Seoul apartment rents rose 7.68% cumulatively from January through September 2026, nearly twice the 3.94% increase recorded for all of 2025, according to Korea Real Estate Board data reported by Hankook Ilbo. Nowon District posted the largest increase at 12.88%, followed by Seongbuk District at 11.82%, while several relatively lower-priced areas also exceeded the city average.
In Seongbuk, sales prices rose 14.69% and jeonse deposits increased 13.58% over the same period, alongside the double-digit monthly rent gain. Researchers cited tenants moving from jeonse to monthly rent after struggling to meet sharply higher renewal deposits, and forecast continued pressure in Seoul's northeastern outskirts during February and March 2027.