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

Source: AirROI Reviewed by Jun Zhou , Founder @ AirROI

Updated: 2026-05-04

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 15,341 active listings and $1,136/month revenue. Across all ranked markets, average occupancy is 27.3% with $676/month in average revenue and $115/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 15,341 active short-term rental listings and $1,136/month in average revenue.

#	Market	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Seoul, Seoul	15,341	$1,136	$92	52.3%	High
2	Jeju, Jeju	5,824	$1,219	$111	40.1%	High
3	Busan, Busan	4,390	$1,168	$109	43.5%	High
4	Seogwipo-si, Jeju	3,234	$936	$101	33.2%	High
5	Incheon, Incheon	1,882	$536	$86	28.3%	High
6	Gangneung-si, Gangwon State	1,421	$830	$121	26.9%	High
7	Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	1,244	$1,030	$132	30.9%	High
8	Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State	1,120	$723	$96	27.1%	High
9	Yeosu-si, South Jeolla	1,013	$600	$114	22.9%	High
10	Daegu, Daegu	876	$524	$73	32.9%	High
11	Sokcho-si, Gangwon State	814	$713	$101	28.5%	High
12	Geoje-si, South Gyeongsang	522	$594	$122	22.1%	High
13	Daejeon, Daejeon	500	$565	$72	36.8%	High
14	Gwangju, Gwangju	437	$444	$64	33.4%	High
15	Chuncheon-si, Gangwon State	403	$960	$138	27.2%	High
16	Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province	396	$614	$71	40.3%	High
17	Pohang-si, North Gyeongsang	391	$580	$117	24.6%	High
18	Jeju-si, Jeju Province	327	$1,340	$120	45.9%	High
19	Tongyeong-si, South Gyeongsang	297	$598	$106	24.4%	High
20	Sibyeon-ri, Gangwon State	263	$516	$94	19.9%	High
21	Boryeong-si, South Chungcheong	259	$506	$136	16.2%	High
22	Ulsan, Ulsan	241	$622	$132	25.6%	High
23	Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province	239	$707	$76	47.2%	High
24	Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi	199	$642	$69	52.4%	Moderate
25	Andong-si, North Gyeongsang	198	$950	$131	28.8%	High
26	Mokpo-si, South Jeolla	187	$671	$95	27.4%	High
27	Cheongju-si, North Chungcheong	181	$780	$94	36.8%	High
28	Gunsan-si, Jeonbuk State	180	$747	$93	33.4%	High
29	Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province	159	$1,150	$132	32.4%	High
30	Samcheok-si, Gangwon State	155	$421	$117	19.0%	High
31	Toseong-myeon, Gangwon State	151	$929	$143	27.1%	High
32	Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province	151	$857	$112	35.7%	High
33	Donghae-si, Gangwon State	148	$924	$122	33.4%	High
34	Suncheon-si, South Jeolla	142	$637	$101	25.3%	High
35	Wonju-si, Gangwon State	141	$720	$116	30.3%	High
36	Seogwipo-si, Jeju Province	137	$1,149	$114	37.9%	High
37	Hwaseong-si, Hwaseong-si	131	$513	$94	31.2%	High
38	Bucheon-si, Bucheon-si	129	$441	$45	47.1%	High
39	Changwon-si, South Gyeongsang	126	$304	$65	28.9%	High
40	Bongpyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	125	$318	$121	16.7%	High
41	Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi	121	$618	$85	37.8%	High
42	Anmyeon-eup, South Chungcheong	120	$283	$103	15.7%	High
43	Cheonan-si, South Chungcheong	118	$424	$76	30.7%	High
44	Seo-myeon, Gangwon State	114	$702	$150	17.8%	High
45	Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi	113	$719	$153	18.8%	High
46	Ansan, Ansan	112	$896	$146	34.0%	High
47	Anyang-si, Gyeonggi	107	$350	$49	37.5%	High
48	Jugwang-myeon, Gangwon State	95	$619	$113	20.1%	High
49	Jecheon-si, North Chungcheong	88	$832	$156	19.3%	High
50	Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province	87	$573	$129	19.4%	High
51	Daegwannyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	87	$846	$153	24.2%	High
52	Gongju-si, South Chungcheong	86	$820	$107	29.1%	High
53	Chungju-si, North Chungcheong	85	$903	$148	26.5%	High
54	Miryang-si, South Gyeongsang	84	$966	$192	21.8%	High
55	Hwagae-myeon, South Gyeongsang	79	$656	$117	22.7%	High
56	Guri-si, Gyeonggi Province	72	$658	$51	50.8%	High
57	Namwon-si, Jeonbuk State	72	$776	$108	25.4%	High
58	Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	71	$1,034	$174	27.9%	High
59	Seosan-si, South Chungcheong	69	$818	$145	26.1%	High
60	Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province	66	$662	$131	21.7%	High
61	Asan-si, South Chungcheong	60	$971	$163	32.8%	Moderate
62	Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	57	$1,034	$152	26.4%	High
63	Jinju-si, South Gyeongsang	56	$528	$94	23.0%	High
64	Byeonsan-myeon, Jeonbuk State	54	$266	$115	13.3%	High
65	Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi Province	52	$290	$54	34.3%	High
66	Gimhae-si, South Gyeongsang	52	$434	$87	27.5%	High
67	Buk-myeon, Gangwon State	50	$423	$98	19.8%	High
68	Yeongwol-eup, Gangwon State	49	$474	$107	21.1%	High
69	Hanam-si, Hanam-si	49	$668	$96	39.1%	Moderate
70	Seolcheon-myeon, Jeonbuk State	49	$466	$123	16.1%	High
71	Gyeongsan-si, North Gyeongsang	49	$436	$69	33.8%	High
72	Seokgyo-ri, South Gyeongsang	48	$553	$115	19.6%	High
73	Toji-myeon, South Jeolla	48	$643	$114	23.0%	High
74	Siheung-si, Siheung-si	46	$310	$87	21.1%	High
75	Hagwangjeong-ri, Gangwon State	45	$399	$105	17.6%	High
76	Gimpo-si, Gimpo-si	44	$496	$86	31.6%	High
77	Changseon-myeon, South Gyeongsang	43	$627	$156	20.1%	High
78	Gwangyang-si, South Jeolla	43	$586	$125	21.4%	High
79	Imcho-ri, Gapyeong-gun	42	$858	$161	22.9%	High
80	Sejong, Sejong	42	$634	$106	44.0%	Moderate
81	Masan-myeon, South Jeolla	42	$765	$111	27.0%	High
82	Jucheong-ri, Gangwon State	39	$474	$115	22.7%	High
83	Mungyeong-si, North Gyeongsang	39	$799	$158	20.8%	High
84	Naju-si, South Jeolla	39	$614	$137	20.8%	High
85	Yeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	36	$830	$132	23.6%	High
86	Dongcheon-ri, South Gyeongsang	36	$551	$98	20.4%	High
87	Gumi-si, North Gyeongsang	35	$239	$72	19.6%	High
88	Yangsan-si, South Gyeongsang	35	$498	$101	26.5%	High
89	Anseong-si, Gyeonggi Province	33	$961	$166	23.9%	High
90	Ganggu-myeon, North Gyeongsang	33	$394	$108	16.2%	High
91	Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province	33	$653	$126	20.8%	High
92	Sicheon-myeon, South Gyeongsang	33	$449	$139	15.0%	High
93	Daljeon-ri, Gapyeong-gun	32	$654	$144	19.3%	High
94	Gyeokpo-ri, Jeonbuk State	32	$472	$138	15.2%	High
95	Namjeong-myeon, North Gyeongsang	31	$545	$132	18.5%	High
96	Nam-myeon, Gangwon State	30	$399	$151	15.5%	High
97	Dunnae-myeon, Gangwon State	29	$588	$163	17.4%	High
98	Hwayang-eup, North Gyeongsang	28	$1,340	$194	27.2%	High
99	Jeryeong-ri, Gapyeong-gun	27	$470	$155	15.1%	High
100	Icheon-si, Gyeonggi Province	27	$1,053	$147	32.1%	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. Hwayang-eup, North Gyeongsang leads with $1,340/month at $194 ADR and 27.2% 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	Hwayang-eup, North Gyeongsang	$1,340	28	$194	27.2%	High
2	Jeju-si, Jeju Province	$1,340	327	$120	45.9%	High
3	Jeju, Jeju	$1,219	5,824	$111	40.1%	High
4	Busan, Busan	$1,168	4,390	$109	43.5%	High
5	Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$1,150	159	$132	32.4%	High
6	Seogwipo-si, Jeju Province	$1,149	137	$114	37.9%	High
7	Seoul, Seoul	$1,136	15,341	$92	52.3%	High
8	Icheon-si, Gyeonggi Province	$1,053	27	$147	32.1%	High
9	Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$1,034	71	$174	27.9%	High
10	Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$1,034	57	$152	26.4%	High
11	Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	$1,030	1,244	$132	30.9%	High
12	Asan-si, South Chungcheong	$971	60	$163	32.8%	Moderate
13	Miryang-si, South Gyeongsang	$966	84	$192	21.8%	High
14	Anseong-si, Gyeonggi Province	$961	33	$166	23.9%	High
15	Chuncheon-si, Gangwon State	$960	403	$138	27.2%	High
16	Andong-si, North Gyeongsang	$950	198	$131	28.8%	High
17	Seogwipo-si, Jeju	$936	3,234	$101	33.2%	High
18	Toseong-myeon, Gangwon State	$929	151	$143	27.1%	High
19	Donghae-si, Gangwon State	$924	148	$122	33.4%	High
20	Chungju-si, North Chungcheong	$903	85	$148	26.5%	High
21	Ansan, Ansan	$896	112	$146	34.0%	High
22	Imcho-ri, Gapyeong-gun	$858	42	$161	22.9%	High
23	Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province	$857	151	$112	35.7%	High
24	Daegwannyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	$846	87	$153	24.2%	High
25	Jecheon-si, North Chungcheong	$832	88	$156	19.3%	High
26	Gangneung-si, Gangwon State	$830	1,421	$121	26.9%	High
27	Yeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	$830	36	$132	23.6%	High
28	Gongju-si, South Chungcheong	$820	86	$107	29.1%	High
29	Seosan-si, South Chungcheong	$818	69	$145	26.1%	High
30	Mungyeong-si, North Gyeongsang	$799	39	$158	20.8%	High
31	Cheongju-si, North Chungcheong	$780	181	$94	36.8%	High
32	Namwon-si, Jeonbuk State	$776	72	$108	25.4%	High
33	Masan-myeon, South Jeolla	$765	42	$111	27.0%	High
34	Gunsan-si, Jeonbuk State	$747	180	$93	33.4%	High
35	Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State	$723	1,120	$96	27.1%	High
36	Wonju-si, Gangwon State	$720	141	$116	30.3%	High
37	Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi	$719	113	$153	18.8%	High
38	Sokcho-si, Gangwon State	$713	814	$101	28.5%	High
39	Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province	$707	239	$76	47.2%	High
40	Seo-myeon, Gangwon State	$702	114	$150	17.8%	High
41	Mokpo-si, South Jeolla	$671	187	$95	27.4%	High
42	Hanam-si, Hanam-si	$668	49	$96	39.1%	Moderate
43	Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province	$662	66	$131	21.7%	High
44	Guri-si, Gyeonggi Province	$658	72	$51	50.8%	High
45	Hwagae-myeon, South Gyeongsang	$656	79	$117	22.7%	High
46	Daljeon-ri, Gapyeong-gun	$654	32	$144	19.3%	High
47	Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province	$653	33	$126	20.8%	High
48	Toji-myeon, South Jeolla	$643	48	$114	23.0%	High
49	Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi	$642	199	$69	52.4%	Moderate
50	Suncheon-si, South Jeolla	$637	142	$101	25.3%	High
51	Sejong, Sejong	$634	42	$106	44.0%	Moderate
52	Changseon-myeon, South Gyeongsang	$627	43	$156	20.1%	High
53	Ulsan, Ulsan	$622	241	$132	25.6%	High
54	Jugwang-myeon, Gangwon State	$619	95	$113	20.1%	High
55	Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi	$618	121	$85	37.8%	High
56	Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province	$614	396	$71	40.3%	High
57	Naju-si, South Jeolla	$614	39	$137	20.8%	High
58	Yeosu-si, South Jeolla	$600	1,013	$114	22.9%	High
59	Tongyeong-si, South Gyeongsang	$598	297	$106	24.4%	High
60	Geoje-si, South Gyeongsang	$594	522	$122	22.1%	High
61	Dunnae-myeon, Gangwon State	$588	29	$163	17.4%	High
62	Gwangyang-si, South Jeolla	$586	43	$125	21.4%	High
63	Pohang-si, North Gyeongsang	$580	391	$117	24.6%	High
64	Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province	$573	87	$129	19.4%	High
65	Daejeon, Daejeon	$565	500	$72	36.8%	High
66	Seokgyo-ri, South Gyeongsang	$553	48	$115	19.6%	High
67	Dongcheon-ri, South Gyeongsang	$551	36	$98	20.4%	High
68	Namjeong-myeon, North Gyeongsang	$545	31	$132	18.5%	High
69	Incheon, Incheon	$536	1,882	$86	28.3%	High
70	Jinju-si, South Gyeongsang	$528	56	$94	23.0%	High
71	Daegu, Daegu	$524	876	$73	32.9%	High
72	Sibyeon-ri, Gangwon State	$516	263	$94	19.9%	High
73	Hwaseong-si, Hwaseong-si	$513	131	$94	31.2%	High
74	Boryeong-si, South Chungcheong	$506	259	$136	16.2%	High
75	Yangsan-si, South Gyeongsang	$498	35	$101	26.5%	High
76	Gimpo-si, Gimpo-si	$496	44	$86	31.6%	High
77	Jucheong-ri, Gangwon State	$474	39	$115	22.7%	High
78	Yeongwol-eup, Gangwon State	$474	49	$107	21.1%	High
79	Gyeokpo-ri, Jeonbuk State	$472	32	$138	15.2%	High
80	Jeryeong-ri, Gapyeong-gun	$470	27	$155	15.1%	High
81	Seolcheon-myeon, Jeonbuk State	$466	49	$123	16.1%	High
82	Sicheon-myeon, South Gyeongsang	$449	33	$139	15.0%	High
83	Gwangju, Gwangju	$444	437	$64	33.4%	High
84	Bucheon-si, Bucheon-si	$441	129	$45	47.1%	High
85	Gyeongsan-si, North Gyeongsang	$436	49	$69	33.8%	High
86	Gimhae-si, South Gyeongsang	$434	52	$87	27.5%	High
87	Cheonan-si, South Chungcheong	$424	118	$76	30.7%	High
88	Buk-myeon, Gangwon State	$423	50	$98	19.8%	High
89	Samcheok-si, Gangwon State	$421	155	$117	19.0%	High
90	Hagwangjeong-ri, Gangwon State	$399	45	$105	17.6%	High
91	Nam-myeon, Gangwon State	$399	30	$151	15.5%	High
92	Ganggu-myeon, North Gyeongsang	$394	33	$108	16.2%	High
93	Anyang-si, Gyeonggi	$350	107	$49	37.5%	High
94	Bongpyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	$318	125	$121	16.7%	High
95	Siheung-si, Siheung-si	$310	46	$87	21.1%	High
96	Changwon-si, South Gyeongsang	$304	126	$65	28.9%	High
97	Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi Province	$290	52	$54	34.3%	High
98	Anmyeon-eup, South Chungcheong	$283	120	$103	15.7%	High
99	Byeonsan-myeon, Jeonbuk State	$266	54	$115	13.3%	High
100	Gumi-si, North Gyeongsang	$239	35	$72	19.6%	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. Hwayang-eup, North Gyeongsang commands the highest Airbnb nightly rate in South Korea at $194/night, generating $1,340/month at 27.2% 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	Hwayang-eup, North Gyeongsang	$194	28	$1,340	27.2%	High
2	Miryang-si, South Gyeongsang	$192	84	$966	21.8%	High
3	Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$174	71	$1,034	27.9%	High
4	Anseong-si, Gyeonggi Province	$166	33	$961	23.9%	High
5	Dunnae-myeon, Gangwon State	$163	29	$588	17.4%	High
6	Asan-si, South Chungcheong	$163	60	$971	32.8%	Moderate
7	Imcho-ri, Gapyeong-gun	$161	42	$858	22.9%	High
8	Mungyeong-si, North Gyeongsang	$158	39	$799	20.8%	High
9	Jecheon-si, North Chungcheong	$156	88	$832	19.3%	High
10	Changseon-myeon, South Gyeongsang	$156	43	$627	20.1%	High
11	Jeryeong-ri, Gapyeong-gun	$155	27	$470	15.1%	High
12	Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi	$153	113	$719	18.8%	High
13	Daegwannyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	$153	87	$846	24.2%	High
14	Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$152	57	$1,034	26.4%	High
15	Nam-myeon, Gangwon State	$151	30	$399	15.5%	High
16	Seo-myeon, Gangwon State	$150	114	$702	17.8%	High
17	Chungju-si, North Chungcheong	$148	85	$903	26.5%	High
18	Icheon-si, Gyeonggi Province	$147	27	$1,053	32.1%	High
19	Ansan, Ansan	$146	112	$896	34.0%	High
20	Seosan-si, South Chungcheong	$145	69	$818	26.1%	High
21	Daljeon-ri, Gapyeong-gun	$144	32	$654	19.3%	High
22	Toseong-myeon, Gangwon State	$143	151	$929	27.1%	High
23	Sicheon-myeon, South Gyeongsang	$139	33	$449	15.0%	High
24	Chuncheon-si, Gangwon State	$138	403	$960	27.2%	High
25	Gyeokpo-ri, Jeonbuk State	$138	32	$472	15.2%	High
26	Naju-si, South Jeolla	$137	39	$614	20.8%	High
27	Boryeong-si, South Chungcheong	$136	259	$506	16.2%	High
28	Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	$132	1,244	$1,030	30.9%	High
29	Ulsan, Ulsan	$132	241	$622	25.6%	High
30	Namjeong-myeon, North Gyeongsang	$132	31	$545	18.5%	High
31	Yeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	$132	36	$830	23.6%	High
32	Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$132	159	$1,150	32.4%	High
33	Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province	$131	66	$662	21.7%	High
34	Andong-si, North Gyeongsang	$131	198	$950	28.8%	High
35	Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province	$129	87	$573	19.4%	High
36	Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province	$126	33	$653	20.8%	High
37	Gwangyang-si, South Jeolla	$125	43	$586	21.4%	High
38	Seolcheon-myeon, Jeonbuk State	$123	49	$466	16.1%	High
39	Geoje-si, South Gyeongsang	$122	522	$594	22.1%	High
40	Donghae-si, Gangwon State	$122	148	$924	33.4%	High
41	Bongpyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	$121	125	$318	16.7%	High
42	Gangneung-si, Gangwon State	$121	1,421	$830	26.9%	High
43	Jeju-si, Jeju Province	$120	327	$1,340	45.9%	High
44	Samcheok-si, Gangwon State	$117	155	$421	19.0%	High
45	Hwagae-myeon, South Gyeongsang	$117	79	$656	22.7%	High
46	Pohang-si, North Gyeongsang	$117	391	$580	24.6%	High
47	Wonju-si, Gangwon State	$116	141	$720	30.3%	High
48	Byeonsan-myeon, Jeonbuk State	$115	54	$266	13.3%	High
49	Seokgyo-ri, South Gyeongsang	$115	48	$553	19.6%	High
50	Jucheong-ri, Gangwon State	$115	39	$474	22.7%	High
51	Seogwipo-si, Jeju Province	$114	137	$1,149	37.9%	High
52	Yeosu-si, South Jeolla	$114	1,013	$600	22.9%	High
53	Toji-myeon, South Jeolla	$114	48	$643	23.0%	High
54	Jugwang-myeon, Gangwon State	$113	95	$619	20.1%	High
55	Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province	$112	151	$857	35.7%	High
56	Jeju, Jeju	$111	5,824	$1,219	40.1%	High
57	Masan-myeon, South Jeolla	$111	42	$765	27.0%	High
58	Busan, Busan	$109	4,390	$1,168	43.5%	High
59	Namwon-si, Jeonbuk State	$108	72	$776	25.4%	High
60	Ganggu-myeon, North Gyeongsang	$108	33	$394	16.2%	High
61	Gongju-si, South Chungcheong	$107	86	$820	29.1%	High
62	Yeongwol-eup, Gangwon State	$107	49	$474	21.1%	High
63	Sejong, Sejong	$106	42	$634	44.0%	Moderate
64	Tongyeong-si, South Gyeongsang	$106	297	$598	24.4%	High
65	Hagwangjeong-ri, Gangwon State	$105	45	$399	17.6%	High
66	Anmyeon-eup, South Chungcheong	$103	120	$283	15.7%	High
67	Yangsan-si, South Gyeongsang	$101	35	$498	26.5%	High
68	Sokcho-si, Gangwon State	$101	814	$713	28.5%	High
69	Suncheon-si, South Jeolla	$101	142	$637	25.3%	High
70	Seogwipo-si, Jeju	$101	3,234	$936	33.2%	High
71	Buk-myeon, Gangwon State	$98	50	$423	19.8%	High
72	Dongcheon-ri, South Gyeongsang	$98	36	$551	20.4%	High
73	Hanam-si, Hanam-si	$96	49	$668	39.1%	Moderate
74	Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State	$96	1,120	$723	27.1%	High
75	Mokpo-si, South Jeolla	$95	187	$671	27.4%	High
76	Sibyeon-ri, Gangwon State	$94	263	$516	19.9%	High
77	Jinju-si, South Gyeongsang	$94	56	$528	23.0%	High
78	Cheongju-si, North Chungcheong	$94	181	$780	36.8%	High
79	Hwaseong-si, Hwaseong-si	$94	131	$513	31.2%	High
80	Gunsan-si, Jeonbuk State	$93	180	$747	33.4%	High
81	Seoul, Seoul	$92	15,341	$1,136	52.3%	High
82	Siheung-si, Siheung-si	$87	46	$310	21.1%	High
83	Gimhae-si, South Gyeongsang	$87	52	$434	27.5%	High
84	Gimpo-si, Gimpo-si	$86	44	$496	31.6%	High
85	Incheon, Incheon	$86	1,882	$536	28.3%	High
86	Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi	$85	121	$618	37.8%	High
87	Cheonan-si, South Chungcheong	$76	118	$424	30.7%	High
88	Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province	$76	239	$707	47.2%	High
89	Daegu, Daegu	$73	876	$524	32.9%	High
90	Daejeon, Daejeon	$72	500	$565	36.8%	High
91	Gumi-si, North Gyeongsang	$72	35	$239	19.6%	High
92	Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province	$71	396	$614	40.3%	High
93	Gyeongsan-si, North Gyeongsang	$69	49	$436	33.8%	High
94	Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi	$69	199	$642	52.4%	Moderate
95	Changwon-si, South Gyeongsang	$65	126	$304	28.9%	High
96	Gwangju, Gwangju	$64	437	$444	33.4%	High
97	Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi Province	$54	52	$290	34.3%	High
98	Guri-si, Gyeonggi Province	$51	72	$658	50.8%	High
99	Anyang-si, Gyeonggi	$49	107	$350	37.5%	High
100	Bucheon-si, Bucheon-si	$45	129	$441	47.1%	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 52.3% occupancy, $1,136/month revenue, and 15,341 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	52.3%	15,341	$1,136	$92	High
2	Jeju-si, Jeju Province	45.9%	327	$1,340	$120	High
3	Busan, Busan	43.5%	4,390	$1,168	$109	High
4	Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province	40.3%	396	$614	$71	High
5	Jeju, Jeju	40.1%	5,824	$1,219	$111	High
6	Daejeon, Daejeon	36.8%	500	$565	$72	High
7	Gwangju, Gwangju	33.4%	437	$444	$64	High
8	Seogwipo-si, Jeju	33.2%	3,234	$936	$101	High
9	Daegu, Daegu	32.9%	876	$524	$73	High
10	Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	30.9%	1,244	$1,030	$132	High
11	Sokcho-si, Gangwon State	28.5%	814	$713	$101	High
12	Incheon, Incheon	28.3%	1,882	$536	$86	High
13	Chuncheon-si, Gangwon State	27.2%	403	$960	$138	High
14	Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State	27.1%	1,120	$723	$96	High
15	Gangneung-si, Gangwon State	26.9%	1,421	$830	$121	High
16	Pohang-si, North Gyeongsang	24.6%	391	$580	$117	High
17	Yeosu-si, South Jeolla	22.9%	1,013	$600	$114	High
18	Geoje-si, South Gyeongsang	22.1%	522	$594	$122	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 96 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 15,341 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?

Hwayang-eup, North Gyeongsang posts the highest average monthly revenue in this ranking at $1,340. 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?

Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi has the highest occupancy rate in this comparison at 52.4%. 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.

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

The markets ranked here average 27.3% occupancy, and the top performer posts $1,340 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 27.3%. 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 96 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 87 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 2026-05-04. Revenue figures are market averages, not projections. For full methodology, see the data methodology page.

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