What Are the Best Places to Invest in Airbnb in South Korea?

Source: AirROI Reviewed by Jun Zhou , Founder @ AirROI

Updated: 2026-08-08

The short-term rental market in South Korea spans 100 cities tracked in AirROI's 2026 dataset, ranging from mature urban markets with thousands of active listings to emerging destinations where early operators still have pricing leverage. Supply growth, regulation, and seasonal demand vary significantly across the region — making market selection one of the highest-leverage decisions an Airbnb investor can make.

This page ranks the best Airbnb markets in South Korea across four dimensions: market depth (active listings), revenue, nightly rate (ADR), and occupancy rate. Seoul, Seoul leads by market size with 16,993 active listings and $1,109/month revenue. Across all ranked markets, average occupancy is 26.6% with $612/month in average revenue and $117/night ADR.

Rankings based on AirROI's analysis of 20,000,000+ short-term rental listings across revenue, ADR, occupancy, and regulation. See ranking methodology.

Explore Live Market Data

Top Airbnb Markets in South Korea by Active Listings

Active listing count is the most direct measure of a market's depth, maturity, and investor confidence. Cities with the most Airbnb listings in South Korea attract the highest volume of travelers and offer the most reliable benchmarking data for pricing and revenue projections. Seoul, Seoul leads with 16,993 active short-term rental listings and $1,109/month in average revenue.

#	Market	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Seoul, Seoul	16,993	$1,109	$99	51.3%	High
2	Jeju, Jeju	5,418	$1,225	$116	39.0%	High
3	Busan, Busan	5,100	$1,094	$111	42.0%	High
4	Seogwipo-si, Jeju	3,060	$943	$104	33.1%	High
5	Incheon, Incheon	2,058	$491	$88	27.2%	High
6	Gangneung-si, Gangwon State	1,612	$730	$126	25.5%	High
7	Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	1,453	$995	$137	31.2%	High
8	Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State	1,196	$672	$100	26.5%	High
9	Yeosu-si, South Jeolla	1,094	$513	$114	21.4%	High
10	Daegu, Daegu	947	$506	$78	31.5%	High
11	Jeju-si, Jeju Province	901	$1,075	$124	42.7%	High
12	Sokcho-si, Gangwon State	775	$659	$107	27.0%	High
13	Daejeon, Daejeon	668	$512	$81	35.5%	High
14	Seogwipo-si, Jeju Province	635	$863	$114	36.7%	High
15	Geoje-si, South Gyeongsang	525	$527	$124	21.1%	High
16	Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province	498	$555	$74	37.2%	High
17	Chuncheon-si, Gangwon State	429	$891	$146	25.8%	High
18	Gwangju, Gwangju	417	$390	$67	31.3%	High
19	Jeju-do, Jeju Province	332	$711	$108	33.1%	High
20	Pohang-si, North Gyeongsang	326	$538	$125	24.1%	High
21	Tongyeong-si, South Gyeongsang	283	$522	$109	23.3%	High
22	Boryeong-si, South Chungcheong	273	$437	$138	15.5%	High
23	Sibyeon-ri, Gangwon State	253	$461	$97	19.2%	High
24	Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province	230	$513	$145	18.0%	High
25	Ulsan, Ulsan	227	$594	$136	26.2%	High
26	Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province	208	$642	$90	43.0%	High
27	Andong-si, North Gyeongsang	205	$938	$139	28.4%	High
28	Mokpo-si, South Jeolla	181	$581	$93	25.0%	High
29	Cheongju-si, North Chungcheong	177	$700	$97	31.0%	High
30	Gunsan-si, Jeonbuk State	174	$681	$93	30.5%	High
31	Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province	170	$1,047	$145	28.5%	High
32	Samcheok-si, Gangwon State	164	$343	$126	19.3%	High
33	Wonju-si, Gangwon State	152	$629	$119	27.5%	High
34	Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi	142	$515	$82	34.2%	High
35	Donghae-si, Gangwon State	138	$921	$123	33.8%	High
36	Toseong-myeon, Gangwon State	136	$833	$145	25.9%	High
37	Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi	132	$482	$73	49.9%	Moderate
38	Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province	130	$708	$115	32.3%	High
39	Anmyeon-eup, South Chungcheong	130	$236	$105	15.0%	High
40	Suncheon-si, South Jeolla	124	$675	$110	24.8%	High
41	Guri-si, Gyeonggi Province	117	$532	$60	42.2%	High
42	Bongpyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	114	$300	$122	17.9%	High
43	Changwon-si, South Gyeongsang	111	$272	$75	25.7%	High
44	Seo-myeon, Gangwon State	106	$648	$154	18.9%	High
45	Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi	105	$678	$158	18.2%	High
46	Yangyang, Gangwon Province	104	$475	$126	20.5%	High
47	Hwaseong-si, Hwaseong-si	102	$441	$99	30.6%	High
48	Gongju-si, South Chungcheong	101	$794	$119	28.2%	High
49	Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province	98	$370	$46	44.6%	High
50	Anyang-si, Gyeonggi	97	$302	$48	39.2%	High
51	Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province	95	$530	$128	18.4%	High
52	Cheonan-si, South Chungcheong	95	$389	$86	28.2%	High
53	Jugwang-myeon, Gangwon State	93	$580	$117	20.5%	High
54	Jecheon-si, North Chungcheong	90	$834	$178	19.0%	High
55	Ansan, Ansan	87	$922	$154	31.5%	High
56	Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province	87	$526	$126	23.5%	High
57	Namwon-si, Jeonbuk State	84	$740	$119	25.5%	High
58	Namhae-gun, South Gyeongsang Province	84	$488	$133	18.6%	High
59	Miryang-si, South Gyeongsang	80	$879	$194	21.3%	High
60	Taean, South Chungcheong Province	77	$408	$131	17.0%	High
61	Chungju-si, North Chungcheong	76	$882	$153	25.3%	High
62	Daegwannyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	74	$917	$153	26.2%	High
63	Hwagae-myeon, South Gyeongsang	73	$637	$117	22.4%	High
64	Donghae, Gangwon Province	64	$519	$111	26.8%	High
65	Jinju-si, South Gyeongsang	62	$463	$90	23.6%	High
66	Mokpo, South Jeolla Province	59	$502	$96	27.2%	High
67	Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province	57	$834	$221	23.8%	High
68	Byeonsan-myeon, Jeonbuk State	57	$153	$101	12.4%	High
69	Gyeongsan-si, North Gyeongsang	54	$415	$68	31.5%	High
70	Seosan-si, South Chungcheong	52	$782	$174	24.0%	High
71	Gimhae-si, South Gyeongsang	50	$421	$96	25.9%	High
72	Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	49	$1,067	$159	26.5%	High
73	Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province	48	$538	$119	22.9%	High
74	Hagwangjeong-ri, Gangwon State	47	$374	$112	19.4%	High
75	Asan-si, South Chungcheong	47	$1,035	$197	31.7%	High
76	Goseong, Gangwon Province	46	$477	$155	19.5%	High
77	Yeongwol-eup, Gangwon State	46	$507	$105	22.8%	High
78	Siheung-si, Siheung-si	46	$261	$92	20.0%	High
79	Buk-myeon, Gangwon State	45	$399	$100	18.9%	High
80	Yeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	45	$759	$141	22.4%	High
81	Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province	44	$190	$37	38.6%	High
82	Seokgyo-ri, South Gyeongsang	44	$502	$113	19.9%	High
83	Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi Province	43	$276	$50	36.7%	High
84	Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	42	$1,436	$206	27.1%	High
85	Masan-myeon, South Jeolla	42	$744	$122	25.6%	High
86	Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province	41	$530	$125	18.0%	High
87	Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province	40	$314	$72	23.5%	High
88	Toji-myeon, South Jeolla	40	$704	$114	24.8%	High
89	Seolcheon-myeon, Jeonbuk State	39	$475	$129	18.4%	High
90	Jucheong-ri, Gangwon State	38	$389	$118	20.5%	High
91	Ansan-si, Gyeonggi Province	38	$582	$142	22.1%	High
92	Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi Province	38	$467	$95	33.2%	High
93	Mungyeong-si, North Gyeongsang	38	$694	$161	20.2%	High
94	Gimcheon-si, North Gyeongsang Province	38	$262	$72	27.1%	High
95	Yangsan-si, South Gyeongsang	38	$448	$103	26.0%	High
96	Samcheok, Gangwon Province	37	$449	$159	17.7%	High
97	Imcho-ri, Gapyeong-gun	37	$770	$169	20.7%	High
98	Gumi-si, North Gyeongsang	37	$326	$90	20.8%	High
99	Yeongdeok-gun, North Gyeongsang Province	37	$535	$125	22.5%	High
100	Gwangyang-si, South Jeolla	37	$643	$138	21.7%	High

Most Profitable Airbnb Markets in South Korea by Revenue

The most profitable Airbnb cities in South Korea are those where hosts earn the highest average monthly revenue per listing — the single most telling indicator of a market's income potential. Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province leads with $1,436/month at $206 ADR and 27.1% occupancy. Whether you are evaluating your first STR investment or benchmarking an existing property, these top-earning Airbnb markets show where vacation rentals generate the greatest short-term rental income.

#	Market	Revenue/mo	Active Listings (TTM)	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$1,436	42	$206	27.1%	High
2	Jeju, Jeju	$1,225	5,418	$116	39.0%	High
3	Seoul, Seoul	$1,109	16,993	$99	51.3%	High
4	Busan, Busan	$1,094	5,100	$111	42.0%	High
5	Jeju-si, Jeju Province	$1,075	901	$124	42.7%	High
6	Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$1,067	49	$159	26.5%	High
7	Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$1,047	170	$145	28.5%	High
8	Asan-si, South Chungcheong	$1,035	47	$197	31.7%	High
9	Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	$995	1,453	$137	31.2%	High
10	Seogwipo-si, Jeju	$943	3,060	$104	33.1%	High
11	Andong-si, North Gyeongsang	$938	205	$139	28.4%	High
12	Ansan, Ansan	$922	87	$154	31.5%	High
13	Donghae-si, Gangwon State	$921	138	$123	33.8%	High
14	Daegwannyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	$917	74	$153	26.2%	High
15	Chuncheon-si, Gangwon State	$891	429	$146	25.8%	High
16	Chungju-si, North Chungcheong	$882	76	$153	25.3%	High
17	Miryang-si, South Gyeongsang	$879	80	$194	21.3%	High
18	Seogwipo-si, Jeju Province	$863	635	$114	36.7%	High
19	Jecheon-si, North Chungcheong	$834	90	$178	19.0%	High
20	Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province	$834	57	$221	23.8%	High
21	Toseong-myeon, Gangwon State	$833	136	$145	25.9%	High
22	Gongju-si, South Chungcheong	$794	101	$119	28.2%	High
23	Seosan-si, South Chungcheong	$782	52	$174	24.0%	High
24	Imcho-ri, Gapyeong-gun	$770	37	$169	20.7%	High
25	Yeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	$759	45	$141	22.4%	High
26	Masan-myeon, South Jeolla	$744	42	$122	25.6%	High
27	Namwon-si, Jeonbuk State	$740	84	$119	25.5%	High
28	Gangneung-si, Gangwon State	$730	1,612	$126	25.5%	High
29	Jeju-do, Jeju Province	$711	332	$108	33.1%	High
30	Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province	$708	130	$115	32.3%	High
31	Toji-myeon, South Jeolla	$704	40	$114	24.8%	High
32	Cheongju-si, North Chungcheong	$700	177	$97	31.0%	High
33	Mungyeong-si, North Gyeongsang	$694	38	$161	20.2%	High
34	Gunsan-si, Jeonbuk State	$681	174	$93	30.5%	High
35	Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi	$678	105	$158	18.2%	High
36	Suncheon-si, South Jeolla	$675	124	$110	24.8%	High
37	Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State	$672	1,196	$100	26.5%	High
38	Sokcho-si, Gangwon State	$659	775	$107	27.0%	High
39	Seo-myeon, Gangwon State	$648	106	$154	18.9%	High
40	Gwangyang-si, South Jeolla	$643	37	$138	21.7%	High
41	Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province	$642	208	$90	43.0%	High
42	Hwagae-myeon, South Gyeongsang	$637	73	$117	22.4%	High
43	Wonju-si, Gangwon State	$629	152	$119	27.5%	High
44	Ulsan, Ulsan	$594	227	$136	26.2%	High
45	Ansan-si, Gyeonggi Province	$582	38	$142	22.1%	High
46	Mokpo-si, South Jeolla	$581	181	$93	25.0%	High
47	Jugwang-myeon, Gangwon State	$580	93	$117	20.5%	High
48	Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province	$555	498	$74	37.2%	High
49	Pohang-si, North Gyeongsang	$538	326	$125	24.1%	High
50	Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province	$538	48	$119	22.9%	High
51	Yeongdeok-gun, North Gyeongsang Province	$535	37	$125	22.5%	High
52	Guri-si, Gyeonggi Province	$532	117	$60	42.2%	High
53	Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province	$530	95	$128	18.4%	High
54	Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province	$530	41	$125	18.0%	High
55	Geoje-si, South Gyeongsang	$527	525	$124	21.1%	High
56	Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province	$526	87	$126	23.5%	High
57	Tongyeong-si, South Gyeongsang	$522	283	$109	23.3%	High
58	Donghae, Gangwon Province	$519	64	$111	26.8%	High
59	Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi	$515	142	$82	34.2%	High
60	Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province	$513	230	$145	18.0%	High
61	Yeosu-si, South Jeolla	$513	1,094	$114	21.4%	High
62	Daejeon, Daejeon	$512	668	$81	35.5%	High
63	Yeongwol-eup, Gangwon State	$507	46	$105	22.8%	High
64	Daegu, Daegu	$506	947	$78	31.5%	High
65	Seokgyo-ri, South Gyeongsang	$502	44	$113	19.9%	High
66	Mokpo, South Jeolla Province	$502	59	$96	27.2%	High
67	Incheon, Incheon	$491	2,058	$88	27.2%	High
68	Namhae-gun, South Gyeongsang Province	$488	84	$133	18.6%	High
69	Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi	$482	132	$73	49.9%	Moderate
70	Goseong, Gangwon Province	$477	46	$155	19.5%	High
71	Seolcheon-myeon, Jeonbuk State	$475	39	$129	18.4%	High
72	Yangyang, Gangwon Province	$475	104	$126	20.5%	High
73	Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi Province	$467	38	$95	33.2%	High
74	Jinju-si, South Gyeongsang	$463	62	$90	23.6%	High
75	Sibyeon-ri, Gangwon State	$461	253	$97	19.2%	High
76	Samcheok, Gangwon Province	$449	37	$159	17.7%	High
77	Yangsan-si, South Gyeongsang	$448	38	$103	26.0%	High
78	Hwaseong-si, Hwaseong-si	$441	102	$99	30.6%	High
79	Boryeong-si, South Chungcheong	$437	273	$138	15.5%	High
80	Gimhae-si, South Gyeongsang	$421	50	$96	25.9%	High
81	Gyeongsan-si, North Gyeongsang	$415	54	$68	31.5%	High
82	Taean, South Chungcheong Province	$408	77	$131	17.0%	High
83	Buk-myeon, Gangwon State	$399	45	$100	18.9%	High
84	Gwangju, Gwangju	$390	417	$67	31.3%	High
85	Cheonan-si, South Chungcheong	$389	95	$86	28.2%	High
86	Jucheong-ri, Gangwon State	$389	38	$118	20.5%	High
87	Hagwangjeong-ri, Gangwon State	$374	47	$112	19.4%	High
88	Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province	$370	98	$46	44.6%	High
89	Samcheok-si, Gangwon State	$343	164	$126	19.3%	High
90	Gumi-si, North Gyeongsang	$326	37	$90	20.8%	High
91	Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province	$314	40	$72	23.5%	High
92	Anyang-si, Gyeonggi	$302	97	$48	39.2%	High
93	Bongpyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	$300	114	$122	17.9%	High
94	Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi Province	$276	43	$50	36.7%	High
95	Changwon-si, South Gyeongsang	$272	111	$75	25.7%	High
96	Gimcheon-si, North Gyeongsang Province	$262	38	$72	27.1%	High
97	Siheung-si, Siheung-si	$261	46	$92	20.0%	High
98	Anmyeon-eup, South Chungcheong	$236	130	$105	15.0%	High
99	Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province	$190	44	$37	38.6%	High
100	Byeonsan-myeon, Jeonbuk State	$153	57	$101	12.4%	High

Most Expensive Airbnb Markets in South Korea by Nightly Rate

The average daily rate (ADR) measures how much guests pay per night in each market, making it the clearest indicator of a city's short-term rental pricing power. Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province commands the highest Airbnb nightly rate in South Korea at $221/night, generating $834/month at 23.8% occupancy. Markets with premium nightly pricing typically feature high-demand destinations where travelers pay a significant premium over hotel alternatives.

#	Market	ADR	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province	$221	57	$834	23.8%	High
2	Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$206	42	$1,436	27.1%	High
3	Asan-si, South Chungcheong	$197	47	$1,035	31.7%	High
4	Miryang-si, South Gyeongsang	$194	80	$879	21.3%	High
5	Jecheon-si, North Chungcheong	$178	90	$834	19.0%	High
6	Seosan-si, South Chungcheong	$174	52	$782	24.0%	High
7	Imcho-ri, Gapyeong-gun	$169	37	$770	20.7%	High
8	Mungyeong-si, North Gyeongsang	$161	38	$694	20.2%	High
9	Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$159	49	$1,067	26.5%	High
10	Samcheok, Gangwon Province	$159	37	$449	17.7%	High
11	Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi	$158	105	$678	18.2%	High
12	Goseong, Gangwon Province	$155	46	$477	19.5%	High
13	Seo-myeon, Gangwon State	$154	106	$648	18.9%	High
14	Ansan, Ansan	$154	87	$922	31.5%	High
15	Daegwannyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	$153	74	$917	26.2%	High
16	Chungju-si, North Chungcheong	$153	76	$882	25.3%	High
17	Chuncheon-si, Gangwon State	$146	429	$891	25.8%	High
18	Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province	$145	230	$513	18.0%	High
19	Toseong-myeon, Gangwon State	$145	136	$833	25.9%	High
20	Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$145	170	$1,047	28.5%	High
21	Ansan-si, Gyeonggi Province	$142	38	$582	22.1%	High
22	Yeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	$141	45	$759	22.4%	High
23	Andong-si, North Gyeongsang	$139	205	$938	28.4%	High
24	Gwangyang-si, South Jeolla	$138	37	$643	21.7%	High
25	Boryeong-si, South Chungcheong	$138	273	$437	15.5%	High
26	Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	$137	1,453	$995	31.2%	High
27	Ulsan, Ulsan	$136	227	$594	26.2%	High
28	Namhae-gun, South Gyeongsang Province	$133	84	$488	18.6%	High
29	Taean, South Chungcheong Province	$131	77	$408	17.0%	High
30	Seolcheon-myeon, Jeonbuk State	$129	39	$475	18.4%	High
31	Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province	$128	95	$530	18.4%	High
32	Yangyang, Gangwon Province	$126	104	$475	20.5%	High
33	Samcheok-si, Gangwon State	$126	164	$343	19.3%	High
34	Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province	$126	87	$526	23.5%	High
35	Gangneung-si, Gangwon State	$126	1,612	$730	25.5%	High
36	Yeongdeok-gun, North Gyeongsang Province	$125	37	$535	22.5%	High
37	Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province	$125	41	$530	18.0%	High
38	Pohang-si, North Gyeongsang	$125	326	$538	24.1%	High
39	Jeju-si, Jeju Province	$124	901	$1,075	42.7%	High
40	Geoje-si, South Gyeongsang	$124	525	$527	21.1%	High
41	Donghae-si, Gangwon State	$123	138	$921	33.8%	High
42	Masan-myeon, South Jeolla	$122	42	$744	25.6%	High
43	Bongpyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	$122	114	$300	17.9%	High
44	Namwon-si, Jeonbuk State	$119	84	$740	25.5%	High
45	Wonju-si, Gangwon State	$119	152	$629	27.5%	High
46	Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province	$119	48	$538	22.9%	High
47	Gongju-si, South Chungcheong	$119	101	$794	28.2%	High
48	Jucheong-ri, Gangwon State	$118	38	$389	20.5%	High
49	Hwagae-myeon, South Gyeongsang	$117	73	$637	22.4%	High
50	Jugwang-myeon, Gangwon State	$117	93	$580	20.5%	High
51	Jeju, Jeju	$116	5,418	$1,225	39.0%	High
52	Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province	$115	130	$708	32.3%	High
53	Yeosu-si, South Jeolla	$114	1,094	$513	21.4%	High
54	Seogwipo-si, Jeju Province	$114	635	$863	36.7%	High
55	Toji-myeon, South Jeolla	$114	40	$704	24.8%	High
56	Seokgyo-ri, South Gyeongsang	$113	44	$502	19.9%	High
57	Hagwangjeong-ri, Gangwon State	$112	47	$374	19.4%	High
58	Busan, Busan	$111	5,100	$1,094	42.0%	High
59	Donghae, Gangwon Province	$111	64	$519	26.8%	High
60	Suncheon-si, South Jeolla	$110	124	$675	24.8%	High
61	Tongyeong-si, South Gyeongsang	$109	283	$522	23.3%	High
62	Jeju-do, Jeju Province	$108	332	$711	33.1%	High
63	Sokcho-si, Gangwon State	$107	775	$659	27.0%	High
64	Yeongwol-eup, Gangwon State	$105	46	$507	22.8%	High
65	Anmyeon-eup, South Chungcheong	$105	130	$236	15.0%	High
66	Seogwipo-si, Jeju	$104	3,060	$943	33.1%	High
67	Yangsan-si, South Gyeongsang	$103	38	$448	26.0%	High
68	Byeonsan-myeon, Jeonbuk State	$101	57	$153	12.4%	High
69	Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State	$100	1,196	$672	26.5%	High
70	Buk-myeon, Gangwon State	$100	45	$399	18.9%	High
71	Seoul, Seoul	$99	16,993	$1,109	51.3%	High
72	Hwaseong-si, Hwaseong-si	$99	102	$441	30.6%	High
73	Cheongju-si, North Chungcheong	$97	177	$700	31.0%	High
74	Sibyeon-ri, Gangwon State	$97	253	$461	19.2%	High
75	Mokpo, South Jeolla Province	$96	59	$502	27.2%	High
76	Gimhae-si, South Gyeongsang	$96	50	$421	25.9%	High
77	Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi Province	$95	38	$467	33.2%	High
78	Mokpo-si, South Jeolla	$93	181	$581	25.0%	High
79	Gunsan-si, Jeonbuk State	$93	174	$681	30.5%	High
80	Siheung-si, Siheung-si	$92	46	$261	20.0%	High
81	Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province	$90	208	$642	43.0%	High
82	Gumi-si, North Gyeongsang	$90	37	$326	20.8%	High
83	Jinju-si, South Gyeongsang	$90	62	$463	23.6%	High
84	Incheon, Incheon	$88	2,058	$491	27.2%	High
85	Cheonan-si, South Chungcheong	$86	95	$389	28.2%	High
86	Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi	$82	142	$515	34.2%	High
87	Daejeon, Daejeon	$81	668	$512	35.5%	High
88	Daegu, Daegu	$78	947	$506	31.5%	High
89	Changwon-si, South Gyeongsang	$75	111	$272	25.7%	High
90	Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province	$74	498	$555	37.2%	High
91	Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi	$73	132	$482	49.9%	Moderate
92	Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province	$72	40	$314	23.5%	High
93	Gimcheon-si, North Gyeongsang Province	$72	38	$262	27.1%	High
94	Gyeongsan-si, North Gyeongsang	$68	54	$415	31.5%	High
95	Gwangju, Gwangju	$67	417	$390	31.3%	High
96	Guri-si, Gyeonggi Province	$60	117	$532	42.2%	High
97	Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi Province	$50	43	$276	36.7%	High
98	Anyang-si, Gyeonggi	$48	97	$302	39.2%	High
99	Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province	$46	98	$370	44.6%	High
100	Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province	$37	44	$190	38.6%	High

Highest Occupancy Airbnb Markets in South Korea

Airbnb occupancy rate measures the percentage of available nights actually booked — the most telling indicator of short-term rental demand in a market. Seoul, Seoul leads South Korea with 51.3% occupancy, $1,109/month revenue, and 16,993 active listings. Markets with the highest STR occupancy rates reflect strong, sustained guest demand — a critical signal for investors evaluating where properties will stay consistently booked year-round. This ranking is filtered to markets with 300+ listings to ensure statistical reliability.

#	Market	Occupancy	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Regulation
1	Seoul, Seoul	51.3%	16,993	$1,109	$99	High
2	Jeju-si, Jeju Province	42.7%	901	$1,075	$124	High
3	Busan, Busan	42.0%	5,100	$1,094	$111	High
4	Jeju, Jeju	39.0%	5,418	$1,225	$116	High
5	Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province	37.2%	498	$555	$74	High
6	Seogwipo-si, Jeju Province	36.7%	635	$863	$114	High
7	Daejeon, Daejeon	35.5%	668	$512	$81	High
8	Jeju-do, Jeju Province	33.1%	332	$711	$108	High
9	Seogwipo-si, Jeju	33.1%	3,060	$943	$104	High
10	Daegu, Daegu	31.5%	947	$506	$78	High
11	Gwangju, Gwangju	31.3%	417	$390	$67	High
12	Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	31.2%	1,453	$995	$137	High
13	Incheon, Incheon	27.2%	2,058	$491	$88	High
14	Sokcho-si, Gangwon State	27.0%	775	$659	$107	High
15	Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State	26.5%	1,196	$672	$100	High
16	Chuncheon-si, Gangwon State	25.8%	429	$891	$146	High
17	Gangneung-si, Gangwon State	25.5%	1,612	$730	$126	High
18	Pohang-si, North Gyeongsang	24.1%	326	$538	$125	High
19	Yeosu-si, South Jeolla	21.4%	1,094	$513	$114	High
20	Geoje-si, South Gyeongsang	21.1%	525	$527	$124	High

How to Choose an Airbnb Investment Market in South Korea

No single ranking tells the full story. The best Airbnb market for a given investor depends on their capital, risk tolerance, operating model, and income goals. The four ranking dimensions on this page — market depth, revenue, ADR, and occupancy — serve different investor profiles.

If you prioritize predictable cash flow, start with the occupancy rankings. Markets where occupancy exceeds 55% offer consistent bookings and lower vacancy risk. High-occupancy markets may not have the highest nightly rates, but their revenue stability makes them better suited for mortgage-backed investments where monthly debt coverage matters more than peak earnings.

If you're targeting maximum income per property, use the revenue rankings. Revenue is the product of nightly rate and occupancy — it captures the combined effect of both. The highest-revenue Airbnb markets in South Korea tend to be destination cities where travelers stay longer and pay a premium for entire-home listings.

If you're evaluating luxury or premium positioning, the ADR rankings show where guests are willing to pay top dollar per night. High-ADR markets reward property upgrades, professional photography, and amenity investments. However, a high nightly rate with low occupancy may generate less income than a moderately priced listing that stays booked consistently.

If you want the deepest market data, the active listings rankings identify cities with the largest short-term rental supply. More listings mean more comparable properties for pricing, more data points for revenue projections, and typically a more liquid resale market if your investment thesis changes.

In all cases, check the regulation column before committing capital. A profitable market with high regulation may require permits, annual caps on rental days, or costly compliance steps that erode returns. Markets with low regulation offer faster time-to-market but may tighten rules as STR supply grows.

Short-Term Rental Regulation in South Korea

Understanding the regulatory environment is critical for any Airbnb investment in South Korea. Regulation affects licensing costs, annual operating limits, tax obligations, and the long-term viability of a short-term rental strategy.

Across the 100 markets ranked on this page: 0 have a low regulation profile (generally operator-friendly with minimal licensing requirements), 0 have medium regulation (some permit or registration requirements), and 99 have high regulation (strict licensing, annual rental day caps, or active enforcement). Markets with low regulation offer the lowest barrier to entry, while high-regulation markets may still be profitable — but require careful compliance planning and often limit the number of properties a single operator can manage.

AirROI classifies regulation as a market-level signal based on available ordinance data and platform registration patterns. This is not legal advice — always verify current local ordinances, as short-term rental rules can change rapidly, especially in high-growth markets where municipalities are actively responding to STR expansion.

How We Rank the Best Airbnb Investment Markets in South Korea

This page ranks Airbnb markets in South Korea across four dimensions that matter most to short-term rental investors and operators: market depth (active listings), revenue potential (monthly income per listing), pricing power (average daily rate), and booking demand (occupancy rate). Each ranking uses the same underlying dataset but sorts by a different metric, giving you multiple lenses to evaluate where to invest in Airbnb in South Korea.

No single metric tells the full story. A market with high ADR but low occupancy may underperform one with moderate pricing and strong demand. Revenue captures the combined effect of rate and occupancy, while active listings signal whether a market has enough depth for reliable benchmarking and a liquid resale environment. We include regulation data alongside every ranking so you can weigh compliance risk before committing capital.

Ranking Methodology & Data Sources

Active Listings (TTM): The count of active short-term rental listings in each market over the trailing twelve months — a proxy for market maturity, data reliability, and investor confidence in South Korea.
Monthly Revenue: Average gross revenue per listing per month — the bottom-line metric for evaluating Airbnb profitability in South Korea and projecting cash flow.
Average Daily Rate (ADR): The mean nightly booking price across all active listings — the clearest measure of a market's short-term rental pricing power.
Occupancy Rate: Percentage of available nights booked — the demand signal that determines how much of your nightly rate converts to actual income. Occupancy rankings are filtered to markets with 300+ listings to exclude small markets with unreliable averages.
Regulation: An indicator of the local regulatory climate in South Korea, from low (operator-friendly) to high (strict licensing and enforcement) — essential for assessing compliance risk.

All data is sourced from AirROI's proprietary analytics pipeline, which tracks 20,000,000+ properties across 190+ countries. Metrics are recalculated on a rolling basis using trailing twelve-month aggregates from active listings. For full methodology, see the data methodology page.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Airbnb Markets in South Korea

These quick answers summarize the most common investor and operator questions using AirROI's latest market data for South Korea.

What are the best places to invest in Airbnb in South Korea?

Seoul, Seoul leads this ranking for South Korea with 16,993 active listings — the largest market by depth. Markets are ranked by listing count because deeper markets offer more comparable data, more pricing benchmarks, and a more predictable operating environment for investors. Each row also shows revenue, ADR, occupancy, and regulation so investors can evaluate based on what matters most to them.

Which market has the highest Airbnb revenue in South Korea?

Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province posts the highest average monthly revenue in this ranking at $1,436. Revenue leaders often combine healthy rates, solid occupancy, and enough listing scale to support repeatable operations rather than one-off outliers.

Which market has the strongest Airbnb occupancy in South Korea?

Seoul, Seoul has the highest occupancy rate in this comparison at 51.3%. High occupancy can signal resilient demand, but investors still need to balance it against nightly rates, regulation, and supply depth before deciding where to buy or operate.

Which market has the highest Airbnb nightly rate in South Korea?

Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province commands the highest average daily rate at $221 per night. A high ADR does not automatically translate to the highest revenue — occupancy and seasonality determine how much of that rate converts to realized income.

Is short-term rental investing still profitable in South Korea in 2026?

The markets ranked here average 26.6% occupancy, and the top performer posts $1,436 in monthly revenue. Profitability depends on property acquisition cost, local operating expenses, and regulation compliance — but the data shows active, performing markets exist across South Korea for well-researched investors.

How often are AirROI's top Airbnb market rankings updated?

AirROI updates these rankings using the latest market snapshot available in the dataset, which for this page is anchored to 2026. Rankings should be treated as current market intelligence rather than permanent truths because pricing, demand, regulation, and supply can all shift over time.

What metrics should I use to evaluate Airbnb investments in South Korea?

The most important metrics for comparing short-term rental markets are active listing count (market depth and data reliability), occupancy rate (demand consistency), average daily rate (pricing power), monthly revenue (income potential), and regulation level (compliance cost and risk). This ranking sorts by market depth first; use the other columns to filter for the profile that fits your investment strategy.

What makes a good Airbnb market for first-time investors in South Korea?

First-time investors in South Korea should prioritize markets with high occupancy (55%+) and low regulation, which reduce the risk of empty calendars and compliance surprises. Markets with 200+ active listings also provide better benchmarking data and a more predictable operating environment. Revenue is important, but consistent demand is more forgiving for operators still learning pricing and guest management.

What is a good Airbnb occupancy rate in South Korea?

Across the markets ranked here, the average occupancy rate in South Korea is 26.6%. Occupancy above 50% is generally considered healthy for short-term rentals, and above 65% signals strong, sustained demand. However, the best occupancy rate depends on pricing strategy — some hosts maximize revenue by targeting fewer bookings at higher nightly rates rather than maximizing booking volume.

How does regulation affect Airbnb investment returns in South Korea?

Regulation is one of the most overlooked risks in short-term rental investing. In South Korea, 0 of 100 ranked markets have low regulation, 0 have medium, and 99 have high. High-regulation markets often require permits, limit annual rental days, or impose occupancy taxes — all of which reduce net returns. Low-regulation markets offer faster time-to-market and lower compliance costs, but rules can tighten as STR supply grows.

What is the difference between ADR and RevPAR for Airbnb investing?

ADR (Average Daily Rate) is the average nightly price guests pay, while RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Rental night) factors in both price and occupancy. A market with $200 ADR and 50% occupancy has $100 RevPAR — the same as a market with $125 ADR and 80% occupancy. RevPAR is a better single-number benchmark for comparing markets because it captures how effectively nightly rates convert to realized income. AirROI's city-level reports include RevPAR with percentile breakdowns for deeper analysis.

How many Airbnb listings does a market need to be investable in South Korea?

Markets with fewer than 100 active listings can show volatile averages that do not predict future performance. The median market in this South Korea ranking has about 97 listings. Larger markets (500+) offer more reliable data, more comparable properties for pricing, and typically a more liquid exit if you decide to sell. Smaller markets can still be profitable, but investors should treat the data as directional rather than precise.

How do seasonal and year-round Airbnb markets differ in South Korea?

Seasonal markets in South Korea experience dramatic swings in booking demand — often earning 60-70% of annual revenue in just 3-4 peak months. Year-round markets deliver steadier cash flow with lower peak-to-trough variation. Investors who need predictable monthly income should prioritize high-occupancy markets with low seasonal variance, while those comfortable with cash-flow timing can target seasonal markets where peak rates compensate for off-season softness.

About AirROI Market Data

AirROI tracks over 20 million properties across 190+ countries and maintains 15+ years of historical performance data, making it one of the deepest Airbnb and STR intelligence platforms available. The analytics pipeline aggregates listing-level data monthly — revenue, occupancy, nightly rates, RevPAR, guest demographics, booking patterns, and competitive supply — so investors and operators can benchmark any market against its own history and against neighboring destinations.

Real estate investors, property managers, financial institutions, hospitality consultants, and academic researchers rely on AirROI data to underwrite acquisitions, optimize pricing, model macro trends, and conduct peer-reviewed research. Data is available through in-depth market reports, the data portal for bulk downloads, the Airbnb API with 22 endpoints, and an Airbnb MCP Server for AI agents.

All metrics reflect trailing twelve-month aggregates from active listings as of 2026-08-08. Revenue figures are market averages, not projections. For full methodology, see the data methodology page.

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