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

Source: AirROI Reviewed by Jun Zhou , Founder @ AirROI

Updated: 2026-07-06

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 17,693 active listings and $1,118/month revenue. Across all ranked markets, average occupancy is 27.0% with $625/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 17,693 active short-term rental listings and $1,118/month in average revenue.

#	Market	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Seoul, Seoul	17,693	$1,118	$99	52.2%	High
2	Jeju, Jeju	5,558	$1,266	$117	39.6%	High
3	Busan, Busan	5,170	$1,117	$112	42.7%	High
4	Seogwipo-si, Jeju	3,140	$974	$106	33.4%	High
5	Incheon, Incheon	2,123	$502	$89	28.0%	High
6	Gangneung-si, Gangwon State	1,648	$756	$127	26.2%	High
7	Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	1,490	$990	$140	31.3%	High
8	Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State	1,229	$687	$101	26.5%	High
9	Yeosu-si, South Jeolla	1,111	$541	$115	22.0%	High
10	Daegu, Daegu	963	$518	$78	32.2%	High
11	Jeju-si, Jeju Province	895	$1,055	$127	43.4%	High
12	Sokcho-si, Gangwon State	790	$704	$107	27.9%	High
13	Daejeon, Daejeon	695	$514	$80	36.1%	High
14	Seogwipo-si, Jeju Province	616	$817	$115	37.2%	High
15	Geoje-si, South Gyeongsang	540	$545	$125	21.2%	High
16	Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province	528	$556	$75	38.4%	High
17	Chuncheon-si, Gangwon State	447	$912	$148	25.9%	High
18	Gwangju, Gwangju	430	$410	$68	32.0%	High
19	Pohang-si, North Gyeongsang	334	$581	$128	24.5%	High
20	Jeju-do, Jeju Province	318	$637	$108	33.3%	High
21	Boryeong-si, South Chungcheong	289	$433	$139	15.3%	High
22	Tongyeong-si, South Gyeongsang	289	$556	$112	23.5%	High
23	Sibyeon-ri, Gangwon State	254	$488	$98	19.6%	High
24	Ulsan, Ulsan	241	$611	$136	26.8%	High
25	Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province	223	$671	$90	43.7%	High
26	Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province	217	$491	$143	18.3%	High
27	Andong-si, North Gyeongsang	207	$950	$141	28.3%	High
28	Cheongju-si, North Chungcheong	191	$727	$103	32.2%	High
29	Gunsan-si, Jeonbuk State	182	$704	$96	31.2%	High
30	Mokpo-si, South Jeolla	182	$614	$95	25.3%	High
31	Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province	178	$1,066	$144	29.5%	High
32	Samcheok-si, Gangwon State	164	$385	$128	19.8%	High
33	Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi	156	$544	$74	50.9%	Moderate
34	Wonju-si, Gangwon State	152	$674	$121	28.9%	High
35	Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi	147	$540	$84	35.4%	High
36	Donghae-si, Gangwon State	144	$942	$125	34.3%	High
37	Toseong-myeon, Gangwon State	142	$884	$148	26.1%	High
38	Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province	136	$756	$113	33.9%	High
39	Anmyeon-eup, South Chungcheong	127	$255	$108	15.3%	High
40	Suncheon-si, South Jeolla	126	$697	$113	25.0%	High
41	Changwon-si, South Gyeongsang	118	$277	$74	25.7%	High
42	Bongpyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	117	$319	$123	17.5%	High
43	Guri-si, Gyeonggi Province	116	$550	$61	42.7%	High
44	Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi	112	$704	$160	18.7%	High
45	Seo-myeon, Gangwon State	111	$673	$153	18.2%	High
46	Hwaseong-si, Hwaseong-si	109	$488	$98	32.1%	High
47	Cheonan-si, South Chungcheong	107	$404	$83	30.3%	High
48	Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province	106	$399	$46	44.1%	High
49	Anyang-si, Gyeonggi	105	$310	$49	38.0%	High
50	Gongju-si, South Chungcheong	104	$797	$120	27.8%	High
51	Ansan, Ansan	94	$931	$157	32.2%	High
52	Yangyang, Gangwon Province	94	$432	$124	20.7%	High
53	Jugwang-myeon, Gangwon State	93	$620	$117	21.0%	High
54	Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province	92	$571	$129	19.3%	High
55	Jecheon-si, North Chungcheong	87	$902	$177	20.1%	High
56	Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province	85	$464	$123	24.1%	High
57	Namwon-si, Jeonbuk State	83	$784	$119	26.3%	High
58	Namhae-gun, South Gyeongsang Province	83	$428	$133	18.1%	High
59	Chungju-si, North Chungcheong	80	$889	$158	24.9%	High
60	Miryang-si, South Gyeongsang	79	$956	$197	21.9%	High
61	Daegwannyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	78	$920	$157	27.0%	High
62	Taean, South Chungcheong Province	77	$341	$130	16.6%	High
63	Hwagae-myeon, South Gyeongsang	74	$691	$119	23.2%	High
64	Jinju-si, South Gyeongsang	64	$482	$94	23.4%	High
65	Donghae, Gangwon Province	62	$436	$105	26.9%	High
66	Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province	58	$775	$221	24.8%	High
67	Gyeongsan-si, North Gyeongsang	57	$427	$73	33.6%	High
68	Seosan-si, South Chungcheong	57	$785	$167	24.6%	High
69	Mokpo, South Jeolla Province	57	$457	$98	27.7%	High
70	Byeonsan-myeon, Jeonbuk State	55	$171	$101	13.7%	High
71	Asan-si, South Chungcheong	53	$989	$185	29.2%	High
72	Gimhae-si, South Gyeongsang	51	$421	$93	26.6%	High
73	Buk-myeon, Gangwon State	50	$402	$101	18.4%	High
74	Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	50	$1,111	$163	26.4%	High
75	Seokgyo-ri, South Gyeongsang	47	$519	$118	19.3%	High
76	Hagwangjeong-ri, Gangwon State	46	$378	$114	17.8%	High
77	Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	46	$1,401	$199	27.4%	High
78	Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province	45	$527	$119	23.8%	High
79	Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi Province	45	$295	$54	35.7%	High
80	Yeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	45	$750	$143	22.0%	High
81	Yeongwol-eup, Gangwon State	44	$546	$107	22.5%	High
82	Seolcheon-myeon, Jeonbuk State	44	$472	$130	17.3%	High
83	Siheung-si, Siheung-si	44	$314	$97	20.6%	High
84	Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province	43	$525	$124	18.0%	High
85	Toji-myeon, South Jeolla	43	$702	$117	24.4%	High
86	Goseong, Gangwon Province	42	$412	$151	19.1%	High
87	Masan-myeon, South Jeolla	42	$728	$118	25.1%	High
88	Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province	41	$188	$38	40.8%	High
89	Gimpo-si, Gimpo-si	40	$503	$94	33.9%	High
90	Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province	40	$297	$72	24.2%	High
91	Changseon-myeon, South Gyeongsang	39	$613	$167	18.8%	High
92	Jucheong-ri, Gangwon State	38	$454	$121	21.4%	High
93	Mungyeong-si, North Gyeongsang	38	$726	$163	20.7%	High
94	Yangsan-si, South Gyeongsang	38	$462	$104	26.0%	High
95	Imcho-ri, Gapyeong-gun	37	$841	$172	21.4%	High
96	Gumi-si, North Gyeongsang	37	$324	$91	21.3%	High
97	Gwangyang-si, South Jeolla	37	$664	$137	22.1%	High
98	Gimcheon-si, North Gyeongsang Province	36	$279	$74	28.0%	High
99	Dongcheon-ri, South Gyeongsang	36	$534	$102	19.5%	High
100	Ansan-si, Gyeonggi Province	35	$524	$133	22.0%	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 $1,401/month at $199 ADR and 27.4% 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	$1,401	46	$199	27.4%	High
2	Jeju, Jeju	$1,266	5,558	$117	39.6%	High
3	Seoul, Seoul	$1,118	17,693	$99	52.2%	High
4	Busan, Busan	$1,117	5,170	$112	42.7%	High
5	Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$1,111	50	$163	26.4%	High
6	Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$1,066	178	$144	29.5%	High
7	Jeju-si, Jeju Province	$1,055	895	$127	43.4%	High
8	Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	$990	1,490	$140	31.3%	High
9	Asan-si, South Chungcheong	$989	53	$185	29.2%	High
10	Seogwipo-si, Jeju	$974	3,140	$106	33.4%	High
11	Miryang-si, South Gyeongsang	$956	79	$197	21.9%	High
12	Andong-si, North Gyeongsang	$950	207	$141	28.3%	High
13	Donghae-si, Gangwon State	$942	144	$125	34.3%	High
14	Ansan, Ansan	$931	94	$157	32.2%	High
15	Daegwannyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	$920	78	$157	27.0%	High
16	Chuncheon-si, Gangwon State	$912	447	$148	25.9%	High
17	Jecheon-si, North Chungcheong	$902	87	$177	20.1%	High
18	Chungju-si, North Chungcheong	$889	80	$158	24.9%	High
19	Toseong-myeon, Gangwon State	$884	142	$148	26.1%	High
20	Imcho-ri, Gapyeong-gun	$841	37	$172	21.4%	High
21	Seogwipo-si, Jeju Province	$817	616	$115	37.2%	High
22	Gongju-si, South Chungcheong	$797	104	$120	27.8%	High
23	Seosan-si, South Chungcheong	$785	57	$167	24.6%	High
24	Namwon-si, Jeonbuk State	$784	83	$119	26.3%	High
25	Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province	$775	58	$221	24.8%	High
26	Gangneung-si, Gangwon State	$756	1,648	$127	26.2%	High
27	Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province	$756	136	$113	33.9%	High
28	Yeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	$750	45	$143	22.0%	High
29	Masan-myeon, South Jeolla	$728	42	$118	25.1%	High
30	Cheongju-si, North Chungcheong	$727	191	$103	32.2%	High
31	Mungyeong-si, North Gyeongsang	$726	38	$163	20.7%	High
32	Sokcho-si, Gangwon State	$704	790	$107	27.9%	High
33	Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi	$704	112	$160	18.7%	High
34	Gunsan-si, Jeonbuk State	$704	182	$96	31.2%	High
35	Toji-myeon, South Jeolla	$702	43	$117	24.4%	High
36	Suncheon-si, South Jeolla	$697	126	$113	25.0%	High
37	Hwagae-myeon, South Gyeongsang	$691	74	$119	23.2%	High
38	Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State	$687	1,229	$101	26.5%	High
39	Wonju-si, Gangwon State	$674	152	$121	28.9%	High
40	Seo-myeon, Gangwon State	$673	111	$153	18.2%	High
41	Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province	$671	223	$90	43.7%	High
42	Gwangyang-si, South Jeolla	$664	37	$137	22.1%	High
43	Jeju-do, Jeju Province	$637	318	$108	33.3%	High
44	Jugwang-myeon, Gangwon State	$620	93	$117	21.0%	High
45	Mokpo-si, South Jeolla	$614	182	$95	25.3%	High
46	Changseon-myeon, South Gyeongsang	$613	39	$167	18.8%	High
47	Ulsan, Ulsan	$611	241	$136	26.8%	High
48	Pohang-si, North Gyeongsang	$581	334	$128	24.5%	High
49	Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province	$571	92	$129	19.3%	High
50	Tongyeong-si, South Gyeongsang	$556	289	$112	23.5%	High
51	Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province	$556	528	$75	38.4%	High
52	Guri-si, Gyeonggi Province	$550	116	$61	42.7%	High
53	Yeongwol-eup, Gangwon State	$546	44	$107	22.5%	High
54	Geoje-si, South Gyeongsang	$545	540	$125	21.2%	High
55	Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi	$544	156	$74	50.9%	Moderate
56	Yeosu-si, South Jeolla	$541	1,111	$115	22.0%	High
57	Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi	$540	147	$84	35.4%	High
58	Dongcheon-ri, South Gyeongsang	$534	36	$102	19.5%	High
59	Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province	$527	45	$119	23.8%	High
60	Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province	$525	43	$124	18.0%	High
61	Ansan-si, Gyeonggi Province	$524	35	$133	22.0%	High
62	Seokgyo-ri, South Gyeongsang	$519	47	$118	19.3%	High
63	Daegu, Daegu	$518	963	$78	32.2%	High
64	Daejeon, Daejeon	$514	695	$80	36.1%	High
65	Gimpo-si, Gimpo-si	$503	40	$94	33.9%	High
66	Incheon, Incheon	$502	2,123	$89	28.0%	High
67	Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province	$491	217	$143	18.3%	High
68	Sibyeon-ri, Gangwon State	$488	254	$98	19.6%	High
69	Hwaseong-si, Hwaseong-si	$488	109	$98	32.1%	High
70	Jinju-si, South Gyeongsang	$482	64	$94	23.4%	High
71	Seolcheon-myeon, Jeonbuk State	$472	44	$130	17.3%	High
72	Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province	$464	85	$123	24.1%	High
73	Yangsan-si, South Gyeongsang	$462	38	$104	26.0%	High
74	Mokpo, South Jeolla Province	$457	57	$98	27.7%	High
75	Jucheong-ri, Gangwon State	$454	38	$121	21.4%	High
76	Donghae, Gangwon Province	$436	62	$105	26.9%	High
77	Boryeong-si, South Chungcheong	$433	289	$139	15.3%	High
78	Yangyang, Gangwon Province	$432	94	$124	20.7%	High
79	Namhae-gun, South Gyeongsang Province	$428	83	$133	18.1%	High
80	Gyeongsan-si, North Gyeongsang	$427	57	$73	33.6%	High
81	Gimhae-si, South Gyeongsang	$421	51	$93	26.6%	High
82	Goseong, Gangwon Province	$412	42	$151	19.1%	High
83	Gwangju, Gwangju	$410	430	$68	32.0%	High
84	Cheonan-si, South Chungcheong	$404	107	$83	30.3%	High
85	Buk-myeon, Gangwon State	$402	50	$101	18.4%	High
86	Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province	$399	106	$46	44.1%	High
87	Samcheok-si, Gangwon State	$385	164	$128	19.8%	High
88	Hagwangjeong-ri, Gangwon State	$378	46	$114	17.8%	High
89	Taean, South Chungcheong Province	$341	77	$130	16.6%	High
90	Gumi-si, North Gyeongsang	$324	37	$91	21.3%	High
91	Bongpyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	$319	117	$123	17.5%	High
92	Siheung-si, Siheung-si	$314	44	$97	20.6%	High
93	Anyang-si, Gyeonggi	$310	105	$49	38.0%	High
94	Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province	$297	40	$72	24.2%	High
95	Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi Province	$295	45	$54	35.7%	High
96	Gimcheon-si, North Gyeongsang Province	$279	36	$74	28.0%	High
97	Changwon-si, South Gyeongsang	$277	118	$74	25.7%	High
98	Anmyeon-eup, South Chungcheong	$255	127	$108	15.3%	High
99	Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province	$188	41	$38	40.8%	High
100	Byeonsan-myeon, Jeonbuk State	$171	55	$101	13.7%	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 $775/month at 24.8% 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	58	$775	24.8%	High
2	Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$199	46	$1,401	27.4%	High
3	Miryang-si, South Gyeongsang	$197	79	$956	21.9%	High
4	Asan-si, South Chungcheong	$185	53	$989	29.2%	High
5	Jecheon-si, North Chungcheong	$177	87	$902	20.1%	High
6	Imcho-ri, Gapyeong-gun	$172	37	$841	21.4%	High
7	Seosan-si, South Chungcheong	$167	57	$785	24.6%	High
8	Changseon-myeon, South Gyeongsang	$167	39	$613	18.8%	High
9	Mungyeong-si, North Gyeongsang	$163	38	$726	20.7%	High
10	Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$163	50	$1,111	26.4%	High
11	Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi	$160	112	$704	18.7%	High
12	Chungju-si, North Chungcheong	$158	80	$889	24.9%	High
13	Ansan, Ansan	$157	94	$931	32.2%	High
14	Daegwannyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	$157	78	$920	27.0%	High
15	Seo-myeon, Gangwon State	$153	111	$673	18.2%	High
16	Goseong, Gangwon Province	$151	42	$412	19.1%	High
17	Chuncheon-si, Gangwon State	$148	447	$912	25.9%	High
18	Toseong-myeon, Gangwon State	$148	142	$884	26.1%	High
19	Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province	$144	178	$1,066	29.5%	High
20	Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province	$143	217	$491	18.3%	High
21	Yeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	$143	45	$750	22.0%	High
22	Andong-si, North Gyeongsang	$141	207	$950	28.3%	High
23	Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	$140	1,490	$990	31.3%	High
24	Boryeong-si, South Chungcheong	$139	289	$433	15.3%	High
25	Gwangyang-si, South Jeolla	$137	37	$664	22.1%	High
26	Ulsan, Ulsan	$136	241	$611	26.8%	High
27	Ansan-si, Gyeonggi Province	$133	35	$524	22.0%	High
28	Namhae-gun, South Gyeongsang Province	$133	83	$428	18.1%	High
29	Taean, South Chungcheong Province	$130	77	$341	16.6%	High
30	Seolcheon-myeon, Jeonbuk State	$130	44	$472	17.3%	High
31	Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province	$129	92	$571	19.3%	High
32	Pohang-si, North Gyeongsang	$128	334	$581	24.5%	High
33	Samcheok-si, Gangwon State	$128	164	$385	19.8%	High
34	Jeju-si, Jeju Province	$127	895	$1,055	43.4%	High
35	Gangneung-si, Gangwon State	$127	1,648	$756	26.2%	High
36	Geoje-si, South Gyeongsang	$125	540	$545	21.2%	High
37	Donghae-si, Gangwon State	$125	144	$942	34.3%	High
38	Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province	$124	43	$525	18.0%	High
39	Yangyang, Gangwon Province	$124	94	$432	20.7%	High
40	Bongpyeong-myeon, Gangwon State	$123	117	$319	17.5%	High
41	Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province	$123	85	$464	24.1%	High
42	Jucheong-ri, Gangwon State	$121	38	$454	21.4%	High
43	Wonju-si, Gangwon State	$121	152	$674	28.9%	High
44	Gongju-si, South Chungcheong	$120	104	$797	27.8%	High
45	Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province	$119	45	$527	23.8%	High
46	Hwagae-myeon, South Gyeongsang	$119	74	$691	23.2%	High
47	Namwon-si, Jeonbuk State	$119	83	$784	26.3%	High
48	Seokgyo-ri, South Gyeongsang	$118	47	$519	19.3%	High
49	Masan-myeon, South Jeolla	$118	42	$728	25.1%	High
50	Jeju, Jeju	$117	5,558	$1,266	39.6%	High
51	Jugwang-myeon, Gangwon State	$117	93	$620	21.0%	High
52	Toji-myeon, South Jeolla	$117	43	$702	24.4%	High
53	Seogwipo-si, Jeju Province	$115	616	$817	37.2%	High
54	Yeosu-si, South Jeolla	$115	1,111	$541	22.0%	High
55	Hagwangjeong-ri, Gangwon State	$114	46	$378	17.8%	High
56	Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province	$113	136	$756	33.9%	High
57	Suncheon-si, South Jeolla	$113	126	$697	25.0%	High
58	Busan, Busan	$112	5,170	$1,117	42.7%	High
59	Tongyeong-si, South Gyeongsang	$112	289	$556	23.5%	High
60	Jeju-do, Jeju Province	$108	318	$637	33.3%	High
61	Anmyeon-eup, South Chungcheong	$108	127	$255	15.3%	High
62	Sokcho-si, Gangwon State	$107	790	$704	27.9%	High
63	Yeongwol-eup, Gangwon State	$107	44	$546	22.5%	High
64	Seogwipo-si, Jeju	$106	3,140	$974	33.4%	High
65	Donghae, Gangwon Province	$105	62	$436	26.9%	High
66	Yangsan-si, South Gyeongsang	$104	38	$462	26.0%	High
67	Cheongju-si, North Chungcheong	$103	191	$727	32.2%	High
68	Dongcheon-ri, South Gyeongsang	$102	36	$534	19.5%	High
69	Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State	$101	1,229	$687	26.5%	High
70	Byeonsan-myeon, Jeonbuk State	$101	55	$171	13.7%	High
71	Buk-myeon, Gangwon State	$101	50	$402	18.4%	High
72	Seoul, Seoul	$99	17,693	$1,118	52.2%	High
73	Hwaseong-si, Hwaseong-si	$98	109	$488	32.1%	High
74	Mokpo, South Jeolla Province	$98	57	$457	27.7%	High
75	Sibyeon-ri, Gangwon State	$98	254	$488	19.6%	High
76	Siheung-si, Siheung-si	$97	44	$314	20.6%	High
77	Gunsan-si, Jeonbuk State	$96	182	$704	31.2%	High
78	Mokpo-si, South Jeolla	$95	182	$614	25.3%	High
79	Gimpo-si, Gimpo-si	$94	40	$503	33.9%	High
80	Jinju-si, South Gyeongsang	$94	64	$482	23.4%	High
81	Gimhae-si, South Gyeongsang	$93	51	$421	26.6%	High
82	Gumi-si, North Gyeongsang	$91	37	$324	21.3%	High
83	Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province	$90	223	$671	43.7%	High
84	Incheon, Incheon	$89	2,123	$502	28.0%	High
85	Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi	$84	147	$540	35.4%	High
86	Cheonan-si, South Chungcheong	$83	107	$404	30.3%	High
87	Daejeon, Daejeon	$80	695	$514	36.1%	High
88	Daegu, Daegu	$78	963	$518	32.2%	High
89	Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province	$75	528	$556	38.4%	High
90	Changwon-si, South Gyeongsang	$74	118	$277	25.7%	High
91	Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi	$74	156	$544	50.9%	Moderate
92	Gimcheon-si, North Gyeongsang Province	$74	36	$279	28.0%	High
93	Gyeongsan-si, North Gyeongsang	$73	57	$427	33.6%	High
94	Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province	$72	40	$297	24.2%	High
95	Gwangju, Gwangju	$68	430	$410	32.0%	High
96	Guri-si, Gyeonggi Province	$61	116	$550	42.7%	High
97	Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi Province	$54	45	$295	35.7%	High
98	Anyang-si, Gyeonggi	$49	105	$310	38.0%	High
99	Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province	$46	106	$399	44.1%	High
100	Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province	$38	41	$188	40.8%	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 52.2% occupancy, $1,118/month revenue, and 17,693 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	52.2%	17,693	$1,118	$99	High
2	Jeju-si, Jeju Province	43.4%	895	$1,055	$127	High
3	Busan, Busan	42.7%	5,170	$1,117	$112	High
4	Jeju, Jeju	39.6%	5,558	$1,266	$117	High
5	Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province	38.4%	528	$556	$75	High
6	Seogwipo-si, Jeju Province	37.2%	616	$817	$115	High
7	Daejeon, Daejeon	36.1%	695	$514	$80	High
8	Seogwipo-si, Jeju	33.4%	3,140	$974	$106	High
9	Jeju-do, Jeju Province	33.3%	318	$637	$108	High
10	Daegu, Daegu	32.2%	963	$518	$78	High
11	Gwangju, Gwangju	32.0%	430	$410	$68	High
12	Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang	31.3%	1,490	$990	$140	High
13	Incheon, Incheon	28.0%	2,123	$502	$89	High
14	Sokcho-si, Gangwon State	27.9%	790	$704	$107	High
15	Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State	26.5%	1,229	$687	$101	High
16	Gangneung-si, Gangwon State	26.2%	1,648	$756	$127	High
17	Chuncheon-si, Gangwon State	25.9%	447	$912	$148	High
18	Pohang-si, North Gyeongsang	24.5%	334	$581	$128	High
19	Yeosu-si, South Jeolla	22.0%	1,111	$541	$115	High
20	Geoje-si, South Gyeongsang	21.2%	540	$545	$125	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 17,693 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 $1,401. 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 52.2%. 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 27.0% occupancy, and the top performer posts $1,401 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 27.0%. 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 104 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 2026-07-06. Revenue figures are market averages, not projections. For full methodology, see the data methodology page.

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