"Is 84m² considered 25 Pyung or 34 Pyung?"
If you're looking for an apartment in Korea, you'll inevitably encounter the traditional unit Pyung (평). Although the government mandates the use of Square Meters (m²), 'Pyung' is still the standard language in the real estate market.
Here is your complete guide to understanding Pyung and Korean apartment sizes.
1. The Basics: How big is 1 Pyung?
First, the conversion rate:
- 1 Pyung (평) ≈ 3.305785 m²
- 1 m² ≈ 0.3025 Pyung
A simple rule of thumb: Divide m² by 3.3. For example, 100m² ÷ 3.3 ≈ 30.3 Pyung.
2. Exclusive Area vs. Supply Area
This is the most confusing part for foreigners.
① Exclusive Area (Jeonyong Myeonjeok, 전용면적)
- The actual living space inside your door (bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathrooms).
- Balconies are considered 'Service Area' and are NOT included in this number. (This is why Korean apartments feel bigger than their listed size!)
- This is the legal standard for taxes.
② Supply Area (Bunyang Myeonjeok, 공급면적)
- Exclusive Area + Residential Common Area (stairs, elevators, hallways).
- When people ask "How big is your house?", they are referring to this Supply Area.
3. The "Standard" Sizes: 59m² and 84m²
These are the two most common apartment types in Korea.
🏠 59m² Type (Approx. 18 Pyung Exclusive)
- Exclusive Area: 59m² ÷ 3.3 ≈ 18 Pyung
- Supply Area: Usually labeled as 24~25 Pyung Type.
- This is a standard 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom layout for small families.
🏠 84m² Type (Approx. 25.4 Pyung Exclusive)
- Exclusive Area: 84m² ÷ 3.3 ≈ 25.4 Pyung
- Supply Area: Usually labeled as 33~34 Pyung Type.
- This is known as the "National Standard Size" (Guk-pyung).
Summary:
- If you see "Exclusive 84m²" → It's a 34 Pyung apartment.
- If you see "Exclusive 59m²" → It's a 25 Pyung apartment.
4. Why exclude Balconies?
In Korea, balconies are defined as "Service Areas". Most modern apartments have "extended balconies" (meaning the wall is removed to make the living room or bedroom bigger). Since this space is legally a balcony, it's virtually free bonus space not counted in the official Exclusive Area. This is why an 84m² apartment in Korea feels much larger than an 84m² apartment elsewhere.
Don't be confused by the numbers. Just remember: Divide the Area (m²) by 3.3 to get Pyung.
Need an exact calculation? Use our calculator!