Once a cheap option for South Korean students tiny rooms now draw foreign clientele

SEOUL - Gosiwon, the term for housing set-ups in South Korea reminiscent of a cocoon originally built for exam preppers, have long been associated with urban and youth poverty.

The common narrative is that rising home prices in cities force more people to live in the basic, minimal accommodations with little to no amenities.

In recent years, though, the tiny and low-budget rooms seem to have found a new clientele: budget-conscious foreign travellers and international students.

Ms Alice Srugies, a 39-year-old German artist and writer, stayed at a gosiwon near Sungshin Women’s University Station during her one-month trip to Korea in 2024.

Initially attracted by the affordable price compared with hotels and other options on Airbnb, she found the gosiwon to be the perfect fit.

“I planned to stay for more than a month and wanted to have a budget for exploring the culture and travelling around the country,” Ms Srugies told The Korea Herald.

“Gosiwon gave me an opportunity to have a base in Seoul where I could leave my luggage and to go on short trips to different parts of the country with just a small backpack.”

Having first appeared in the late 1970s, the gosiwon – which literally translates to “exam room” – is a form of low-cost accommodation.

They have few amenities, and are designed for those whose lives are pretty much filled with cramming and studying, who need only a place to crash at night.

Monthly rent for a unit in these dorm-style facilities in Seoul’s central Jongno-gu district typically ranges around 400,000 won (S$366) to 500,000 won, depending on the room size and other factors, such as whether the room has a window.

A typical gosiwon unit comes furnished with a small bed, a study desk and a shower booth, with sizes ranging from