Korean Apartment Sizes: What 84㎡ Really Means

Korean apartment sizes 84 square meters

Korean apartment sizes confuse many newcomers: a listing that says 84㎡ and one that says 34 pyeong can describe the same unit. The first number is the exclusive area you actually live in; the second is the supply area, which adds hallways, stairs and elevators shared with neighbours. One pyeong equals 3.3058㎡, so 84㎡ is only 25.4 pyeong — the “34-pyeong” label comes from the larger supply area.

Korean apartment sizes: the two numbers on every listing

Exclusive areaIn pyeongMarketed asTypical layout
59㎡17.8 pyeong24-pyeong unit2–3 bedrooms, couples and small families
74㎡22.4 pyeong30-pyeong unit3 bedrooms
84㎡25.4 pyeong34-pyeong unit3 bedrooms, the national standard
114㎡34.5 pyeong43-pyeong unit4 bedrooms or a large living room

Since 2007 listings must state the exclusive area in square meters, but agents and neighbours still talk in pyeong. Contracts, property tax and the registry use the exclusive area; brochures and price-per-pyeong chatter use the supply area. Rent and sale prices are usually quoted per supply pyeong, which makes an apartment look cheaper per unit than it is.

Korean apartment supply area pyeong

Why 84㎡ is everywhere

The 84㎡ unit became the standard because it is the largest size that qualifies as “national housing scale” (85㎡ or less), which brings lower acquisition tax and easier subscription eligibility. That is why the majority of new complexes are built around 59㎡ and 84㎡, and why resale prices for those two sizes move most predictably.

Balcony extensions matter as much as the headline number. A balcony converted into living space is “service area” that is not counted in the 84㎡, so an extended unit can feel 3–5 pyeong larger than a non-extended one with the same exclusive area. Ask whether the unit is 확장형 (extended) before comparing prices.

In my experience the fastest way to avoid confusion is to convert every listing to exclusive square meters before comparing, then check the floor plan for bedroom count. A 25-pyeong exclusive unit and a 34-pyeong supply unit are the same home; two agents quoting different numbers are usually not disagreeing. If you are budgeting a move, the guide to paying in Korea covers deposits and bank transfers, and the business-day guide helps with contract deadlines.

Quick conversions

  1. Square meters to pyeong: divide by 3.3058 (or multiply by 0.3025)
  2. Pyeong to square meters: multiply by 3.3058
  3. Rule of thumb: ㎡ × 0.3 is close enough for a first look
  4. One pyeong is roughly a 1.8 m × 1.8 m square — two tatami mats

Summary

  1. Exclusive area (㎡) is the legal size; supply area (pyeong) is the marketing size
  2. 84㎡ = 25.4 pyeong exclusive, sold as a “34-pyeong” unit
  3. 85㎡ or less is national housing scale, with tax and subscription benefits
  4. Convert everything to exclusive ㎡ before comparing prices

To convert any figure instantly, enter the number in the pyeong calculator and read both pyeong and square feet side by side.

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