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Moving out — what to do

How to protect your deposit at lease end and move-out.

Before you leave — in order

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Do NOT move your residence registration out before you get the deposit back

If you register your residence at a new address before the deposit is returned, you instantly lose 대항력 (opposability) and 우선변제권 (priority claim) on this home. You drop in priority if the property is auctioned, and your position weakens if the landlord stalls. Always do it in this order: confirm the deposit has landed in your account, then move your registration. If you truly must leave first, apply for a 임차권등기명령 (lease registration order) at the court before you move — once it is registered, your rights survive the address change.

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If you need to move out before the lease ends

If you move out before the lease ends, you may have to keep paying rent until a new tenant is found, or pay extra costs such as the brokerage fee depending on your agreement with the landlord. Your deposit may also be returned later, so agree on it in writing in advance.

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Claim back your 장기수선충당금 (apartments / officetels)

If you lived in an apartment or officetel, your monthly 관리비 may have included 장기수선충당금 — a long-term repair reserve. It is legally the owner's cost that you paid on their behalf, so you can claim the full amount back when you move out. Over two years it can add up to several hundred thousand won. Ask the building office (관리사무소) for a payment certificate (장기수선충당금 납부확인서) and give it to the landlord. Nobody will offer it to you — you have to ask.

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If the deposit is not returned — do these in order

① First ask in writing (text or KakaoTalk) so there is a record — a phone call leaves no evidence. ② If that fails, send a 내용증명 (content-certified mail) from the post office; it creates an official record of what you demanded and when. ③ If still unpaid, apply for a 임차권등기명령 at the court and file a deposit-return claim. If you are worried about costs, the Korea Legal Aid Corporation (call 132, no area code) gives free consultation, and 1345 offers multilingual help for foreign residents. Keep everything: the contract, transfer records, photos, and message history.

General guidance for tenants, not legal advice.