What is a pyeong (평)?
A pyeong is the traditional Korean unit of floor area, about 3.3 m² or 35.6 ft² — roughly the size of two tatami mats. Official documents in Korea have used square meters since 2007, but real estate agents and everyday conversation still describe homes in pyeong.
Exclusive area vs. supply area
Korean apartment listings show two different sizes, which often confuses newcomers:
- Exclusive area (전용면적): the actual private floor space inside your unit — rooms, living room, kitchen, bathrooms. This is the m² figure on the contract, such as 59 m² or 84 m².
- Supply area (공급면적): exclusive area plus shared spaces like hallways, stairs and elevators. When Koreans say "a 34-pyeong apartment" (34평형), they usually mean the supply area.
- Balconies (발코니) are usually excluded from both, but are often converted into living space.
Common Korean apartment sizes
| Exclusive area | Exclusive in pyeong | Usually called | Typical layout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 m² | 11.8 | 15–17 pyeong | Studio / 1 bedroom |
| 49 m² | 14.8 | 20–22 pyeong | 2 bedrooms |
| 59 m² | 17.8 | 24–26 pyeong | 3 bedrooms, 1–2 baths |
| 74 m² | 22.4 | 29–31 pyeong | 3 bedrooms, 2 baths |
| 84 m² | 25.4 | 32–34 pyeong | 3–4 bedrooms, 2 baths |
| 114 m² | 34.5 | 42–45 pyeong | 4 bedrooms, 2 baths |
Supply-area ranges vary by building, so check the exact 공급면적 on the listing.
FAQ
Q. How many square feet is 1 pyeong?
A. One pyeong is about 35.58 square feet (3.305785 m² × 10.7639).
Q. Is an 84 m² apartment the same as 34 pyeong?
A. Not exactly. 84 m² of exclusive area is about 25.4 pyeong. It is called a "34-pyeong" apartment because the supply area, which includes shared spaces, is around 110–113 m².
Q. Which number should I compare when renting?
A. Compare the exclusive area (전용면적) in m². It is the space you actually live in and is written on the lease contract.
Read Korean? Try the Korean version (평수 변환 계산기).