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Who lives in Itaewon
Itaewon occupies the slopes below Namsan in Yongsan-gu, just north of the Han River and a short distance from the old Yongsan garrison site. It has long been the most visibly international part of Seoul, with a dense mix of restaurants, places of worship, embassies and foreign residents, and that character spills into the quieter residential streets of neighbouring Hannam-dong. Families who choose Itaewon and Hannam tend to value being among an international community, having English widely spoken in shops and clinics, and living close to both the river and the city centre. Diplomats in particular gravitate to Hannam-dong and the UN Village, a leafy residential pocket on the hillside with larger homes and views. To see how the area fits into the wider city, start with our international schools in Seoul directory.
Schools in and near Itaewon
The biggest practical reason families settle here is schools on the doorstep. Yongsan International School of Seoul (YISS) sits in Hannam-dong and delivers an American-style curriculum from the early years through high school, with a campus close to Hangangjin station on the subway. Hannam-dong is also home to the German School Seoul International (DSSI), established in 1976, and the Global Christian Foreign School (GCFS), a K to 12 school founded in 1996. Together these give the Itaewon and Hannam area an unusually deep cluster of options within a short radius.
Because admission to international schools in Korea is by application rather than by postcode, families in Itaewon also look further afield. Seoul Foreign School in Yeonhui-dong and the larger campuses at Seoul International School and Korea International School are reachable, and many of these schools run bus services across the city. For the full list with curricula, stages and admissions detail, use the Seoul schools directory, then narrow by stage with our guides to primary schools in Seoul and nursery and preschool in Seoul. To compare what parents value locally, read our Seoul school reviews, and if you are weighing which school suits your child, the school finder quiz will shortlist options.
Commute and catchment
Seoul does not run residential catchments for international schools, so living in Itaewon does not reserve a place at any particular school and admission stays by application. The area's advantage is connectivity. Itaewon sits on subway Line 6, with Hangangjin and Itaewon stations putting much of central Seoul within a short ride, and the riverside expressways give quick car access to Gangnam and Yeouido across the Han. For YISS and the other Hannam-dong schools the journey is very short, often walkable. Families using campuses elsewhere in the city should plan journeys around the morning peak and confirm each school's bus routes and pickup points before signing a lease, since coverage and timings vary by school.
Housing and cost of living
Housing around Itaewon and Hannam ranges from older low-rise apartments and villas on the hillside streets to premium homes and newer luxury blocks in the UN Village and along Hannam-dong's quieter roads. It is one of the more expensive parts of Seoul, with prices reflecting the international cachet, the diplomatic presence and the central location rather than sheer space. Korea's standard rental structures, the large lump-sum jeonse deposit and the monthly wolse model, both apply here, and many foreign families use agents familiar with expat lettings. When you add school fees and transport to rent, budget carefully and compare against other family districts. Model the full picture of rent, schooling and transport with our relocation cost calculator, and read the wider relocation guide for visas, healthcare and logistics. Treat any specific rent figure as indicative, because the market moves.
Family life
Daily life in Itaewon is defined by variety. The district has Seoul's widest choice of international food, specialist grocers, English-speaking clinics and places of worship, which makes settling in easier for newly arrived families. Green space is close at hand, with Namsan and its park rising directly above the neighbourhood and the Han River parks a short distance south for cycling, playgrounds and weekends outdoors. Hannam-dong adds a calmer, residential counterpoint with cafes, galleries and the flagship stores of Hannam, while the UN Village offers quiet streets and views. Healthcare is strong, with major hospitals nearby in Yongsan and central Seoul. The community is genuinely mixed, long-term foreign residents alongside Korean families, and that blend is a large part of why parents choose to stay.
Budget your move to Itaewon
Model rent, school fees and transport together before you commit to the area.
Open the relocation cost calculatorLiving in Itaewon: FAQ
The closest schools sit in neighbouring Hannam-dong: Yongsan International School of Seoul (YISS), which runs an American-style curriculum from early years to high school, the German School Seoul International (DSSI), established in 1976, and the Global Christian Foreign School (GCFS), a K to 12 school. Because admission is by application, families also consider larger campuses such as Seoul Foreign School elsewhere in the city. See the Seoul schools directory for curricula and stages.
Itaewon and adjacent Hannam-dong are among Seoul's most international addresses, with English widely spoken, several international schools close by, a diplomatic community in the UN Village, and easy access to Namsan, the Han River parks and the city centre. The trade-off is that it sits at the upper end of Seoul's rental market.
Not necessarily. Itaewon is on subway Line 6 and is walkable for daily errands, and several schools are within easy reach. Many families still keep a car for the school run to campuses elsewhere in the city and for weekend trips, and most international schools run bus services across Seoul.
Itaewon and Hannam-dong are among the pricier parts of Seoul, with rents reflecting the international character, diplomatic presence and central location. Korea's jeonse deposit and monthly wolse rental models both apply. Budget for rent alongside school fees and transport, and model the full picture with the relocation cost calculator before you commit.
Family life centres on an international community, a wide choice of food and English-speaking services, and quick access to Namsan park and the Han River. Hannam-dong adds quieter residential streets, cafes and galleries, while healthcare is strong with major hospitals nearby. It is a cosmopolitan, walkable base close to the centre of Seoul.