Office rent in Seoul is expensive, but foreign founders can use several free or low-cost workspaces run by the government, the city and universities. Some of these spaces also give OASIS points toward the D-8-4 startup visa. This guide lists the main options, what they cost, who can apply and when they usually recruit.
Key facts
| Space | Location | Cost | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Startup Office (Global Startup Center) | Yeoksam-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | KRW 30,000 per seat per month (tax included) | Foreign founders and early-stage foreign startup teams |
| OASIS-7 Incubation Office (Seoul Global Center) | Jong-ro 38, Jongno-gu, Seoul | Free | Foreign (pre-)founders of technology startups |
| OASIS-7 Incubation (Global Start-up Immigration Center) | Mapo-gu, Seoul | Check with the center | OASIS participants; minimum 6-month stay; gives 15 OASIS points |
| SVC Seoul Global Membership | 136 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul | KRW 200,000 per month | Foreign (pre-)founders, startups under 7 years old |
| K-Startup Grand Challenge workspace | Pangyo and Gangnam | Free for selected teams | KSGC participants |
| Invest KOREA Plaza | Heolleung-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul | Paid rent (per m²) | Foreign-invested companies with KRW 100 million+ investment |
1. Global Startup Center (Gangnam) and the Global Startup Office
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups opened the Global Startup Center (GSC) on July 31, 2024 at TIPS Town in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu. It offers “office space, meeting rooms, interpreting and translation services, visa acquisition and support for incorporation, networking events, and incubation programs” (Ministry of SMEs and Startups – Global Startup Center opening). The center’s address is 165 Yeoksam-ro, Gangnam-gu, and it lists co-working space, meeting rooms, an event hall and visa, incorporation and patent support (Global Startup Center – home).
The GSC also runs the Global Startup Office (GSO), a dedicated workspace for foreign founders (Global Startup Center – Global Startup Office):
- Who: foreign startup founders and early-stage foreign startup teams
- Cost: KRW 30,000 per seat per month (tax included)
- Facilities: open desks, private offices, meeting rooms and phone booths, plus access to GSC programs
- Location: 5F, Myungwoo Building S2, 169 Yeoksam-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- 2026 recruitment: April 29 – May 13, 2026 (now closed); results were sent by email
- Contact: gso@startup-korea.com, +82-2-3440-7345
The GSC reported 16,336 cumulative users, 82 company establishments and 77 visas supported between July 2024 and April 2026, and the Ministry plans more GSCs outside Seoul (Daejeon and Daegu were named) in the second half of 2026 (Seoul Economic Daily – Korea expands foreign founder support beyond capital region).
2. Seoul Global Center: OASIS-7 Incubation Office
Seoul Global Center in Jongno runs the city’s OASIS program, including office incubation, and says it has helped 27 foreign-led companies through incubation since July 2023 (Seoul Metropolitan Government – OASIS 2.0). The 2026 OASIS-7 Incubation Office call had these conditions (Startup Recipe – Seoul Global Center OASIS-7 (Incubation Office) notice):
- Who: applicants eligible for D-8-4, or foreign founders planning a technology business in Korea or who set one up within the past 5 years
- Preferred: patent holders, program graduates, competition winners, D-10-2 or D-8-4 holders
- Space: shared office, 4F, Seoul Global Center (Jong-ro 38, Jongno-gu), up to 7 companies
- Period: 6 months (June 10 – December 10)
- Cost: free
- 2026 application window: May 6 – 20, 2026
- Contact: sgc.oasis@gmail.com
OASIS-7 counts for 15 elective points on the D-8-4 points table (Global Start-up Immigration Center – Startup VISA points).
3. Global Start-up Immigration Center: OASIS-7 Incubation
The Global Start-up Immigration Center in Mapo-gu (run under the Ministry of Justice and KPC) also lists OASIS-7 Incubation, which provides “office space and mentoring support”. Final selection has been in March, and you must stay at least 6 months (Global Start-up Immigration Center – OASIS schedule). Contact oasis@kpc.or.kr and book a visit by email first (OASIS – Contact).
4. SVC Seoul (Startup Venture Campus) Global Membership
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups opened SVC Seoul on May 20, 2026 at 136 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, near Hongik University Station. The building has 14 floors, with floors 4 to 10 for tenant companies, and the campus runs global investment, open innovation and pitching programs (The Asia Business Daily – SVC Seoul opens near Hongdae).
A “Global Membership” for foreign startups was announced in July 2026 (Startup Recipe – 2026 SVC Seoul Membership (Global) notice):
- Who: foreign prospective founders or startups under 7 years old that want to set up or enter the Korean market
- Scale: about 10 companies, selected by qualification review
- Cost: KRW 200,000 per month
- Benefits: space use, consulting vouchers and networking programs
- Managing agency: Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (KISED)
New rounds of SVC Seoul memberships are posted on the K-Startup announcement list.
5. K-Startup Grand Challenge workspace (Pangyo and Gangnam)
Teams selected for the K-Startup Grand Challenge get free access to co-working spaces in Pangyo and Gangnam (K-Startup Grand Challenge – Grand Challenge page). The international student track is also based in the Pangyo area (KSGC – International student track). See our separate KSGC guide for details.
6. Seoul Startup Hub
Seoul Startup Hub Gongdeok (21, Baekbeom-ro 31-gil, Mapo-gu) is run by the Seoul Business Agency. It offers office space for up to two years for early-stage startups “ready for global growth and investment”, plus co-working, a kitchen incubator, a studio and seminar rooms (Seoul Startup Hub – About). Seoul also runs hubs in Seongsu, Dongjak and a Scale-up Center in Gangnam (Seoul Business Agency – Startup programs). These hubs mainly serve Korean startups, and their pages do not state specific rules for foreign founders, so read each recruitment notice carefully. A Korean corporation is often needed.
7. University incubators and campus towns
Seoul’s Campus Town program links startup spaces with universities. Several have programs for foreigners and international students:
- Seoul National University Campus Town: runs “SNU K-STARTUP LAUNCHPAD” for about 20 international students (including students on leave and graduates), with training on OASIS, mentoring and 1:1 visa and patent consulting (SNU Campus Town – 2026 SNU K-STARTUP LAUNCHPAD). Its regular resident-company call in 2026 selected about 67 teams with a CEO aged 39 or under and a company less than 7 years old (Seoul National University – Campus Town resident company recruitment).
- Korea University Campus Town: in 2025 its Global Startup Challenge for foreigners living or studying in Seoul offered office space, mentoring and networking to top teams (Korea JoongAng Daily – Konkuk, Soongsil, Korea University programs).
- Konkuk, Kookmin, Kyung Hee and Soongsil: the same article lists startup academies, competitions and an accelerator for foreigners at these campus towns. In October 2026 Kookmin University posted a “2026 Global Startup Challenge” and Kyung Hee University an international “Glofer Startup Hackathon” on the Seoul Campus Town board (Seoul Campus Town – Program announcements).
If you are a student, also ask your university’s startup support center. Many resident-company calls are written in Korean only.
8. Invest KOREA Plaza (for investor-founders)
If you are investing a larger amount, KOTRA’s Invest KOREA Plaza (7, Heolleung-ro, Seocho-gu) rents offices to foreign-invested companies. Rules include a completed foreign investment report and at least KRW 100 million of investment arriving within one year of moving in. Rent is KRW 31,775 per m² per month plus KRW 9,500 per m² maintenance, with a deposit of 6 months, and contracts up to 5 years. Some industries, such as retail lending, restaurants and trade businesses, are excluded (Invest KOREA – Incubating (IKP Office Rental)).
Outside Seoul
Busan announced a Global Startup Immigration Center at the Busan Eurasia Platform that delivers OASIS training, mentoring and incubation (Busan Metropolitan City – Global Startup Immigration Center). The Ministry has also said new Global Startup Centers will open outside the capital region.
How to choose and apply
- Match the space to your visa stage. If you are collecting OASIS points, choose an OASIS-7 incubation office, because it gives 15 points.
- Check your status. Many spaces need you to be legally resident in Korea. Some, like OASIS-7 at Seoul Global Center, prefer D-10-2 or D-8-4 holders.
- Prepare a short business plan in English. Most calls ask for an application form and business plan or pitch deck.
- Watch the calendar. In 2026, the GSO (late April to mid-May) and OASIS-7 at Seoul Global Center (May 6–20) recruited in spring. Missing a window can mean waiting a year.
- Remember the office lease. The D-8-4 document list includes an office rent agreement (OASIS – Process and documents), so ask each space whether it can provide one for your company registration.
FAQ
Is there truly free office space for foreigners?
Yes. The 2026 OASIS-7 Incubation Office at Seoul Global Center was free, and KSGC teams get free co-working. The Global Startup Office costs only KRW 30,000 per seat per month.
Can I register my company at these addresses?
It depends on the space. Ask before you apply, because you need an office lease for D-8-4.
Do I need to be in Korea already?
Most calls are for people living legally in Korea. KSGC accepts overseas teams and provides space after selection.
How long can I stay?
Usually 6 months to 2 years: OASIS-7 at Seoul Global Center ran for 6 months, and Seoul Startup Hub offers up to two years.
Are university spaces only for students?
Not always. Some campus town programs, such as Korea University’s Global Startup Challenge in 2025, were open to foreigners living in Seoul, not only students.
Sources
- Ministry of SMEs and Startups – MSS opened the Global Startup Center
- Global Startup Center – home
- Global Startup Center – Global Startup Office
- Seoul Economic Daily – Korea expands foreign founder support beyond capital region
- Seoul Metropolitan Government – OASIS 2.0
- Startup Recipe – Seoul Global Center OASIS-7 (Incubation Office) notice
- Global Start-up Immigration Center – Startup VISA points
- Global Start-up Immigration Center – OASIS schedule
- Global Start-up Immigration Center – Contact
- Global Start-up Immigration Center – Process and documents
- The Asia Business Daily – SVC Seoul opens near Hongdae
- Startup Recipe – 2026 SVC Seoul Membership (Global) notice
- K-Startup – Ongoing announcements
- K-Startup Grand Challenge – Grand Challenge page
- K-Startup Grand Challenge – International student track
- Seoul Startup Hub – About
- Seoul Business Agency – Startup programs
- SNU Campus Town – 2026 SNU K-STARTUP LAUNCHPAD
- Seoul National University – Campus Town resident company recruitment
- Korea JoongAng Daily – Konkuk, Soongsil, Korea University support international students
- Seoul Campus Town – Program announcements
- Invest KOREA – Incubating (IKP Office Rental)
- Busan Metropolitan City – Global Startup Immigration Center in Busan