The Best Hostels in South Korea for Backpackers and Students

The Best Hostels in South Korea for Backpackers and Students
Seoul | Busan | Jeju Island | Gyeong-ju | Sokcho | Yeosu | Daegu | Gwangju

South Korea is a vibrant and energetic country with a lot to offer visitors. If you're a budget traveler, backpacker, or student, there are some good hostels throughout the country that offer fun and affordable places to stay in any number of cities. Although hostels aren't as common in South Korea as they are in many Asian countries, there are still enough around to offer a diversity of options. This is particularly true in the most popular tourist cities.
How much do hostels in South Korea cost?

You can find our comprehensive analysis of all hostel prices in South Korea here. We've found the average prices of dorms and private rooms, as well as the typical prices of hostels with various amenities, too.



A good option for backpackers, solo travellers, and small groups of travellers on Jeju Island.

Private Room from $0.77
Overall Rating: 89%
587-15, Seogwi-Dong, Seogwipo City Seogwipo, Jeju Island
Jeju Hiking Inn is a favorite place to stay for backpackers and budget travelers to the area. The building is located in Seogwipo City and looks out on the Seogwipo Harbor. The prices are quite reasonable and the staff are very friendly and helpful. The hostel has all of the standard amenities available including free internet access, wi-fi, a roof top lounge, and laundry service. There's also a shared kitchen that guests can use, bicycle rental, and all kinds of travel information.

The hostel has four bed dorms available that are split by gender. There are also a wide variety of private rooms that include singles, twins, doubles, and family sized rooms.


An affordable hostel for backpackers and hikers in Sokcho near Mt Seoraksan National Park.

Dorm Bed from $15.57
Private Room from $13.46
#452-5 Dongmyeong-Dong Sokcho, Kangwon Do, Sokcho
The House Hostel is a very welcoming and comfortable place to stay in Sokcho. It's an affordable option for budget travelers and is just a short walk from the Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal. Mt Seoraksan National Park is about a half hour bus ride away, so this is a great place to base yourself.

The hostel includes all of the standard amenities including breakfast every morning and a shared kitchen that guests can use. There's also a nice common area where you can hang out with other guests.

The dorm rooms sleep up to four people and are split by gender. There are also single, double, and three bed private rooms.


An affordable and safe hostel for backpackers and solo travellers to Yeosu, South Korea.

Dorm Bed from $22.89
Private Room from $21.19
Overall Rating: 100%
1046 Gonghwa-dong, Yeosu
Backpackers in Yeosu is a good option in Yeosu. It's conveniently located near the main train station and there's a bus stop right in front of the building. This is a safe and secure hostel with lockers available in the dorms. There's a living room area where guests can hang out and watch television. There's also a kitchen with a refrigerator and microwave. If you want a traditional Korean meal, there's a restaurant located on the first floor.

If you're looking for a comfortable and affordable place to stay in Yeosu, then this is a good option.


Private Room from $12.80
(Prices vary by season)
Overall Rating: 100%
67-7, Changgyeonggung-ro Jung-gu, Seoul
You'll love this hostel because of it's good location and quality amenities. It features friendly service and cable tv. When it's time to eat, it's also nice because there's self-catering facilities and a microwave. Wi-fi, laundry facilities, luggage storage, towels included, internet access, and air conditioning are also on the list to make sure your stay is very comfortable.


Private Room from $36.51
(Prices vary by season)
Overall Rating: 100%
33, Toegye-ro 18-gil Jung-gu, Seoul
You'll love this hostel because of it's good location and quality amenities. It features friendly service and a common room. When it's time to eat, it's also nice because there's free breakfast and a microwave. Wi-fi, laundry facilities, security lockers, luggage storage, key card access, towels included, air conditioning, and housekeeping are also on the list to make sure your stay is very comfortable.


Private Room from $42.25
(Prices vary by season)
Overall Rating: 100%
6F, 21, Myeongdong 9-gil Jung-gu, Seoul
You'll love this hostel because of it's good location and quality amenities. It features friendly service and cable tv. When it's time to eat, it's also nice because there's free breakfast. Laundry facilities, towels included, and air conditioning are also on the list to make sure your stay is very comfortable.


Dorm Bed from $17.67
Private Room from $15.36
(Prices vary by season)
Overall Rating: 99%
32-16, Seongji1-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Seoul
Zzzip Guesthouse in Hongdae is very popular due to the atmosphere, great location, and long list of amenities. It features friendly service, a common room, and board games. When it's time to eat, it's also nice because there's free breakfast and a microwave. Wi-fi, laundry facilities, security lockers, luggage storage, internet access, and air conditioning are also on the list to make sure your stay is very comfortable.


Private Room from $17.28
(Prices vary by season)
Overall Rating: 98%
13-66 Changcheon-dong Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
Oppa Hostel is very popular due to the atmosphere, great location, and long list of amenities. It features friendly service and cable tv. When it's time to eat, it's also nice because there's a restaurant, self-catering facilities, and a microwave. Wi-fi, laundry facilities, security lockers, luggage storage, key card access, parking, towels included, internet access, air conditioning, and housekeeping are also on the list to make sure your stay is very comfortable.
Share This Article
More Accommodation Options

Check these out other nearby places to stay.

Share This Page
Pin This Page
The Best Hostels in South Korea for Backpackers and Students | Budget Your Trip

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.