Moving-In Report and Fixed-Date Certification in Korea 2026: Why Being One Day Late Can Cost You Deposit Priority

Article 3(1) of Korea's Housing Lease Protection Act states that once a tenant has taken possession of the home and completed resident registration, they can assert their right against third parties starting the day after. That right alone, however, doesn't let you get your deposit back ahead of other creditors at an auction — under Article 3-2 of the same law, you also need the fixed-date certification in addition to that right. Under Article 3-6, the fixed-date certification is issued by the local eup/myeon office or dong community center, a branch office, a district court or its branch, a registry office, or a notary public, and the applicant must pay a fee. The Supreme Court Rule on Fixed-Date Certification and Information Provision for Housing Lease Contracts sets that fee at 600 won per application, plus 100 won for every four pages beyond the first four. A registered foreigner's change-of-residence report is a separate obligation under the Immigration Act, distinct from the standard resident registration filed at a community center; official guidance differs on the deadline (some sources say 14 days, others 15), so this article does not state a single number — check the exact deadline with your local immigration office or HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr). I confirmed the above legal provisions and fee on the screens of korea.legal's wiki page quoting Article 3-6 of the Housing Lease Protection Act and nepla.ai's page quoting Article 8 of the Supreme Court Rule, both viewed 2026-11-02.