From August 28, explaining 'shared management fees' becomes mandatory before studio and officetel contracts — Enforcement Decree of the Licensed Real Estate Agents Act amended
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
From August 28, 2026, licensed real estate agents must include the amount of 'shared management fees' among the items they verify and explain before a residential lease contract, and tenants of studio apartments and officetels can check the level of common-area management fees before signing.
Key facts
| Effective date | August 28, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Licensed Real Estate Agents Act approved at the Cabinet meeting on August 11, together with the Enforcement Rule amended and promulgated the same day |
| What changes | In addition to the existing total management fee, the amount of 'shared management fees' also becomes subject to the licensed agent's duty to verify and explain |
| Where it applies | Residential lease contracts for small-scale housing without a separate management entity, such as studio apartments and officetels |
| Taking effect at the same time | Conversion of the Korea Association of Realtors into a statutory body, and clarification of the provision that brokerage fees for residential officetels are decided through 'consultation' |
Last checked:
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on August 11, 2026 that a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Licensed Real Estate Agents Act (공인중개사법 시행령) was approved at the Cabinet meeting, and that it takes effect on August 28 together with the Enforcement Rule of the same act, which was partially amended and promulgated the same day. Under the amendment, licensed real estate agents are required to verify and explain the amount of 'shared management fees (공동관리비)' in addition to the existing total management fee, so that tenants moving into small-scale housing such as studio apartments or officetels can learn the level of common-area management fees before signing. In addition, the Korea Association of Realtors is converted into a statutory body, and the provision is clarified so that brokerage fees for residential officetels are also decided through 'consultation' within the upper rate limit.
Background — why this change
Small-scale housing usually has no separate management entity, so tenants find it hard to check management fee information, and costs used for common areas in particular have been operated opaquely, which has led to problems of excessive increases in management fees. The amendment sets out matters needed for the operation of the realtors association, while strengthening the role of licensed real estate agents toward tenants who are about to sign a residential lease, in order to make management fees for small-scale housing more transparent. As the Korea Association of Realtors converts from a voluntary body into a statutory body, it will revise its existing articles of association, and rules of professional ethics that members must observe will also be enacted with the approval of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Inquiries: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Real Estate Development Industry Division (044-201-3450).
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
What changes?
Licensed real estate agents are required to verify and explain the amount of shared management fees in addition to the existing total management fee, so tenants of small-scale housing such as studio apartments or officetels can learn the level of common-area management fees before signing.
When does it apply from?
It takes effect on August 28, 2026. The amendment to the Enforcement Decree was approved at the Cabinet meeting on August 11.
How do brokerage fees for officetels change?
For residential officetels, only the upper rate limit was specified without wording that the fee is decided through 'consultation,' which caused confusion; this amendment clearly stipulates in the provision that brokerage fees are also decided through consultation.