Guide to paying utility bills and management fees in Korea for foreigners: Electricity, gas, water, and management fees
If you live at home in Korea, every month Utilities and maintenance feesmust pay. It's easy to fall behind on payments if you don't know the type and payment method, so we'll kindly explain what fees and how to pay from a foreigner's perspective.
What are the utility bills in Korea?
Typically Electricity charges (Korea Electric Power Corporation), city gas charges, water chargesand here Management fee, communication (mobile phone, internet) feeThis adds up. The billing method varies depending on the type of house you live in (apartment, officetel, studio).
Management fee – Apartments and officetels are billed together
Apartments and officetels are usually The management office collects integrated billing in the management fee bill.I do. Here Public electricity/water, cleaning/security, heating, internet etc. may be included. You can check your bill every month and contact the management office if you have any questions about an item.
When paying separately for electricity, gas, and water
One-room, villa, etc. Electricity (KEPCO), city gas, water Fees may also be charged separately. In each institution Bill (Girro)will come or you will be notified via app or text message. Heating (gas) bills may rise significantly in winter, so be careful to manage your usage.
Payment method
The most convenient way is Automatic bank account transferme Credit card automatic paymentis to apply. Besides that Internet Giro, each institution’s app, bank ATM, convenience storeYou can pay by bill at . I highly recommend setting up an automatic transfer so you don't have to worry about late payments.
Communication/Internet rates
Cell phone and internet bills are also paid every month. When signing up Automatic transfer/card paymentIt is convenient to connect. Internet and TV usually have a contract (contract period), so check in advance whether there will be a penalty when moving or terminating.
Good tips to know
When signing a contract for a house Are management fees and utility charges included in the monthly rent or are they separate? Be sure to check it out. of the notice payment due dateIf it exceeds this amount, a late fee will be charged, and if the payment is not made for a long period of time, supply may be stopped. If you do not understand the contents of the notice, please contact the management office or the customer service center of the relevant institution.
With just one automatic transfer, your worries about utility bills are almost over. Get into the habit of checking your bills once a month!
