# Housing Subscription Score Calculator

> Calculate your Korean housing subscription (cheongnyak) priority score.

## What is this calculator?

The Housing Subscription Score Calculator estimates your priority score for the Korean public housing subscription system, commonly known as cheongnyak. This system is the primary mechanism through which newly constructed apartments in South Korea are allocated to buyers, particularly for government-subsidized and mid-price range housing. The cheongnyak system was established to ensure fair access to housing by prioritizing applicants based on objective criteria rather than pure financial capacity. Competition for desirable apartments in Seoul and the metropolitan area is fierce, with popular complexes receiving hundreds of applicants per unit. Your cheongnyak score directly determines your priority ranking, and understanding how it is calculated is essential for anyone planning to purchase a new apartment in Korea. The scoring system awards up to 84 points across three categories: homeless period (up to 32 points), number of dependents (up to 35 points), and subscription savings account tenure (up to 17 points). This calculator allows you to model different scenarios and see exactly how each criterion contributes to your total score. It is valuable for long-term housing planning — knowing your current score and how it will increase over time helps you decide when to apply, whether to maintain your homeowner-free status, and how aggressively to pursue subscription opportunities.

## How to use

Step 1: Enter the number of years without homeownership (homeless period). This measures how long you have been without owning a home. The count begins from when you turn 30 years old, or from your marriage registration date if married before 30. If you have never owned a home since turning 30 (or since marriage), count the full years from that date. If you previously owned a home and sold it, count only from the date you became a non-homeowner again. The maximum score of 32 points is achieved at 15 or more years.

Step 2: Enter the number of dependents (0-6). Dependents include household members listed on your resident registration who meet certain criteria. Eligible dependents include: your spouse, your biological or adopted children, your parents (or spouse's parents) aged 60 or older who have lived at the same address for at least 3 years, and married children living with you for at least 1 year. You do NOT count yourself as a dependent in this field. The maximum score of 35 points is achieved with 6 or more dependents.

Step 3: Enter your subscription savings account tenure in years. This is the number of years you have maintained a housing subscription savings account. The account must be active and in good standing with regular deposits. The maximum score of 17 points is achieved at 15 or more years.

Step 4: The calculator instantly displays your total score and the breakdown for each category. Use this to evaluate your competitiveness for specific apartment complexes by comparing your score to typical winning scores in your target area.

## Scoring Criteria

The housing subscription point system awards scores in three categories, for a maximum total of 84 points:

Category 1 — Homeless Period (Max 32 points):
Years without homeownership -> Score
< 1 year: 2 points
1 year: 2 points
2 years: 4 points
3 years: 6 points
4 years: 8 points
5 years: 10 points
6 years: 12 points
7 years: 14 points
8 years: 16 points
9 years: 18 points
10 years: 20 points
11 years: 22 points
12 years: 24 points
13 years: 26 points
14 years: 28 points
15 years or more: 32 points
(Note: 2 points per year from 1-14 years, then jumps to 32 at 15+ years)

Category 2 — Number of Dependents (Max 35 points):
0 dependents: 5 points
1 dependent: 10 points
2 dependents: 15 points
3 dependents: 20 points
4 dependents: 25 points
5 dependents: 30 points
6 or more dependents: 35 points
(5 points per dependent, starting from 5 for zero dependents)

Category 3 — Subscription Account Tenure (Max 17 points):
6 months: 1 point
1 year: 2 points
2 years: 3 points
3 years: 4 points
...(+1 point per year)...
14 years: 15 points
15 years or more: 17 points

Total Score = Homeless Period Score + Dependent Score + Account Tenure Score
Maximum possible: 32 + 35 + 17 = 84 points

Example: 8 years homeless (16 pts) + 2 dependents (15 pts) + 5 years account (6 pts) = 37 points total

## Useful tips

Typical Winning Scores by Region: The score needed to win a subscription varies dramatically by region and apartment complex. In popular Seoul districts like Gangnam, Seocho, and Songpa, winning scores typically range from 60-75+ points. In the Seoul metropolitan area (Gyeonggi-do), scores of 50-65 are often needed. In regional cities, scores of 30-50 may be sufficient. Research recent winning scores for your target area before deciding when to apply.

The Long Game — Start Your Account Early: The subscription savings account is the one category you can start building from a young age. Opening an account at 18 (or even earlier — minors can open accounts with parental consent) gives you a significant head start. Even if you only deposit the minimum amount each month, the tenure clock is ticking. By the time you are ready to buy in your 30s, you could have 12-15 years of tenure, worth 13-17 points.

Don't Buy Too Early: One of the most counterintuitive aspects of Korean housing strategy is that buying a home can reset your homeless period score to zero. If you currently have a high homeless period score, carefully consider whether purchasing a home now (especially an investment property) is worth sacrificing those points. Some people deliberately delay homeownership to accumulate maximum points for a more desirable apartment later.

Dependent Strategy: Adding dependents legitimately increases your score significantly. Marriage adds a spouse (increasing from 0 to 1 dependent), children add further points, and registering elderly parents at your address can add even more. Each dependent is worth 5 points. However, dependents must be genuinely registered at your residence — fraudulent registrations carry serious legal penalties.

Point-based vs. Drawing-based System: The point system primarily applies to apartments under 85 square meters (approximately 25.7 pyeong) in the Seoul metropolitan area and regulated regions. Larger apartments or unregulated regions may use a drawing system where winners are selected randomly regardless of score. Before investing years in building your score, confirm that your target apartment complex uses the point system.

Special Supply Categories: In addition to the general subscription, there are special supply categories for newlyweds, multi-child families, elderly parents cohabitants, and first-time homebuyers. These categories have different eligibility criteria and may offer a more favorable path depending on your situation. Check if you qualify for any special supply category before competing in the general pool.

## FAQ

### Q. How can I get a perfect score of 84?

To achieve the maximum 84 points, you need the top score in all three categories: 15 or more years without homeownership (32 points), 6 or more dependents on your resident registration (35 points), and 15 or more years of subscription savings account tenure (17 points). In practice, this is extremely difficult and requires decades of planning. The 15-year homeless period means not owning any property from age 30 to 45 (or from marriage to 15 years later). Having 6+ dependents requires a large family — for example, a spouse, 3 children, and both your parents or parents-in-law. And maintaining a savings account for 15 years requires opening it no later than your early 30s. Most successful applicants score in the 55-70 range rather than achieving a perfect score.

### Q. Who counts as a dependent?

Eligible dependents must be listed on your resident registration document at the same address as the applicant. The following relatives count: your spouse (no age or cohabitation duration requirement), your direct descendants (children, including adopted children — no minimum cohabitation period for unmarried children), your direct ascendants (your parents or your spouse's parents aged 60 or older who have been registered at the same address for at least 3 consecutive years), and married children who have been registered at the same address for at least 1 year. Siblings, nieces/nephews, grandparents, and other relatives do NOT count as dependents for this scoring system. The applicant themselves is NOT counted as a dependent either.

### Q. What happens if scores are tied?

When multiple applicants have the same total score for a given apartment unit, the tiebreaker process follows a specific order established by the Housing Supply Rules. First, priority goes to applicants with a longer subscription savings account tenure. If still tied, priority goes to those with more dependents. If still tied, a random lottery drawing determines the winner. In practice, ties are common in popular complexes, so even small point differences can be decisive. This is why maximizing every category — including the savings account tenure that many people overlook — is important for competitive applications. Some applicants deliberately wait an extra year or two to accumulate additional points before applying.

### Q. Can unmarried single people apply for housing subscription?

Yes, unmarried single people can participate in the housing subscription system, but with some differences. Single applicants who are 30 years or older can apply under the general subscription. Their homeless period score begins counting from age 30 (since there is no marriage date). For dependents, a single person with no dependents still receives the minimum 5 points, and they can add dependents by having elderly parents registered at their address. Since 2020, the government has expanded special supply categories for single persons, including dedicated allocations in some complexes. However, single applicants generally face lower maximum dependent scores compared to married applicants with children, which can be a competitive disadvantage in high-demand areas.

### Q. When should I use my subscription based on my current score?

This depends on your target area and apartment type. As a general guideline: in Seoul premium districts (Gangnam, Seocho, Songpa, Mapo), you typically need 65+ points to be competitive, so waiting until you have a high score is advisable. In Seoul outer districts and nearby Gyeonggi cities, 50-60 points may suffice. In regional cities and less popular areas, 35-45 points can be competitive. Check recent winning scores for your target area on real estate information sites. Remember that once you win a subscription and purchase the apartment, your score resets — you lose your homeless period points and your savings account tenure. So do not waste your accumulated score on a property you are not truly committed to. If your score is not yet competitive in your desired area, continue building it rather than applying to less desirable complexes.