Korean Housing Subscription Points (Cheongyak): How the 84-Point Score Works

What is the points system? The 84-point structure

Cheongyak (청약), Korea's housing subscription system, is how people apply to buy newly built apartments before construction finishes. For private developments, when applicants outnumber units, winners are chosen by a point system or a lottery. Under the point system, the highest scores win. Your score is the sum of three items, up to 84 points.

These rules reflect October 2026, and our points calculator uses the same formula. Always confirm the details in each development's official notice and on Applyhome, the government subscription portal.

Years without a home (up to 32 points)

This is the period during which you and every member of your household owned no home.

• Counting starts at age 30. If you married before 30, it starts from the date your marriage was registered.
• If anyone in the household owned a home, counting restarts from the date it was sold.
• If you currently own a home, this item scores zero.
• Some small or low-priced homes and inherited shares may be treated as "no home"; check the notice.

A simple way to remember it: 2 + 2 × completed years, capped at 32.

Dependents (up to 35 points, the biggest item)

Dependents exclude you. Even with none you get a base of 5 points, then 5 points per dependent, reaching 35 at six or more.

• Spouse: counts even if registered at a different address.
• Parents or grandparents (yours or your spouse's): you must be the head of household and they must have been on the same resident registration for at least three years in a row. Parents who own a home do not count.
• Children: unmarried children count; unmarried children aged 30 or over must have been on your registration for at least one year.
• Family members living abroad long term may not be recognized.

Subscription account period (up to 17 points)

This counts from the day you opened a housing subscription savings account. Under 6 months scores 1 point and 6 months to under a year scores 2. From one year on it is 2 + completed years, reaching 17 at 15 years. Nine years, for example, gives 11 points.

A rule now also allows part of a spouse's account period to be added. Our calculator only uses your own period, so if your spouse has had an account for a long time, check the current rules on Applyhome.

Four worked examples

1. Age 38, married at 33, spouse and two children, 10-year account: counting from age 30 gives 8 years → 18; three dependents → 20; account → 12. Total 50.
2. Age 52, homeless 15+ years, spouse, two children and a mother living together 3+ years, 16-year account: 32 + 25 + 17 = 74.
3. Age 34, single, living alone, 9-year account: 4 years without a home → 10; no dependents → 5; account → 11. Total 26.
4. Age 32, marriage registered at 27, one child, 6-year account: 5 years from the marriage registration → 12; two dependents → 15; account → 8. Total 35.

Comparing examples 1 and 3 shows how much dependents matter. Single-person households rarely win on points alone, so they should also look at lottery units and special supply.

Common mistakes that lead to disqualification

On Applyhome you enter your own points. If you win with an incorrect score, document checks will mark you ineligible, the win is cancelled, and you may be barred from winning other subscriptions for a period.

• Counting years before age 30 while single
• Forgetting that a household member once owned a home
• Listing parents who have lived with you for under three years
• Listing parents who own a home
• Listing unmarried children registered at another address
• Counting from the date you reached first priority instead of the account opening date
• Applying as a household member where the head-of-household rule applies

Before applying, check your numbers against your resident registration record (including past address changes) and family relation certificate.

Points or lottery: where should you aim?

Even within one development, the split between point-based and lottery units depends on unit size and how strictly the area is regulated. Generally, the more regulated the area and the smaller the unit, the larger the point-based share, while unregulated areas and units over 85㎡ lean towards lottery. The exact split is in each official notice.

• High score: target 85㎡-or-smaller units in popular areas with a large point-based share.
• Middle score: also look at outer metropolitan developments and those with lottery units.
• Low score: check lottery units (over 85㎡, unregulated areas) and special supply eligibility first.

Plan your finances too: down payment, interim payment loans and the final balance. Use the loan calculator to test your plan.