Utilities setup
Living in Korea

Setting up utilities in a new home

You signed the lease — now switch on the power. 6 utilities decoded (전기 KEPCO, 도시가스, 수도, 인터넷, 관리비, and that mystery KBS TV-licence charge) on who provides them, how they're billed, and how to set each one up, plus a move-in flow and 8 tips — each with the Korean to say.

6 utilities — filter by how you set it up

6 results

TV licence (수신료)

KBS 수신료
📦 Auto / bundled

₩2,500–2,500/mo · Monthly (~₩2,500)

🟢 Easy
Provider: KBS — collected via the KEPCO electricity bill
How: Nothing to set up — it's auto-added to your electricity bill. If you genuinely own no TV, call 123 (KEPCO) to request removal (말소).
Say this: TV 없어서 수신료 빼주세요. (I have no TV — please remove the licence fee.)

The classic "what is this charge?" line on a Korean bill. A flat ~₩2,500/mo public-broadcasting fee bundled into electricity regardless of whether you watch. Removable only if you own no television.

City gas

도시가스
📞 Direct to provider

₩5,000–150,000/mo · Monthly (heavy in winter)

🔴 Korean-only-ish
Provider: Regional 도시가스사 (e.g. 서울도시가스, 예스코, 코원에너지)
How: Call your district's 도시가스 company and book a 개전 (turn-on) appointment — a technician must come to safety-open the valve. Someone has to be home. On move-out, book a 폐전 (turn-off).
Say this: 가스 개전 신청하려고요. (I'd like to apply to turn the gas on.)

Heats the home + 온수 (hot water) + stove. NEVER open a gas valve yourself — a licensed technician must. Winter heating makes this the most variable bill. 개별난방 (your own boiler, you pay gas) differs from 중앙/지역난방 (central/district heating, billed via 관리비).

Water

수도 (상수도)
📦 Auto / bundled

₩5,000–30,000/mo · Monthly or bi-monthly

🟢 Easy
Provider: Local city/district water authority (상수도사업본부)
How: In most apartments water is inside the 관리비 — nothing to do. In a standalone 빌라/주택, register with the local 상수도사업본부 (or the landlord keeps it in their name and bills you).
Say this: 수도는 관리비에 포함돼요? (Is water included in the maintenance fee?)

Run by local government, cheap and usage-based. Often the most hands-off utility because it's commonly bundled into 관리비 in multi-unit buildings.

Electricity

전기 (한국전력 · 한전)
📞 Direct to provider

₩15,000–90,000/mo · Monthly

🟡 Medium
Provider: KEPCO (한국전력) — the single national provider
How: Transfer the account to your name (명의변경) by calling 123 or via the 한전:ON app/website; in an apartment your in-unit meter may already be handled by the 관리사무소.
Say this: 전기 명의 변경하고 싶어요. (I'd like to transfer the electricity to my name.)

There is only ONE electricity company — KEPCO — so no plan-shopping. The bill has an English breakdown on the KEPCO site. ⚠️ The KBS TV licence (수신료, ~₩2,500/mo) is auto-bundled into this bill even if you own no TV — you can request its removal. Summer A/C + winter heating spike the bill.

Internet + IPTV

인터넷 / IPTV
📞 Direct to provider

₩20,000–55,000/mo · Monthly

🟡 Medium
Provider: KT · SK Broadband · LG U+
How: Sign up with KT/SKB/LGU+ online, by phone, or at a shop (bring your ARC + a KR phone number), then book an installation appointment. Bundling with a mobile line on the same carrier discounts both.
Say this: 인터넷 설치 신청하고 싶어요. (I'd like to sign up for internet installation.)

Korea has some of the world's fastest fiber. Contracts are usually 2–3yr 약정 (lock-in) with early-termination penalties — check the term before signing. Many plans bundle IPTV. A KR phone number + ARC are typically required to sign.

Maintenance fee (관리비)

관리비
🏢 Management office

₩50,000–250,000/mo · Monthly

🟡 Medium
Provider: 건물 관리사무소 (building management office)
How: Set up at move-in with the 관리사무소 — confirm what it covers and arrange auto-pay (자동이체) or app billing. Always ask for the itemized 관리비 내역.
Say this: 관리비에 뭐가 포함돼요? (What's included in the maintenance fee?)

The apartment/officetel catch-all: common-area electricity (공용전기), elevator, security, cleaning, trash, and often water + sometimes internet/heating. Ranges widely by building. Read the itemized 관리비 내역 so you know what you're NOT separately billed for.

Move-in setup flow — 6 steps

  1. 1

    Ask the management office what 관리비 covers · 관리비 확인

    On move-in day, check with the 관리사무소 (or landlord) which utilities are bundled into 관리비 — often water + common-area electricity, sometimes internet/heating. This tells you what you must set up separately.

  2. 2

    Read the meters on move-in day · 계량기 검침

    Photograph the 전기 + 가스 (+ 수도 if separate) 계량기 (meter) readings the day you move in, so your first bill starts from the right number and the previous tenant's usage isn't charged to you.

  3. 3

    Transfer electricity to your name · 전기 명의변경

    Call KEPCO at 123 or use the 한전:ON app to switch the account (명의변경) into your name. Have your address + ARC ready. In many apartments the 관리사무소 handles the in-unit meter for you.

  4. 4

    Book the city-gas turn-on (개전) · 가스 개전 예약

    Call your district 도시가스 company and schedule a 개전 appointment — a technician must come to safely open the gas. Someone has to be home. Do this early; winter slots fill up.

  5. 5

    Set up internet (book installation) · 인터넷 설치 예약

    Sign up with KT/SKB/LGU+ (ARC + KR phone needed) and book an install visit. Compare 약정 (contract) length + penalties; bundle with your mobile line for a discount.

  6. 6

    Turn on auto-pay + save your customer numbers · 자동이체 + 고객번호

    Set 자동이체 (auto-transfer) or app billing (KakaoPay/Toss) for each bill, and save each 고객번호 (customer number). On move-out, read the meters again and request a 정산 (final settlement).

Tips — one electricity provider, the gas technician, 관리비, TV licence

  • Electricity = one provider, English billThere's no electricity plan to shop for — KEPCO (한전) is the only supplier. Use the 한전:ON app, and view the English bill breakdown on the KEPCO site if the Korean terms trip you up. Transfer the account to your name (명의변경) via 123.
  • Never DIY the gas — book a 개전 technicianCity gas requires a licensed technician to come and open the valve (개전); you cannot legally or safely do it yourself, and someone must be home for the visit. Book early — winter appointment slots get crowded. On move-out, book a 폐전 (turn-off).
  • Read the 관리비 내역 — it bundles a lotIn apartments/officetels the monthly 관리비 (₩50k–250k) often already covers water, common-area electricity, cleaning, security, and sometimes internet or heating. Ask the 관리사무소 for the itemized 관리비 내역 so you know what you are NOT separately billed for.
  • That ₩2,500 charge is the KBS TV licenceA ~₩2,500/mo KBS 수신료 (TV licence) is auto-bundled into your electricity bill whether or not you own a TV. If you genuinely have no television, call KEPCO (123) to request removal (말소).
  • Internet contracts are 2–3yr lock-insKT/SKB/LGU+ internet is sold on 2–3yr 약정 contracts with early-termination penalties. Check the term + penalty before signing, and bundle with your mobile carrier (see /mobile-carrier) for a combined discount. Installation needs an ARC + KR phone number.
  • Know your heating typeHeating bills depend on type: 개별난방 (your own gas boiler — you pay 도시가스 directly, bill swings with use) vs 중앙난방 / 지역난방 (central or district heating — billed through 관리비 at a flatter rate). Ask which your unit has before winter.
  • Photograph meters at move-in AND move-outRead and photograph the 전기/가스/수도 계량기 (meters) on both move-in and move-out day. It protects you from paying the previous tenant’s usage and lets you settle a clean 정산 (final bill) when you leave.
  • Pay by auto-transfer or appSet 자동이체 (auto bank transfer) or pay via KakaoPay/Toss/convenience store so you never miss a cycle (gas + electricity bill on different dates). Keep each 고객번호 (customer number) — you need it to query or move a bill.

Phrasebook for the provider / management office

I'd like to transfer the electricity to my name.
전기 명의 변경하고 싶어요.
Jeon-gi myeong-ui byeon-gyeong-hago sipeoyo.
I'd like to apply to turn the gas on.
가스 개전 신청하려고요.
Gaseu gaejeon sincheong-haryeogoyo.
When can the gas technician come?
가스 기사님 언제 오실 수 있어요?
Gaseu gisanim eonje osil su isseoyo?
What's included in the maintenance fee?
관리비에 뭐가 포함돼요?
Gwallibi-e mwoga pohamdwaeyo?
Please set up auto-payment.
자동이체 신청해 주세요.
Jadong-iche sincheong-hae juseyo.
I'm moving out — please do a final settlement.
이사 나가요, 정산해 주세요.
Isa nagayo, jeongsan-hae juseyo.
What is my customer number?
고객번호가 뭐예요?
Gogaek-beonho-ga mwoyeyo?

See also

Renting the place first: /housing-lease. Bundling internet with your phone: /mobile-carrier. Paying the bills: /pay and /banking-arc.