Small Apartments Gain Momentum Amid Soaring Pre-Sale Prices... ‘Dongjak Central Dongmoon The East’ Draws Attention

‘Dongjak Central Dongmoon The East’ Sets Record with 198.67-to-1 Competition for 59m² Units
Dongmoon Construction’s Specialized Design Boosts Satisfaction for Small and Medium Units

Dongmoon Construction, 'Dongjak Central Dongmoon The East' Aerial Perspective View

Due to the nationwide increase in private apartment pre-sale prices, end users who are feeling the financial burden are flocking to small apartments with exclusive areas of 60 square meters or less. Based on efficient floor plans and price competitiveness, demand for smaller units is increasing in both subscription and sales markets.

According to Real Estate R114, this year, among nationwide new developments, the average first-priority subscription competition rate for units 60 square meters or smaller was recorded at 13.97 to 1.

By comparison, for exclusive areas between 60 and 85 square meters, the rate was 3.36 to 1, and for areas larger than 85 square meters, it was 3.40 to 1, indicating that the competition rate for small units is more than four times higher than for medium-to-large sized units.

This strong performance of small units is particularly evident on a project-by-project basis. This was reaffirmed during the recent subscription process for Dongmoon Construction’s ‘Dongjak Central Dongmoon The East’, where the popularity of the exclusive 59 square meter units stood out.

For Dongmoon Construction’s ‘Dongjak Central Dongmoon The East’, on July 14, in the first-priority subscription application for the specified region, a total of 3,903 applications were submitted for 34 units (excluding special supply), resulting in an average competition rate of 114.79 to 1. The exclusive 59 square meter unit drew the highest competition rate, with 596 applicants for only 3 units—an impressive 198.67 to 1 ratio. Even within the special supply, the newlywed special supply for the 59 square meter type saw 284 applications for 2 units, registering a competition rate of 142 to 1.

This trend is also clearly reflected in their rate of value increase. According to KB Real Estate, a survey of the annual sales index change by exclusive area for apartments in Seoul showed that small units of 60 square meters or less rose by 17.13%, the highest increase among all area categories.

This was followed by the 60–85 square meter range, with a 13.96% rise. Widening the scope to the entire metropolitan area, apartments of 60 square meters or less still posted the highest increase at 8.21%.

Small units, once considered cramped and stifling, now offer a sense of spaciousness comparable to larger units thanks to rational space designs such as balcony extensions and maximized niche storage solutions.

A real estate expert commented, “The rise in pre-sale prices is further amplifying the recent trend favoring smaller units,” and emphasized, “In particular, many of the newly supplied small units feature specialized designs that maximize space utilization, resulting in high satisfaction among actual residents. As a result, strong interest from buyers is expected to continue.”

In fact, Dongmoon Construction’s ‘Dongjak Central Dongmoon The East’, which has generated significant interest through its supply of small units, is recognized for its price competitiveness.

The exclusive 59 square meter (25 pyeong) units in ‘Dongjak Central Dongmoon The East’ are priced between 1.591 billion won and 1.671 billion won, with per-pyeong prices ranging from 64 million won to 67.22 million won. Compared with nearby Noryangjin New Town developments, where the per-pyeong price is around 85 million won, it offers a price advantage of over 20 million won per pyeong, and, in terms of average unit price, a difference of approximately 500 million won.

Additionally, a variety of specialized design options within the units allow for even more efficient use of space, leading to high satisfaction among buyers.

Mr. Lee, who visited the promotional center for ‘Dongjak Central Dongmoon The East’, said, “Upon seeing it in person, the space feels so open I forgot it was a small- or medium-sized unit. Given how outstanding the price is compared to other developments, if I win the first-priority subscription, I will definitely sign the contract.”

‘Dongjak Central Dongmoon The East’ has applied various specialized design features to create the best living environment for residents, in line with Dongmoon Construction’s brand philosophy.

The interior design focuses on creating a practical residential environment and maximizing space utilization. Innovative layouts that maximize views and enhance openness have been implemented, and movement flows within each unit have been optimized. Each home comes with a built-in system dressing room and features Dongmoon Construction’s unique space-saving storage solution, expanding usable space and meticulously accommodating both lifestyle needs and household convenience.

The ‘Dongmoon The East’ brand name combines the English definite article ‘the’ with the superlative ‘est’, reflecting Dongmoon Construction’s commitment to delivering the highest quality and best residential spaces along with boundless inspiration and satisfaction for customers.

The development will be located in Sangdo-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, comprising three buildings with eight basement floors and 29 above-ground floors, totaling 301 units with exclusive areas ranging from 46 to 62 square meters.

The promotional center for ‘Dongjak Central Dongmoon The East’ is located in Sangdo-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, and official contracts will be conducted from Monday, August 3 to Wednesday, August 5.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.