The calculation you need, step by step
Small-tenant priority repayment calculator
Check the Korean small-tenant deposit threshold and priority repayment limit under the Housing Lease Protection Act Enforcement Decree in force for your region on the date of the first registered security right.
Reference results
Check the entries, then select Calculate.
Current and past tables
A tenant whose deposit is at or below the regional threshold is repaid a fixed part of it ahead of secured creditors, but not more than half of the home value (including land). Because each amendment’s supplementary provisions keep the former rule for those who acquired a security right before the amendment, the table in force on the filing date of the earliest security right is used.
| Effective date | Seoul | Overcrowding control zone, etc. | Metropolitan cities, etc. | Other areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023. 2. 21. | KRW 165M / KRW 55M | KRW 145M / KRW 48M | KRW 85M / KRW 28M | KRW 75M / KRW 25M |
| 2021. 5. 11. | KRW 150M / KRW 50M | KRW 130M / KRW 43M | KRW 70M / KRW 23M | KRW 60M / KRW 20M |
| 2018. 9. 18. | KRW 110M / KRW 37M | KRW 100M / KRW 34M | KRW 60M / KRW 20M | KRW 50M / KRW 17M |
| 2016. 3. 31. | KRW 100M / KRW 34M | KRW 80M / KRW 27M | KRW 60M / KRW 20M | KRW 50M / KRW 17M |
| 2014. 1. 1. | KRW 95M / KRW 32M | KRW 80M / KRW 27M | KRW 60M / KRW 20M | KRW 45M / KRW 15M |
| 2010. 7. 26. | KRW 75M / KRW 25M | KRW 65M / KRW 22M | KRW 55M / KRW 19M | KRW 40M / KRW 14M |
The cities in each regional group changed with each amendment. For example, check the category of Sejong, Yongin, Hwaseong, Gimpo, Ansan, Gwangju (Gyeonggi), Paju, Icheon and Pyeongtaek in the decree text for the relevant date before choosing. Security rights registered before 26 July 2010 are not supported.
What this calculator cannot apply
Occupancy and resident registration before the auction registration, keeping them until the distribution deadline, filing a distribution claim, apportionment among several small tenants, other priority claims such as property-related taxes and wage claims, and the actual sale price are not applied. We could not confirm an official interpretation of the regional category after the July 2026 Gwangju Metropolitan City merger.
Scope of results and official alternatives
Easy-to-find Everyday Law Information ↗, the Korea Legal Aid Corporation (132) or the enforcement court can confirm.
Calculation basis and official sources
- Housing Lease Protection Act Enforcement Decree Articles 10 and 11 (in force 1 July 2026) ↗
- Enforcement Decree amendment texts and supplementary provisions ↗
- Housing Lease Protection Act Article 8 ↗
This material is based on sources checked on November 7, 2026 (KST). Check subsequent amendments and transitional provisions for your particular case separately.