Living in Korea | Tips for Hiring a Housekeeper in South Korea
At Wonderful, we've handled countless requests over the years, and a significant number of them relate to housekeeping. We've helped clients find cleaners for everything from one-room apartments to large family homes, and even Airbnbs! No matter where you live in Korea, hiring a cleaner is a simple luxury that we believe is absolutely worth it—especially given how affordable it is compared to many other countries.
Housekeepers in Korea are generally excellent at what they do—fast, thorough, and reliable. However, there are a few cultural nuances and customs to keep in mind before hiring one, as some may surprise you.
Question:"Why can't I find a housekeeper who will clean my balcony? It's just a small, enclosed room and part of my apartment! Are they all lazy, or am I going crazy?"
Answer:In Korea, housekeeping services are divided into specific categories, and only certain cleaners will handle balconies. This has less to do with laziness and more to do with cultural traditions and how housekeeping tasks are divided. Balconies, for instance, are often cleaned by specialists who focus on deep cleaning. These are the housekeepers who prepare apartments for new tenants and work in empty spaces. Interestingly, many Koreans traditionally do not clean their homes when moving out. The belief is that cleaning upon departure may invite evil spirits to follow you to your new home—a superstition nobody wants to risk!
Deep-cleaning specialists focus on thoroughly sterilizing every corner of an apartment. They handle grout stains, railings, and hard-to-reach areas, often using specialized equipment. Because of their expertise and the time they dedicate, these services can cost significantly more—ranging from 250,000 KRW to over a million KRW, depending on the apartment's size and location.
On the other hand, regular housekeepers are more affordable and focus on routine tasks like washing dishes, cleaning bathrooms, mopping floors, doing laundry, dusting, and light organizing. They typically don’t bring cleaning equipment, as lugging mops and vacuums onto public transportation can be impractical. (Imagine sitting next to someone with a bucket and vacuum on a crowded subway—quite the sight!) While some cleaners may bring their own supplies, it’s a good idea to have basics like a mop, broom, cleaning cloths, and sprays ready.
Housekeepers and Nannies
Some housekeepers in Korea also double as nannies. While Korea is generally a safe country, we always recommend conducting thorough background checks when entrusting someone with childcare. Cultural differences and language barriers can occasionally present challenges, so it’s important to establish clear expectations.
How Wonderful Can Help
At Wonderful, we make it easy to find the right housekeeper for your needs—whether it's for routine cleaning, deep cleaning, or a combination of services. We can even help you order cleaning supplies like dishwashing cloths, mops, and cleaning sprays.
Don’t worry if you don’t speak Korean. We’ll handle the booking and initial communication to ensure everything runs smoothly. With Wonderful, keeping your space clean has never been easier. Whether you're busy, unsure how to do it, or just feeling a little lazy, Wonderful is here to help. 😊
Wonderful is the best on-demand English-speaking virtual assistant service in South Korea. Serving the expat community for nearly 10 years we've maintained the highest customer ratings on both Google and Facebook.
Don't let language barriers or unfamiliar surroundings hold you back from getting the most out of your time in South Korea. Let Wonderful help you save time and make things easier.
Regarding our pricing, we charge for the time taken working on your request by the minute, for as low as 1250 KRW per minute, depending on your preferred pricing package. If interested in our service, you can reach us on Facebook, Kakao Talk, WhatsApp, Instagram or Email.
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