Incheon’s ‘1,000 Won Brokerage Fee’: The 1,000 Won Is the Remaining Balance from the Brokerage Commission

When you hear the term “1,000-won move,” it is easy to assume that the entire moving process—packing, hiring a truck, and taking over a room—costs just 1,000 won. However, Incheon City’s “1,000-won Brokerage Fee Support Program” is not such a program. Here, the 1,000 won refers to the residual amount that the applicant must pay out of pocket, after support, for the brokerage commission paid to the real estate broker who facilitated the contract ¹. Moving costs for transporting belongings are not included in the eligible support items.

The brokerage commission is calculated by multiplying the total amount of the security deposit and monthly rent by the applicable broker fee rate ². For example, if the brokerage fee for a contract comes to 250,000 won, Incheon City supports 249,000 won, and the applicant pays only 1,000 won ¹. Conversely, if the brokerage fee is 350,000 won, the applicant must cover the remaining 50,000 won after the 300,000-won support cap is applied ¹. Ultimately, the 1,000 won is not the “total price of moving” but rather the minimal out-of-pocket expense that remains when the brokerage fee is within the support cap ¹.

Q1 2026: Average Support of 250,000 Won Per Case

In the first quarter of 2026, Incheon City disbursed a total of 12.53 million won across 50 cases of the “1,000-won Brokerage Fee Support Program” ¹. A simple calculation indicates an average support of 250,000 won per case ¹. From January 2026, Incheon City planned to support up to 1,000 households with a program budget of 299 million won ³, ⁴.

Of the 50 supported cases, 42 (84%) were for young adults ¹, ⁴. The remaining 8 cases (16%) were for basic livelihood security recipients ¹. By housing type, officetels, which are popular among young professionals, accounted for 15 cases (30%), followed by apartments with 13 cases (26%) and multi-family houses with 12 cases (24%) ¹, ³, ⁴.

The experience of a young adult who used this policy clearly illustrates its utility in reducing the burden of upfront brokerage fees. According to a report by The Kyunghyang Shinmun, a young person who moved to Incheon from another city due to a job change stated, “It was a heavy financial burden to have such a large lump-sum expense, but this was a great help” ¹. When securing a rental, expenses for the security deposit, brokerage fee, and move-in cleaning often occur simultaneously ². This policy directly reduces the brokerage fee component among these costs ¹.

Who Can Apply and Under What Conditions?

This program does not support all residents of Incheon. Eligible applicants must be non-owner renters who reside in or are moving to Incheon City, and must meet one of the following criteria ¹, ³, ⁴:

• Young adults aged 18 to 39
• Newlyweds within five years of marriage registration
• Basic livelihood security recipients
• Households in the second-lowest income bracket (near-poverty)
• Single-parent families

There are also specific housing conditions. To be eligible, applicants must sign a lease contract for a term of 24 months or longer for a property with a security deposit of 100 million won or less ¹, ³, ⁴. The support amount is up to 300,000 won based on the actual brokerage fee paid ¹, ³, ⁴. Incheon City will continue to disburse funds until the budget is exhausted or until December 2026 ¹, ⁴.

‘Moving Costs’ Are Separate: How Does It Differ from Seoul’s Policy?

Incheon’s “1,000-won brokerage fee” and other local governments’ “young adult moving cost support” differ in scope, despite similar names. Incheon focuses solely on real estate brokerage commissions. Items such as trucking, packing, and crane services (ladder cars) are excluded from support.

The distinction becomes clearer when comparing with other local governments. Seoul City operates the “Young Adult Real Estate Brokerage Fee and Moving Cost Support Program.” It targets young adults aged 19 to 39 with household incomes at or below 150% of the median income, offering reimbursement up to 400,000 won combined for brokerage fees and moving costs ⁵. This differs in nature from Incheon’s approach, which focuses intensively on brokerage fees to reduce the applicant’s out-of-pocket cost to 1,000 won.

There are also common documentation requirements when receiving government subsidies. The tenant’s name on the lease agreement must match the applicant, and proof of payment—such as bank transfer records or a cash receipt—is mandatory, even for cash payments ², ⁶, ⁷. If you pay the brokerage fee in cash but fail to keep a receipt, it may be difficult to have your application approved ², ⁶.

The 1,000 won in Incheon’s “1,000-won Brokerage Fee” program is not magical money that performs the move for you. It is a public policy that significantly reduces the burden of brokerage fees incurred during real estate contracts ¹. The physical costs of moving itself remain the applicant’s responsibility.