If you rent in Korea (jeonse or wolse), you’ll hear two phrases nonstop: 전입신고 (move-in report) and 확정일자 (confirmed date / fixed date stamp). People often mix them up—or do one and forget the other.
Here’s the clean way to think about it: 전입신고 helps establish your “tenant standing”, and 확정일자 helps establish your “priority” for deposit repayment. For deposit safety, you usually want both, done correctly and done early.
Official Links (Use These Only)
- EasyLaw (official legal info) – Moving-in report rule (within 14 days) + fixed date guidance: https://easylaw.go.kr/CSM/CsmOvSave.laf?ccfNo=3&cciNo=2&cnpClsNo=1&csmSeq=1081
- EasyLaw (PDF) – “Bring a written lease and obtain the fixed date” to get preferential repayment right: https://www.easylaw.go.kr/CSP/FileDownload.laf?csmSeq=1081&flType=pdf&onhunqnaYn=N
- Seoul Foreign Portal – Fixed date (확정일자) basics & where to receive it: https://global.seoul.go.kr/web/news/libr/bordContDetail.do?brd_no=9&lang=en&mode=W&post_no=02CEAC6C9B1201D6E063C0A8A023B1FE
- Seoul Foreign Portal – “8 Things you MUST check to Avoid Jeonse Fraud” (official): https://global.seoul.go.kr/web/news/senw/bordContDetail.do?brd_no=5&lang=EN&mode=W&post_no=FF2FF53253E7012EE053C0A8A023EE21
- MOLIT (Ministry of Land) – “Practice to Avoid Jeonse Fraud” (official PDF, English): https://www.molit.go.kr/LCMS/DWN.jsp?fileName=Practice+to+Avoid+Jeonse+Fraud.pdf&fold=%2Feng0301%2F
What Is 전입신고 (Move-in Report)?
EasyLaw explains the moving-in report rule clearly: the householder should file a moving-in report with the relevant local office within 14 days from moving to the new domicile (it cites the Resident Registration Act).
In real life, this is one of the steps tied to protecting tenants’ rights in Korea’s housing lease system. If you skip it, you’re basically choosing a weaker position if there’s a dispute later.
What Is 확정일자 (Confirmed Date / Fixed Date)?
EasyLaw’s housing lease guidance says it’s recommended to bring a written lease contract and obtain the fixed date when filing a moving-in report, so you can acquire the preferential repayment right for the deposit.
Seoul’s foreign portal also explains that a lease contract holder (including a proxy) may receive a fixed date at the local office (Eup/Myeon/Dong or Si/Gun/Gu), and it notes the contract must contain key lease information and be signed/sealed properly.
So What’s the Difference (Simple, Practical Version)
- Move-in report (전입신고): “I live here” gets officially recorded (do it within 14 days).
- Confirmed date (확정일자): your lease gets a date stamp used to strengthen your deposit repayment priority (preferential repayment right).
They are different tools. Doing only one is like locking only one side of your door.
What to Do First (Order That Works for Most People)
Best practical order: after you move in, go to the local community service center (주민센터 / 읍·면·동 office) and do move-in report, then get the confirmed date on the lease contract—ideally in the same visit.
This lines up with EasyLaw’s guidance that connects “moving-in report + obtaining the fixed date” as the recommended workflow for securing preferential repayment rights.
Foreigners: The One Detail That Causes Confusion
Foreign residents sometimes assume they “can’t” do these steps because they’re not Korean citizens. In practice, Seoul provides English guidance for foreign residents on housing/lease safety and fixed date basics, which is a strong signal that these protections are relevant to you too.
Human tip: Bring your ARC (residence card) if you have it, and bring the lease contract with signatures/seals completed. If your contract isn’t properly completed, you may waste the trip.
What You Should Bring (Don’t Overthink It)
- Your signed lease contract (with key lease details filled in)
- ID (passport and/or ARC)
- Your address info (exact unit number, building name, etc.)
Common Mistakes That Actually Cost People Deposits
- Not doing the moving-in report within 14 days (people delay because they’re “busy”).
- Getting the confirmed date on a contract that isn’t properly completed (missing signatures, missing lease details).
- Skipping registry checks and thinking 확정일자 alone “guarantees” deposit safety (it doesn’t). Seoul’s official fraud-prevention checklist emphasizes multiple checks, including registry and price/ratio checks.
How This Connects to Jeonse Fraud Prevention
Seoul’s official “8 Things you MUST check” guide exists because deposit non-return cases often involve prior liens, foreclosure, tax delinquency, or unrealistic jeonse pricing relative to sales price. Your tenant protections work best when you combine: registry check + contract safety + move-in report + confirmed date.
FAQ (Quick Answers)
Q1) Is 전입신고 mandatory?
EasyLaw states the moving-in report should be filed within 14 days after moving in.
Q2) Does 확정일자 protect my deposit by itself?
It’s used to strengthen your preferential repayment right for the deposit, but official fraud-prevention guides emphasize multiple checks and steps, not just one stamp.
Q3) Where do I get the confirmed date?
Seoul’s foreign portal says a lease contract holder (or proxy) can receive it at the Eup/Myeon/Dong office or Si/Gun/Gu where the house is located.