Mid- to Large-Sized Officetels Rival Apartments in Value... 'Okjeong Jungang Station D'TRE II' Draws Attention with Reasonable Pricing

Brighten Yeouido's 59-square-meter unit sold for about KRW 130 million more than nearby apartments of the same size; record highs in Pyeongchon and Pangyo

Officetels larger than 85 square meters rise in sales, jeonse, and monthly rent... Recognized as an alternative to apartment living

In the real estate market, officetels are establishing themselves as mid- to large-sized homes for owner-occupiers, offering spacious layouts and apartment-style floor plans. As a result, actual transactions increasingly show them commanding values comparable to apartments, rather than being seen only as small rental properties.

In some cases, mid- to large-sized officetels have sold for more than nearby apartments. According to actual transaction data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, a 59-square-meter officetel at Brighten Yeouido in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, sold for KRW 2.08 billion, about KRW 130 million more than a same-sized unit at a nearby apartment complex in Dangsan-dong, which sold for KRW 1.95 billion. The transaction defies the conventional wisdom that apartments cost more when their floor areas are the same, showing that an officetel can be valued as highly as, or more highly than, an apartment depending on the quality of its offering.

The price trend for mid- to large-sized officetels is also reflected in statistics. According to the Korea Real Estate Board's price index for officetels by size in the Seoul metropolitan area for the second quarter of 2026, officetels larger than 85 square meters rose across all indicators: sales prices increased by 0.45%, jeonse prices by 0.39%, and monthly rents by 1.13%. By contrast, sales prices for officetels of 85 square meters or less fell, making the divergence in price trends by size clear. The average sales price of officetels larger than 85 square meters in Seoul has also more than doubled, rising from around KRW 600 million a decade ago to around KRW 1.3 billion recently.

Industry observers point to regulatory changes as a factor behind the rising value of mid- to large-sized officetels. A 2024 revision to officetel building standards permitted the installation of balconies, enabling officetels to offer spacious layouts that make use of service areas, like apartments. Officetels built as part of a complex with apartments are especially popular, as residents can share community facilities, landscaping, and management services. In July, for example, an 84-square-meter officetel within the Forena Gwanggyo complex in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, sold for KRW 990 million, more than KRW 300 million above the price of a same-sized standalone officetel nearby.

This shows how officetels, once regarded solely as rental-income properties for single-person households, have been transformed into high-quality, premium homes.

However, prices for mid- to large-sized officetels in Seoul and key areas of the metropolitan region have already risen sharply, increasing the entry burden for people seeking homes for their own use. As a result, buyers are turning their attention to complexes that offer proven mid- to large-sized layouts at more affordable prices.

A notable example is Okjeong Jungang Station D'TRE II, being supplied by Daebang Construction in Okjeong New Town, Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. The officetel development, comprising 853 units, is part of Okjeong Jungang Station D'TRE, which is being built on the last privately developed housing site in Okjeong New Town. Its model home opened on October 8, and sales have begun. Prices range from the high KRW 400 millions to the KRW 500 millions. By comparison, 84-square-meter units at Daebang Construction's first-phase complex nearby, Yangju Okjeong New Town Phase 1 Daebang Nobleland The Signature, have sold in the KRW 500 millions, meaning buyers can secure a larger newly built home for a similar price.

The product offering is comparable to that of mid- to large-sized officetels in Seoul's major districts. All units have a single exclusive area of 119 square meters (about 36 pyeong), and the development is the first in Okjeong, Yangju, to feature indoor balconies. Under the balcony area standards for projecting balconies and similar spaces set out in the Enforcement Decree of the Building Act, the balcony area in the complex amounts to about 6 pyeong. Each unit has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as a dressing room and pantry, providing ample space for households of three or four. The officetel development has 1,463 parking spaces, or about 1.72 per unit, and 10 elevators in each building. As part of a complex being built alongside apartments, residents can also use community facilities including a six-lane indoor swimming pool, fitness center, sauna, and golf lounge.

The development is also centrally located in Okjeong New Town. Okjeong Jungang Station on Line 7, which is tentatively named and planned, will be directly in front of the complex, and Daebang Construction has signed an agreement to build a passage connecting the station and the complex. Once the planned Deokjeong-Okjeong Line opens, residents will be able to reach Deokjeong Station in one stop, making transfers to the planned GTX-C line more convenient. Okjeong Lake Park borders the complex to the east, while Okjeong's largest central commercial district, home to academies and retail facilities, lies to the south.

Another point of appeal is the relatively low barrier to entry compared with apartment subscriptions, which require applicants to consider factors such as subscription savings accounts, points, and whether they own a home. Anyone aged 19 or older living anywhere in South Korea can apply for one unit in each group, up to a maximum of four applications per person. Homeowners and multiple-home owners are also eligible to apply, and there are no restrictions on winning again or requirements to live in the unit.

Applications will be accepted over two days, October 19 and 20. Winners will be announced on October 26, followed by contract signing for selected applicants over two days, October 28 and 29.

A sales representative said, "As mid- to large-sized officetels gain recognition for their value as homes for owner-occupiers, they are selling at prices comparable to apartments in various parts of the metropolitan area. Okjeong Jungang Station D'TRE II is an officetel within a complex being built alongside apartments. It offers the advantages of a mid- to large-sized home at a reasonable price, making it a good opportunity for people looking to buy a home for their own use."

Okjeong Jungang Station D'TRE II will comprise 853 units (exclusive area of 119 square meters; types OA, OB, and OC) within Okjeong Jungang Station D'TRE, a development of 18 buildings rising from five basement levels to a maximum of 49 above-ground floors. Its model home is open in Okjeong-dong, Yangju, Gyeonggi Province.

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