summit Gaebong in the fourth round of the Mirinae House public housing program—and the previous average competition rate of 69.7 to 1 in the sixth round of the program.
The hanok units are located in Jongno and Seongbuk, adjacent to the central business district. They range from studio-type units to large hanok with four bedrooms and a family room. By varying location, size, and layout, the program allows applicants to choose according to their lifestyle and preferences.
From the 7th to the 14th, the city held an open-house event where people could freely tour the seven hanok units on offer, and a total of 3,754 visitors attended.
On this day, the city announced the list of applicants subject to document screening and will verify their eligibility for move-in through March. Final winners will be announced on April 2, and contracts will be signed from April 13 to 15. Move-ins will then take place over roughly two months starting on April 27, according to each tenant’s individual schedule.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government, together with Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH), plans to help tenants settle in smoothly through pre-move inspections and support during the early stages of residence. Choi Jin-seok, Director General for Housing of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, “The strong turnout for the Mirinae House public hanok open-house event and tenant applications clearly confirmed high interest and demand for nature-friendly and child-friendly hanok housing.” He added, “Using this supply as a starting point, we will swiftly push ahead this year with converting seven public hanok whose projects are ending into Mirinae House units for additional supply.”
The city also plans to actively identify and flesh out policy tools to expand the supply of ‘Mirinae House hanok’ in connection with vacant-home utilization projects. Starting in 2027, it intends to link the program with new hanok village development projects and significantly increase the supply of residential hanok that offer proximity to workplaces as well as education and living infrastructure.
ming@fnnews.com Jeon Min-kyung Reporter