The housing platform for foreigners in Korea
KoreaRoots helps foreigners live in Korea — find a verified room to rent today through our SharedHomies network, and get the insights and licensed-partner introductions to own rural property later. All in English.
No Korean experience required
Everything is in English. You don't need to speak Korean, read Korean documents, or navigate Korean bureaucracy yourself. KoreaRoots gives you the research in plain English, and our licensed partners handle the Korean-language steps.
What we do
Find
Curated rural listings: title-verified, D-8 assessed, and explained in English so you can compare them with confidence.
Understand
Plain-English explainers on FDI, 법인 setup, and the D-8 pathway — plus introductions to the licensed law firms that handle the filings.
Connect
Introductions to licensed agents, attorneys, and certified operators for purchase, short-term rental, and the F-2 residency pathway.
Why rural Korea?
South Korea has over 1.5 million abandoned rural properties. The government actively incentivizes their redevelopment through grants and subsidies. For foreign investors, these properties offer entry at a fraction of urban prices (often under $100K) while qualifying for a business investment visa. It's one of the most accessible paths to Korean residency that most people have never heard of.
Who's behind KoreaRoots
Foreign-resident trust on one side, deep on-the-ground Korean access on the other. No other team holds both.
Steve Wagner
Co-Founder and CEO
- American entrepreneur, F-4 visa holder
- 6+ years continuous residence and business operation in Seoul
- Founded Shared Homies, Seoul's largest English-language international co-living network
- 750+ international residents housed over 6 years
- 50+ rooms under active management
- Consistent 90%+ occupancy rate
- Former Samsung executive English trainer
Danny Hong
Co-Founder and Korea Operations
- Korean serial entrepreneur
- Founded GMMC (주식회사 지엠엠씨), a medical device manufacturer with globally exported products
- Awarded by KITA, KICOX, and the Korean Parliament
- Featured in JoongAng Ilbo (Korea's second-largest national newspaper)
- Deep relationships with rural community centers (마을회관) across multiple provinces
- 2+ years living in rural Korea firsthand
- Fully bilingual (English and Korean)
Key terms explained
Korean property investment comes with unfamiliar terms. Here's everything in plain English.
FDI — Foreign Direct Investment
LegalThe legal framework that lets foreigners invest in Korea
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is the formal mechanism by which non-Korean citizens can invest money into a Korean business or property. Korea actively encourages FDI under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act (외국인투자촉진법).
To qualify as FDI — and unlock visa eligibility — your investment must be: • At least ₩100,000,000 (approximately $75,000 USD) • Structured through a registered Korean business entity (법인) • Declared to the relevant government authority before the purchase closes
KoreaRoots explains the full FDI structuring process in plain English and introduces you to the licensed law firms that handle it. You don't need to learn the legal mechanics yourself — but the regulated work is done by licensed partners you engage directly.
Legal & Compliance
- KoreaRoots does not operate as a licensed real estate agent (공인중개사). We are a research, insights, and introductions platform.
- All property transactions are completed directly between you and licensed Korean agents and law firms — KoreaRoots does not broker deals.
- D-8 visa filing is handled by partner immigration law firms you engage directly — KoreaRoots does not practice law or file on your behalf.
- Any short-term-rental operations on a property you own are run through licensed, government-certified providers you contract directly.
Ready to explore?
Browse available listings or see how renting now and owning later both work.