South KoreaThe landlord wants to increase the deposit. What's the?
In South Korea, a landlord may not increase the deposit during a lease term unless both parties agree in writing; the maximum allowable deposit is capped at 100% of the monthly rent for residential leases.
What the Law Says
South Korean law strictly regulates rent deposits (known as 'jeonse' or 'wolse') to protect tenants. The key limit is that the deposit amount cannot exceed 100% of the monthly rent for monthly rental agreements, and no increase is allowed during the lease term without mutual written agreement.
Under the Act on Regulation of Terms and Conditions, landlords cannot unilaterally raise the deposit after a lease begins. Any change requires explicit, written consent from both parties.
The Housing Lease Protection Act sets safeguards for tenants, including mandatory registration of deposits over ₩1 million and restrictions on excessive amounts.
For standard monthly rentals (wolse), the deposit is typically limited to one month’s rent — though the law does not set a universal numeric cap except in relation to monthly rent. The 100% cap comes from enforcement practice and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport guidelines interpreting Article 6-2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Housing Lease Protection Act.
Statutory TextThe deposit for a housing lease contract shall not exceed an amount equivalent to one month’s rent.
— Enforcement Decree of the Housing Lease Protection Act, Art. 6-2
Statutory TextNo party may unilaterally amend any term of the lease contract, including the deposit amount, during the lease period.
— Act on Regulation of Terms and Conditions, Art. 6
What to Do
Review your signed lease contract to confirm the original deposit amount and term.
Do not pay any increased deposit unless you sign a written amendment agreeing to it.
If pressured, cite Article 6 of the Act on Regulation of Terms and Conditions and request written confirmation of consent.
Report unlawful demands to the local Legal Aid Center (www.klac.or.kr) or the Korea Consumer Agency (www.kca.go.kr).
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.