The meaning of “full option(풀 옵션)” in Korea
It refers to a home equipped with the following furniture and appliances:
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Appliances: Refrigerator, washing machine, gas stove, air conditioner..
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Furniture: Shoes cabinet, wardrobe..
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Excluded items: Beds, dryer, vacuum cleaner, water purifier, kitchen utensils, dishes, hangers, bedside table, etc.
Other items, like a microwave or kettle, may or may not be provided depending on the landlord’s preference.
Especially in the case of beds, unless the property is targeting foreign clients, they are rarely provided. However, in the Shinchon/Hongdae area, many short-term rental properties do come with beds. Otherwise, beds are provided in homes operating as “hotel accomodations” like Airbnb.
In my personal opinion, the reason why homes in Korea don’t typically come furnished with beds and other furniture is due to the long-standing tradition of sleeping on mats laid out on heated “Ondol(Warm stone)” floors for hundreds of years. The culture of sleeping in beds has only become common in the last 100 years.
And just as in the past, when fires were lit in the kitchen hearth to warm the “Ondol” floors of the bedroom, modern Korean homes still have systems to heat the floors, and this is installed in most houses.
So, it’s safe to say that it’s rare to rent or buy a property without needing to purchase additional furniture or appliances, as homes are typically rented or sold unfurnished in Korea.
Regarding bedding or regular cleaning service
When renting a regular house, providing bedding or regular cleaning services is a violation of Korean law. In Korea, only businesses registered as “accommodation services” are allowed to provide bedding and offer regular cleaning services to tenants. In the case of accommodations classified as lodging businesses, the regulations on public health management are stricter, and more taxes are imposed, so landlords typically do not offer such services.
Therefore, if you are living in Korea through a standard rental agreement, it is recommended that you either purchase affordable bedding locally in Korea or have it shipped from your home country.
If you don’t plan to settle in Korea long-term,
Let me introduce a few ways to purchase household items at very low prices.
Daiso
Daiso is Korea’s 1,000-won shop. There are stores in each area, and they sell a wide range of household items at incredibly low prices by purchasing or producing in bulk. Although the durability and quality may not be the highest, they are quite satisfactory for the price, making Daiso a favorite among students.
For example, you can buy the following rice bowl and plate for 1,000 KRW each.
They offer a wide variety of products in categories such as stationery, storage/organization items, cleaning/bathroom supplies, kitchenware, and more, so I recommend visiting at least once.
IKEA
Swedish company IKEA also sells ready-to-assemble & affordable furniture in Korea. There are stores in Goyang, Gwangmyeong, Giheung, and Busan. If you live near these locations and have a car, it’s worth a visit. In my personal opinion, bedding is decent and doesn’t require any assembly. They also sell online, but the delivery fees can be quite expensive. (around 40,000 to 50,000 KRW per piece of furniture)
