Setting Up Utilities in Korea: Electricity, Gas, Water, and Internet (2026 Guide)

You signed the lease. You got the keys. Now nothing works and no one told you who to call.

Setting up utilities in Korea takes two to three calls, one store visit, and about a week of patience. Here is exactly what to do and in what order.

Move-in checklist

Use this as your reference. Every step is explained in detail below.

Two to three days before move-in:

1. Call your district's city gas company to schedule a technician visit for the meter reading and valve reopening.
2. Call KEPCO at 123 to check the electricity meter reading and confirm no outstanding balance on the previous account.

Move-in day: 3. Call KEPCO at 123 or go to online.kepco.co.kr to transfer electricity into your name. Have your name, ARC number, address, and move-in date ready. 4. Be home for the gas technician. They must physically open the valve and check the meter. You cannot get gas until this visit happens. 5. Confirm your water situation: apartment or officetel means water is bundled in your 관리비. Villa or multi-unit building means you call Dasan 120 and ask about Seoul Arisu billing. 6. Buy a starter pack of 종량제 봉투 from the nearest CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, or Emart24. Confirm whether your building uses RFID food waste bins or food waste bags.

First week: 7. Visit a KT, SK Broadband, or LG U+ store to sign up for internet. Installation takes three to seven days. 8. Visit your mobile carrier store with your ARC and passport to update your subscriber information. This makes the PASS app work. 9. Set up auto-debit (자동이체) for electricity and gas. KEPCO gives a 0.5% discount for auto-debit.

Within 14 days: 10. Report your new address to your local gu office, dong community center, or at hikorea.go.kr.

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Electricity (전기): KEPCO

KEPCO (한국전력공사) is the only residential electricity provider in Korea. There is no choosing a supplier. You call one number.

To transfer the account: Call 123 (24/7, limited English support available) or visit online.kepco.co.kr. You need your name, ARC number, full address, and move-in date. The transfer takes a few minutes.

If you don't have an ARC yet: KEPCO requires an ARC to open an account in your own name. Tourists and short-term visa holders cannot register directly. Your landlord or agent must hold the account and you settle the bill with them. Once your ARC arrives, call 123 to transfer it.

Before you call: Check the electricity meter on move-in day. Compare it to the reading on the previous tenant's final bill, which your landlord should provide. Any outstanding balance follows the account holder. Confirm the slate is clean before the transfer.

Rate structure and typical costs

KEPCO uses a progressive tier system (as of 2026, verify current rates at home.kepco.co.kr):

Residential rates have been frozen since Q3 2022. KEPCO has accumulated significant debt as a result. Rate increases remain possible.

July to August: Tier thresholds expand (approximately 300 kWh and 450 kWh) to soften air conditioning bills. Confirm the exact 2026 summer figures at home.kepco.co.kr before the summer billing cycle.

What to expect monthly:

• Studio apartment, under 200 kWh: ₩10,000–₩30,000 in summer, ₩15,000–₩25,000 in spring and autumn
• Two-person household in winter: ₩20,000–₩50,000

Auto-debit discount: Link your Korean bank account for auto-debit (자동이체) and KEPCO applies a 0.5% discount every month.

Bill payment options: Auto-debit, bank transfer, or in person at a convenience store using your customer number.

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City gas (도시가스): finding your provider

Piped city gas (도시가스) is distributed by regional companies. KOGAS supplies wholesale nationally, but your day-to-day provider depends on which gu you live in. Seoul alone has six providers.

Seoul city gas providers by district

Confirm your provider at the KOGAS directory: kogas.or.kr/site/eng/1060102010000.

Note for Gyeonggi-do residents: Samchully (삼천리) covers most of Gyeonggi-do, not Seoul. If you are outside the city boundary, check with your landlord.

The technician visit

Gas accounts cannot be transferred with a phone call alone. A technician must come to your unit to check the meter, inspect the equipment, and reopen the gas valve. Call two to three days before move-in to schedule this. Both the departing tenant and the incoming tenant should notify the provider around the same time. You must be home.

Have your ARC and a copy of your lease ready for the visit.

Billing: Monthly or bi-monthly, by bank transfer, convenience store payment, or auto-debit. Some providers offer a gas app (가스앱) for self-service billing.

Ondol heating: how to use the boiler panel

Ondol (온돌) is Korea's underfloor heating system. A gas boiler heats water that runs through pipes beneath your floor. The wall panel controls everything.

Three settings you need to know:

• 난방 (nan-bang): Floor heating on. Press to activate.
• 외출 (oe-chul): Away/eco mode. Use this when you leave the apartment. The system maintains a low baseline temperature.
• 온수 (on-su): Hot water only mode. Press when you need a shower without heating the floor.

Leaving the boiler on 외출 while you are out is more efficient than switching it off entirely. Cold pipes take far more gas to reheat. In deep winter, fully turning off the heating can also freeze the pipes in older buildings.

Typical gas costs

• Summer (hot water only): under ₩10,000 per month
• Winter, studio to one-bedroom (moderate use): ₩70,000–₩150,000 per month
• Winter, heavy heating use: ₩200,000–₩300,000 per month
• Large apartments in harsh winters: up to ₩400,000 in peak months

LPG note: Some older buildings or rural properties use LPG cylinders (액화석유가스) rather than piped city gas. Cylinders are swapped by a distributor. If your building has no gas meter on the wall, ask your landlord whether it uses LPG.

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Water (수도)

Water setup depends on your building type.

Apartment or officetel: Water is included in your 관리비 (maintenance fee). No transfer needed, no account to open. Water charges appear as a line item on your monthly 관리비 statement.

Villa (빌라) or multi-unit house: You are billed directly by Seoul Arisu (서울아리수). Billing is bi-monthly. Your ARC and lease will likely be required to register. Call the Seoul Dasan Call Center at 120 to confirm the process for your specific address. The Arisu website is at arisu.seoul.go.kr.

Typical cost: ₩5,000–₩20,000 per two-month billing period for a one to two person household.

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Maintenance fee (관리비)

The 관리비 is not a utility, but it bundles several of them. Understanding what is and is not included prevents surprises.

Typically included:

• Common-area electricity (hallways, elevator, lobby)
• Elevator maintenance
• Cleaning and security staff
• Building insurance
• Waste collection
• In district-heated buildings: heating and hot water (you will not have a separate gas account)

Typically billed separately: Some buildings list electricity, heating, and hot water as separate line items within the 관리비. Read the itemized statement.

Officetel warning: Many officetels supply electricity to individual units through the building's commercial meter, then re-bill tenants. Commercial electricity rates are higher than KEPCO residential rates. Confirm whether your officetel uses direct KEPCO billing or building re-billing before you sign the lease.

Typical monthly ranges:

• Studio officetel, Seoul: ₩100,000–₩200,000
• Standard apartment, 84 sqm: ₩150,000–₩300,000
• Luxury or high-rise apartment: ₩450,000 and above

March 2026 reform: The Korean government announced on March 24, 2026 that it will require itemized 관리비 disclosure, tenant participation in building management, and local government inspection rights for buildings with 50 or more units. This applies to officetels and row houses (not just registered apartments). Implementation dates for these amendments to the Housing Lease Protection Act and Condominium Act have not yet been specified. The reform was announced, not yet in effect.

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Internet (인터넷)

The three providers

Korea has three nationwide fiber providers: KT, SK Broadband, and LG U+. All three offer residential fiber (광랜) at 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps. Quality is similar across all three. Coverage varies slightly by building, but most Seoul apartments and officetels are pre-wired.

Contracts: Three-year contracts (약정) offer the lowest monthly rates. One-year and two-year contracts are available at higher rates. Breaking a contract early triggers an 위약금 (early termination fee), which can be substantial.

Estimated monthly rates (internet only, 3-year contract): ₩20,000–₩35,000. These are market estimates, not official pricing. Confirm with the provider before signing.

Bundling discount: Combining internet, IPTV, and a mobile plan from the same provider (결합할인) reduces the total monthly cost. Worth asking about if you use Korean mobile service.

Installation timeline: Three to seven days after signing. Seoul apartments pre-wired for fiber can sometimes be connected the same week.

Documents required

• Passport or ARC (ARC strongly preferred; some providers accept passport only)
• A copy of your lease
• Korean phone number
• Email address

English-friendly options

• KT Global Center: The most foreigner-accessible option. KT stores in Itaewon and other central Seoul neighborhoods often have English-speaking staff.
• LG U+ English portal: mglobalcommunity.lguplus.com has English sign-up information.
• SK Broadband: No dedicated English service. Use an agent if your Korean is limited.
• Ginternet Korea and similar agents: Foreigner-specialist agents who handle sign-up paperwork in English. Useful if you have no ARC yet or prefer not to navigate a Korean-language contract alone.

Short-term and no-contract options

Not ready to commit to a three-year contract? Two alternatives:

5G home router: A device that connects to the mobile network rather than a fixed fiber line. No installation, no long contract, no technician visit. Speeds are lower than fiber but sufficient for most uses.

Prepaid mobile Wi-Fi device: Available at Incheon Airport and major telecom stores. Works on a data allowance. Best for the first few weeks while you wait for fiber installation.

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Trash and recycling (종량제 봉투)

Korea uses a volume-based trash system called 종량제 (jongnyangje). You pay for the bags, which determines what you pay for waste disposal.

General waste

Buy 종량제 봉투 bags from any convenience store near your apartment. Brands: CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, Emart24. These bags are district-specific. A bag printed for Mapo-gu is not valid in Yongsan-gu. Buy yours at a store inside your district.

Seoul bags are white. Other cities have different colors. Prices are set by each local government. Seoul last published official prices in 2023 (10L approximately ₩250, 20L approximately ₩490). Confirm current prices at your local convenience store or gu office, as prices vary and may have changed.

Note: Seoul experienced supply shortages of 5L and 10L bags in early 2026. If your nearest store is sold out, try a different convenience store brand or the next larger size.

Food waste (음식물 쓰레기)

Food waste must be separated from general trash. Two systems exist depending on your building:

• RFID bins (most apartment complexes): Tap your resident card on the bin sensor, drop in food waste, and the weight is recorded and billed on your monthly 관리비. No bags needed.
• Food waste bags (smaller buildings and villas): Buy 음식물 쓰레기 봉투 at convenience stores. Costs a few hundred won per bag.

Ask your building manager or the previous tenant which system your building uses.

Recyclables

Paper, glass, plastic, and cans go into transparent plastic bags or designated bins beside the building. Recyclables are collected free of charge.

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The PASS app barrier for foreign residents

The PASS app (PASS 앱) is Korea's dominant identity verification tool. Banks, government portals, and some utility self-service platforms use it to confirm your identity with a one-tap check. If it does not work for you, several services become harder to access.

Why it fails: PASS ties your identity to your mobile phone number via your carrier's subscriber database (실명확인). If you registered your SIM with a passport before receiving your ARC, the carrier's records show your passport number. When PASS looks up your ARC, it finds nothing. Verification fails.

The fix:

1. Visit your mobile carrier store in person (SK Telecom, KT, or LG U+). Bring both your ARC and your passport.
2. Ask to update your subscriber information (실명확인 변경) to reflect your ARC.
3. The database update takes a few hours, sometimes up to one business day.
4. Reinstall the PASS app. Re-register your phone number inside the app.

Do this in your first week. The earlier you fix it, the fewer systems you get locked out of later.

Digital ID (모바일 신분증): From January 2025, foreign nationals in Korea can register a digital mobile ID (모바일 신분증) as a supplement to PASS. This is an official government program but is still rolling out to all use cases. It does not fully replace the PASS app fix above.

SMS verification issues: Some Korean platforms send a one-time verification code to your phone. Foreign numbers and some prepaid SIMs do not receive these codes reliably. Using a Korean phone number registered under your ARC resolves this.

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English-language customer service numbers

For gas provider numbers, see the table in the city gas section above.

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Within 14 days: address registration

Foreign residents with an ARC must report a new address to immigration within 14 days of moving in.

Three ways to do this:

• In person at your local gu office (구청) with your ARC and lease
• At your dong community center (주민센터)
• Online at hikorea.go.kr

The late registration fine is ₩100,000 to ₩1,000,000 (as of 2026, verify at hikorea.go.kr).

This is separate from the 전입신고 move-in registration for your lease (which protects your deposit). Both happen at the gu office, but they are different forms with different purposes. Do both on the same visit.

For a step-by-step on ARC registration and address change, see the ARC Registration Guide.

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FAQ

Do I need an ARC to set up utilities in Korea?

Yes, for electricity and gas in your own name you need an Alien Registration Card (ARC). Without one, your landlord or agent must register the accounts and you pay them directly. Once you have your ARC, you can call KEPCO at 123 or contact your district's gas provider to transfer the accounts.

How do I find which gas company covers my district in Seoul?

Seoul is split across six city gas providers. Match your gu: Gangnam, Gangdong, Songpa, Seocho (parts) use Ko-one Energy Service at 1599-3366. Eunpyeong, Mapo, Gangseo, Yeongdeungpo, Gwanak, Dongjak use Seoul City Gas at 1588-5788. Jung, Gwangjin, Seongdong, Dongdaemun, Jungnang use Yesco at 1544-3030. Guro, Geumcheon, Yangcheon (parts) use Kiturami Energy at 1670-4700. Nowon, Dobong, Gangbuk, Seongbuk (parts) use Daeryun E&S at 1566-6116. Confirm at kogas.or.kr.

What is the maintenance fee (관리비) and what does it cover?

The 관리비 is a monthly fee charged on top of rent in apartments and officetels. It covers shared costs: common-area electricity, elevator, cleaning staff, security, and building insurance. In many district-heated buildings it also covers your heating and hot water. Some officetels charge electricity at commercial rates through the building, which is higher than KEPCO residential rates. Confirm what is included before signing a lease.

Can I get internet without an ARC?

A Korean phone number is required for most telecom sign-ups, and an ARC is strongly preferred. With only a passport, options are limited. KT and some specialist agents process foreign applicants without an ARC. For short stays, a 5G home router or prepaid mobile Wi-Fi device avoids the need for a fixed-line contract entirely.

How does the Korean trash bag system work?

General waste goes into 종량제 봉투, which are district-specific designated bags sold at convenience stores. Bags from another district are not valid. Recyclables (paper, glass, plastic, cans) go in transparent bags or designated bins at no extra cost. Food waste is separated and disposed of in RFID bins (scanned with your apartment resident card) or in separate food waste bags. Confirm current bag prices at your local gu office or convenience store.

Why does the PASS app not work on my phone?

The PASS app links your identity to your phone number via your mobile carrier's subscriber database. If your SIM was registered with your passport before you received your ARC, the carrier still shows your passport number. The app's ID check finds no matching ARC and fails. The fix: visit your carrier store with both your ARC and passport, update your subscriber information, wait a few hours, then reinstall and re-register in the app.

Do I need to report my new address to immigration after moving?

Yes. Foreign residents with an ARC must report a new address within 14 days of moving in. Do this at your local gu office, dong community center, or at hikorea.go.kr. Late registration carries a fine of ₩100,000 to ₩1,000,000. This is separate from the 전입신고 move-in registration for your lease.

What is ondol and how do I control it?

Ondol (온돌) is underfloor heating fed by a gas boiler. The wall panel has three main settings: 난방 (nan-bang) turns floor heating on, 외출 (oe-chul) sets eco/away mode, and 온수 (on-su) controls hot water. When you leave the apartment, switch to 외출 rather than turning heating off completely. It uses less gas than reheating a cold floor and prevents pipe freezing in winter.