Korea Housing Subscription Score Checklist

A checklist of the items people most often miscalculate in Korea's housing subscription scoring system — years without owning a home, dependent count, and subscription account tenure.

Because subscription scores come down to a number, they look simple at first glance, but the details get confusing fast once reference dates and household composition come into play. How far back your years-without-owning-a-home count starts, whether parents or children count as dependents, and how your subscription savings account tenure is recognized can all shift your final score — and in popular areas, a difference of just a point or two can decide who gets in.

This checklist, current as of August 2026, rounds up the items applicants most commonly get wrong. Subscription rules change often and vary by region and housing type, so always verify the current criteria through Cheongyakhome and the specific project announcement before applying — nothing here guarantees a win.

Years Without Owning a Home

This carries significant weight in the scoring system, but it isn't simply the total time you went without owning property. Recognition depends on your age, marital status, past ownership history, and household composition, and it's typically assessed as of the announcement date for the specific project. Past ownership — including a spouse's — that was later sold off can complicate the count, so when in doubt, calculate conservatively based on Cheongyakhome guidance and the relevant announcement.

Dependent Count

This item can swing your score significantly, but a spouse, children, and parents aren't automatically counted as dependents. You need to check household registration status, the length of time you've supported them, their age, and marital status. Counting a parent as a dependent often requires them to have been registered on the same household record for a minimum period, and whether a child counts can depend on their age and marital status — cross-checking your family relationship certificate and resident registration against the announcement's criteria is the safer approach.

Subscription Account Tenure

This looks straightforward to check, but the account type, opening date, any conversion history, and how enrollment during minority is recognized can all affect the score. Confirm your opening date and payment history through Cheongyakhome or your bank, and check the scoring criteria separately from the priority requirements listed in the announcement. If you converted from another product — such as the Youth Housing Dream account — verify how your prior tenure carries over.

Head-of-Household Status and Household Composition

Depending on the region and regulatory designation, whether you're the head of household can affect both eligibility and your odds of winning. Some applications allow non-heads of household to apply, but certain conditions make head-of-household status matter more, so if you're considering changing it, check whether that needs to happen before the announcement date. Even if you and your spouse are registered as separate households, subscription rules sometimes treat you as one household — don't assume otherwise based on registration documents alone.

Regional Residency and Local Priority

Even a high score can lose out if you don't meet local priority requirements. Popular areas often set aside units for applicants who've lived there for a minimum period, so check your move-in date, continuous residency, and whether applying under a non-local category is even an option — competition rates for local versus non-local applicants can differ substantially at the same score.

Tiebreaker Criteria

When scores tie, the criteria used to break the tie — years without owning a home, dependent count, account tenure, or a lottery — can vary by supply type and announcement. Check the winner-selection method in the project's announcement to see which factor is weighed first; popular unit types tend to have wider tie bands, making this more likely to matter.

Score-Based vs. Lottery Ratio

Not all general-supply units for private housing are allocated purely by score. The ratio between score-based and lottery allocation can shift depending on unit size, region, regulatory designation, and supply type. A lower score doesn't necessarily rule you out — check whether a lottery portion exists — though lottery allocations can carry their own conditions, like priority for those without a home, so read the announcement closely.

Disqualification Risks

The biggest risk in scoring your own application is inflating the number. Overcounting years without owning a home, misclassifying dependents, or miscalculating residency period can all lead to disqualification during document verification after winning. Disqualification doesn't just cancel the win — it can also restrict future subscription applications for a period, which makes the cost of a mistake high. When a category is ambiguous, calculate conservatively and confirm with the housing provider or an official consultation channel before applying.

Frequently asked questions

When does the "years without owning a home" clock start?

It's generally assessed as of the project's announcement date, but recognition depends on your age, marital status, and any past ownership history. Confirm the exact calculation through Cheongyakhome guidance and the specific announcement.

Can I count a parent as a dependent?

It's possible under certain conditions, but often requires them to have been registered on the same household record for a minimum period. Rather than assuming, check your family relationship certificate against the announcement's criteria.

What happens if I miscalculate my score?

If verification after winning finds you exceeded eligibility limits, you can be disqualified and the win canceled — and future subscription applications may be restricted for a period. When a category is unclear, calculate conservatively and confirm through official channels before applying.

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Years Without Owning a HomeUpvote

Dependent CountUpvote

Subscription Account TenureUpvote

Head-of-Household Status and Household CompositionUpvote

Regional Residency and Local PriorityUpvote

Tiebreaker CriteriaUpvote

Score-Based vs. Lottery RatioUpvote

Disqualification RisksUpvote