Korean Apartment Renovation Before/After Case Studies
Apartment renovation pricing in Korea follows three reasonably standard tiers. Cost varies by size in 평 (pyeong, ~3.3 sq m or 35.5 sq ft), location (Seoul vs regional), and whether the renovation is full-gut or partial.
Quick Answer
- A standard 25평 (about 825 sq ft) Korean apartment renovation in Seoul averages 35,000,000-65,000,000 KRW (~$25,800-$47,900) in 2026, per Hanssem (한샘) Q1 industry data.
- Bathroom-only remodels cost 2,800,000-3,900,000 KRW (~$2,060-$2,870) depending on tile size — 300x600 walls run cheapest, 600x600 walls/floors run highest.
- Kitchen makeovers dominate the 오늘의집 (Ohouse) translation case studies — sink upper cabinets (싱크대 상부장) alone return 837+ product listings as renovators chase storage in 20평 apartments.
- Translated cost benchmarks from 2025 case studies on Tistory and Naver Blog show DIY (self-interior, 셀프 인테리어) saves 40-55% vs full contractor renovations.
Last updated: May 2026
What Does a Typical Korean Apartment Renovation Cost in 2026?
Apartment renovation pricing in Korea follows three reasonably standard tiers. Cost varies by size in 평 (pyeong, ~3.3 sq m or 35.5 sq ft), location (Seoul vs regional), and whether the renovation is full-gut or partial.
The 2026 Q1 Hanssem (한샘) industry report — Korea's largest interior company — pegs averages at 1,400,000-2,600,000 KRW per 평 for a mid-spec full renovation (Hanssem IR Q1 2026).
For a 25평 apartment (about 825 sq ft, the median Seoul couple's home), that's 35,000,000-65,000,000 KRW total, or roughly $25,800-$47,900 at the May 2026 exchange rate of 1,357 KRW/USD.
Three Cost Tiers
Budget tier (1,200,000-1,500,000 KRW per 평): Vinyl flooring (장판), basic wallpaper, stock kitchen cabinets, factory bathroom fixtures from Daelim (대림) or Inus (이누스).
Mid tier (1,800,000-2,400,000 KRW per 평): Engineered wood flooring (강마루), 친환경 wallpaper (low-VOC), custom kitchen (한샘, 리바트), upgraded bathroom with 600x600 tile.
Premium tier (2,800,000+ KRW per 평): Real hardwood, imported tile, premium 한샘 키친바흐 (Kitchen Bach) line, smart home wiring, full-system bathroom.
The translation case studies on Ohouse and Naver Blog skew toward the mid tier, where most Korean apartment owners actually operate.
Why the Wide Range
Korean renovation pricing swings sharply on three variables. Apartment age — older apartments (1980s-1990s) often need plumbing and electrical replacement, adding 5,000,000-10,000,000 KRW. Bath count — two-bath apartments cost roughly 3,000,000-4,000,000 KRW more than single-bath. And demolition (철거) — heavy interior wall removal in older danji (단지) buildings adds 3,000,000-6,000,000 KRW.
Bathroom Remodel Case Study — Byeoksan 5-danji, 2025
This case is translated from a 2025 Havas Interior (하바스 인테리어) project log published on Tistory (Havas Interior 2025 Bathroom Case).
Project Snapshot
Location: Byeoksan 5-danji (벽산 5단지), a 1990s mid-rise complex.
Bathroom size: 1.5평 (~5 sq m / 54 sq ft). Standard Korean small-bath footprint.
Final cost: 3,380,000 KRW (~$2,490), excluding VAT.
Timeline: 4 days demolition through final caulking.
Before
Original 1990s bathroom: pink mosaic tile, suspended fluorescent ceiling, single-handle plastic faucet, wall-hung sink with exposed plumbing, beige fiberglass tub-shower combo.
The owner cited dim lighting, mold in the tile grout, and outdated fixtures as the renovation triggers.
After
300x600 large-format wall tile in warm gray. 300x300 floor tile in matching tone with anti-slip finish. Recessed LED ceiling panel at 4000K. Wall-mounted vanity from Inus (이누스) with quartz top. Frameless glass shower partition replacing the tub.
Cost Breakdown
| Line item | Cost (KRW) | USD est. |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition (철거) | 380,000 | ~$280 |
| Plumbing rework (배관) | 520,000 | ~$385 |
| Waterproofing (방수) | 290,000 | ~$215 |
| Tile material (300x600 wall, 300x300 floor) | 480,000 | ~$355 |
| Tile installation | 620,000 | ~$460 |
| Fixtures (sink, toilet, faucet, shower) | 740,000 | ~$545 |
| Glass partition | 230,000 | ~$170 |
| Lighting | 120,000 | ~$90 |
| Total (excl VAT) | 3,380,000 | ~$2,490 |
Tile Size and Cost Pattern
The Havas case used 300x600 wall + 300x300 floor — the most cost-efficient combination. Switching to 600x600 on both walls and floor pushes the same project to 3,900,000 KRW (+15%). The labor for larger tiles is higher because each piece needs careful cutting around pipes and corners.
Industry pattern from the 2026 Korea Tile Association data: 600x600 tile installation labor runs 1.4x the rate of 300x600 (Korea Tile Association, 2026).
Kitchen Makeover Case Study — Songpa 30평, 2025
Translated from a Naver Blog post by a Songpa-gu (송파구) homeowner who documented her kitchen-only renovation across 12 weeks.
Project Snapshot
Apartment: 30평 (~990 sq ft) in a 2008-built Songpa danji.
Kitchen footprint: 6평 (~200 sq ft), L-shaped layout.
Final cost: 18,400,000 KRW (~$13,560), including new appliances.
Before
Builder-grade cherry-stained cabinets, granite countertop in busy flecks, old gas range with single oven, separate refrigerator and freezer units flanking the wall.
After
Hanssem Kitchen Bach (한샘 키친바흐) custom cabinets in matte off-white. Engineered quartz countertop (Hanstone). LG built-in induction range with combination steam oven. Single LG French-door fridge replacing the split units. Pendant lighting over a small breakfast counter.
Cost Breakdown
| Line item | Cost (KRW) | USD est. |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinets (Hanssem Kitchen Bach) | 7,200,000 | ~$5,310 |
| Countertop (engineered quartz) | 1,800,000 | ~$1,330 |
| Sink + faucet (Grohe) | 680,000 | ~$500 |
| Range/oven (LG induction combo) | 3,400,000 | ~$2,510 |
| Refrigerator (LG French door) | 2,800,000 | ~$2,065 |
| Tile backsplash (300x100 subway) | 420,000 | ~$310 |
| Demolition + installation labor | 1,500,000 | ~$1,105 |
| Lighting (pendant + under-cabinet LED) | 380,000 | ~$280 |
| Plumbing rework | 220,000 | ~$165 |
| Total | 18,400,000 | ~$13,560 |
Storage Was the Headline
The owner's blog cited "충분한 수납" (chungbunhan sunap, "sufficient storage") as the top priority. Ohouse currently lists 837+ products under "싱크대 상부장" (sink upper cabinet) searches — the storage-density race is a defining feature of small Korean apartment kitchens (Ohouse Search Data, May 2026).
Self-Interior Case Study — 18평 Wallpaper + Paint, 2025
Self-interior (셀프 인테리어) is the dominant DIY culture on Korean Ohouse and Naver Blog. This case is from a 2025 Naver Blog post by a renter who refreshed her 18평 (~595 sq ft) apartment without contractor work.
Project Snapshot
Scope: All walls, all ceilings, two interior doors, floor refresh.
Final cost: 1,420,000 KRW (~$1,045) in materials only.
Timeline: 9 weekends (about 70 hours of total work).
Material List
Low-VOC interior wall paint (Dunn-Edwards low-VOC eggshell, 18L): 285,000 KRW (~$210). Covers approximately 90 sq m at two coats.
Ceiling paint (Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec, 18L): 198,000 KRW (~$146).
Wallpaper (실크벽지 silk-finish, premium): 480,000 KRW (~$355). The owner papered one accent wall in the living room and bedroom.
Door paint (urethane, 1L per door + primer): 95,000 KRW (~$70).
Tools (roller, brushes, painter's tape, drop cloths, tray): 142,000 KRW (~$105).
Insulation wallpaper (단열 벽지) for one cold exterior wall, 20m roll single silver film: 220,000 KRW ($160). The double-sided silver version runs about 10,000 KRW ($7.40) more for the same length, per the owner's price comparison at the time.
Cost vs Contractor Quote
The owner solicited three contractor quotes for the same scope. The lowest was 3,150,000 KRW (~$2,320) labor + materials. Her DIY material-only cost of 1,420,000 KRW represented a 55% savings — typical for self-interior in the Naver Blog case studies we surveyed.
What She'd Do Differently
Two notes from her blog post translation: she underestimated drying time between coats and recommended planning two weekends per room minimum. She also wished she had bought the larger 18L paint cans upfront rather than 4L cans, which cost 18% more per liter.
Cost Comparison Table — Full Renovation vs Partial
| Scope | Size | DIY range (KRW) | Full contractor range (KRW) | USD savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wallpaper + paint only | 18평 | 1,200,000-1,800,000 | 2,800,000-3,800,000 | ~$1,180-$1,470 |
| Bathroom remodel | 1.5평 | Not recommended | 2,800,000-3,900,000 | n/a |
| Kitchen makeover | 6평 | 8,000,000-12,000,000 | 16,000,000-22,000,000 | ~$5,900-$7,370 |
| Full apartment | 25평 | 18,000,000-28,000,000 | 35,000,000-65,000,000 | ~$12,500-$27,260 |
| Wave 1 flip-resale tier | 32평 | n/a | 80,000,000-130,000,000 | n/a |
DIY ranges assume the homeowner does prep, demo, and finish work themselves. Wet trades (plumbing, electrical, waterproofing) almost always require licensed contractors per Seoul Metropolitan Government regulation (Seoul Construction Regulations, 2026).
Translated Material and Brand References
For renovators sourcing within Korea, the dominant brand stack on the case studies we translated:
Kitchen Cabinets
- Hanssem (한샘) — market leader, custom and stock lines
- Hyundai Livart (현대리바트) — mid-to-premium custom
- Enex (에넥스) — budget custom
- IKEA Korea — limited but growing presence in self-interior cases
Bathroom Fixtures
- Daelim Bath (대림바스) — toilet, sink, faucet
- Inus (이누스) — mid-premium vanities and shower systems
- Royal Co (로얄토토) — premium tier, often imported
See our Royal Co vs Daelim vs Hanssem Bath Fixtures comparison for a deeper breakdown.
Flooring
- Dongwha (동화) Naturefloor — engineered wood, most-used in Ohouse cases
- LX Z:IN (LX 지인) — luxury vinyl tile, popular for kitchens and entries
- KCC — laminate, budget tier
Paint and Wallpaper
- Noroo Paint (노루페인트) — domestic, low-VOC lines
- Dunn-Edwards (던에드워드) — imported, popular in premium self-interior
- Sangwoo Wallpaper (상우벽지) — silk-finish premium
- DID Wallpaper — mid-range, broad pattern selection
What Surprised Us Translating These Cases
Three patterns recurred across the 2025 Tistory and Naver Blog case studies we surveyed.
Demolition Costs Get Underestimated
Most owners budgeted 200,000-300,000 KRW for demo. Real costs landed at 380,000-680,000 KRW once waste disposal was included. Seoul's construction waste disposal fees rose 18% in 2024 per Seoul Metropolitan Government data (Seoul Waste Management, 2024).
Plumbing Rework Is the Hidden Killer
In bathroom and kitchen renovations, plumbing rework added 220,000-520,000 KRW in roughly 70% of the cases. Older danji buildings (pre-2000) almost always need rework.
Lighting Always Goes Over Budget
Multiple owners reported that lighting started as a small line item and ballooned by 50-100% once they discovered options on Ohouse. See our Top 10 Korean Lighting Brands Compared for the brand landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a full Korean apartment renovation cost in 2026?
A mid-spec full renovation of a 25평 (825 sq ft) Seoul apartment runs 35,000,000-65,000,000 KRW ($25,800-$47,900) at 2026 pricing. Budget projects can land at 30,000,000 KRW; premium projects with imported materials and smart home wiring can exceed 80,000,000 KRW. The 2026 Q1 Hanssem industry report puts the per-평 average at 1,400,000-2,600,000 KRW.
Can I do a Korean bathroom renovation myself?
Self-interior renovators on Ohouse and Naver Blog routinely handle paint, wallpaper, and cabinet refresh, but bathroom renovations involve waterproofing (방수), plumbing (배관), and electrical work that almost always require licensed contractors under Seoul Metropolitan Government construction regulations. Most case studies we translated used contractors for full bathroom remodels, with owners only handling demolition prep or final cleaning.
What's the difference between 강마루 and 장판 flooring?
강마루 (gang-maru) is engineered wood flooring with a real wood veneer over a high-density fiberboard core. It costs 80,000-160,000 KRW per 평 installed. 장판 (jang-pan) is vinyl sheet flooring in continuous rolls, the traditional Korean apartment floor. It runs 25,000-55,000 KRW per 평 installed. 강마루 is the upgrade choice in most modern renovations.
How long does a full Korean apartment renovation take?
The case studies we translated showed 6-10 weeks for a full 25평 mid-spec renovation. Bathroom-only runs 4-7 days. Kitchen-only runs 10-15 days. Self-interior projects stretch significantly longer because owners work weekends — the 18평 wallpaper-and-paint case in this article took 9 weekends.
Do Korean apartments require special permits for interior renovation?
Cosmetic interior work (paint, wallpaper, fixtures) does not require permits in most Seoul danji buildings, but structural changes (wall removal, plumbing relocation) require building management approval and sometimes Seoul Metropolitan Government construction filings. Most LH (Korea Land and Housing Corporation) and SH (Seoul Housing) public housing has strict rules — see our LH/SH Public Housing Self-Interior Rules guide.
Related Reading
- Top 10 Korean Apartment Floorplans Styling Tips 2026
- Royal Co vs Daelim vs Hanssem Bath Fixtures 2026
- Korean Self-Interior 1M KRW Budget Step-by-Step 2026
- Korean Self-Interior Reno Cost USD 2026
- LH SH Public Housing Self-Interior Rules 2026
- Korean Vs American Apartment Floorplans
Sources
- Hanssem IR. "Q1 2026 Industry Report," 2026. Hanssem
- Havas Interior. "2025 Bathroom Remodel Case Study (Byeoksan 5-danji)," 2025. Tistory
- Korea Tile Association. "2026 Tile Pricing Data," 2026. KTA
- Ohouse (오늘의집) Search Index, May 2026. Ohouse
- Bucket Place (Ohouse parent) IR Report, 2026.
- Seoul Metropolitan Government. "Construction and Waste Disposal Regulations," 2024-2026. Seoul Gov
- LH (Korea Land and Housing Corporation). "Public Housing Renovation Guidelines," 2026. LH
- Naver Blog. Songpa 30평 kitchen case study, 2025.
- Naver Blog. 18평 self-interior case study, 2025.
- Statistics Korea. "Housing Survey," 2026. KOSIS
- Hanstone (한스톤) engineered quartz product catalog, 2026.
- LG Electronics. "Built-in Appliance Pricing," 2026. LG Korea
Related Reading from our editorial team:
- Top 10 Korean Furniture & Decor Brands Compared: Hanssem, Iloom, Kare Design (2026)
- Top 10 Korean Small Apartment Storage Solutions Compared (2026)
- Top 10 Korean Interior Color Palettes Compared: Wabi-Sabi, Cottagecore, Mid-Century (2026)
-- The Self Interior Team