[Editor's Pick] "Even Paying Double the Deposit is Worth It": Semiconductor Hubs See Housing Market Surge

A mixed-use residential complex in Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, is part of the so-called "semiconductor belt."

In the middle of last month, an 84-square-meter unit traded for 1.98 billion won, but by early this month, the price jumped to 2.22 billion won, setting a new record high.

Currently, the asking price has soared to as high as 2.5 billion won.

[Yoon Gi-won / Real Estate Agent in Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province: "After the agreement on (Samsung Electronics' performance bonuses) was reached, prices started to skyrocket. About one-third of the inquiries are from people working at Samsung or SK Hynix."]

The weekly growth rate of apartment prices in Dongtan-gu reached 1.98% last week and climbed to 2.22% this week, marking the highest increase in the country.

[Yoo Chang-wan / Real Estate Agent in Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province: "There are cases where sellers cancel contracts by paying double the deposit—about 200 million won—and withdraw their properties from the market. Some buyers are even putting down larger down payments."]

Areas known as "shuttle-accessible" zones, located along the shuttle bus routes for semiconductor companies—such as Byeongjeom-gu in Hwaseong, and Suji-gu and Giheung-gu in Yongin—have also seen their weekly growth rates accelerate.

As signs of overheating emerge, there is speculation that some areas in Gyeonggi Province, including Dongtan, could soon be designated as regulated zones.

Apartment prices in Seoul, where the average housing price surpassed 1 billion won for the first time last month, also rose by 0.27%, following the trend from last week.

With a shrinking supply of properties, a "triple rally" is continuing, with prices for jeonse (long-term deposit rental) and monthly rent also on the rise.

[Park Won-gap / Senior Real Estate Specialist at KB Kookmin Bank: "To stabilize the housing market, there is a need to significantly increase the supply of non-apartment housing, such as officetels, which can be built relatively quickly."]

With the downward pressure from properties owned by multi-homeowners effectively coming to an end, the tax reform plan to be announced next month and the recent rise in interest rates are considered key variables for the market.

"Canceling Contracts by Paying Double the Deposit": Dongtan Housing Market Heats Up (June 18, 2026, 8 O'Clock News)

Reported by Baek Woon | Video by Kang Dong-cheol | Video Editing by Yoon Tae-ho | Graphics by Jang Chae-woo | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.