1 pyeong is 3.3058 square meters
A pyeong (평) is exactly 400/121 m², about 3.3058 m² or 35.58 square feet — roughly the size of two tatami mats. To convert, divide square meters by 3.3058; to go back, multiply. For a quick estimate, square meters × 0.3 is close to the pyeong figure.
pyeong = m² ÷ 3.3058 · m² = pyeong × 3.3058 · sq ft = m² × 10.7639
So why is an 84 m² apartment called "34 pyeong"?
84 ÷ 3.3058 = 25.41, so on paper it is 25 pyeong. People call it "34 pyeong" because the two numbers measure different areas:
- Exclusive area (전용면적) — the space inside your front door that only you use. The "84 m²" in a listing or sales notice is this figure.
- Shared residential area (주거공용면적) — stairs, corridors and lifts shared by the building.
- Supply area (공급면적) — exclusive plus shared residential area. The traditional "pyeong type" of an apartment is based on this.
- Contract area (계약면적) — supply area plus other shared space such as underground parking and the management office.
An 84 m² apartment usually has a supply area of around 110–112 m², which is 33–34 pyeong. Balcony extensions aren't counted in any of these figures, so a renovated apartment can feel larger than its exclusive area.
Common apartment sizes
| Exclusive area | Pyeong | Sq ft | How it's described |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 m² | 11.8 | 420 | Studio or small one-bedroom |
| 49 m² | 14.82 | 527 | Small apartment |
| 59 m² | 17.85 | 635 | Usually called 24–25 pyeong |
| 74 m² | 22.39 | 797 | Usually called 29–30 pyeong |
| 84 m² | 25.41 | 904 | Usually called 33–34 pyeong |
| 102 m² | 30.86 | 1,098 | Usually called 39–40 pyeong |
| 114 m² | 34.49 | 1,227 | Usually called 43–45 pyeong |
| 135 m² | 40.84 | 1,453 | Usually called 50-something pyeong |
The pyeong type can vary by 1–2 between buildings because shared areas differ.
Pyeong to square meters
| Pyeong | Square meters | Sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 33.06 m² | 356 |
| 15 | 49.59 m² | 534 |
| 20 | 66.12 m² | 712 |
| 25 | 82.64 m² | 890 |
| 30 | 99.17 m² | 1,067 |
| 34 | 112.4 m² | 1,210 |
| 40 | 132.23 m² | 1,423 |
| 50 | 165.29 m² | 1,779 |
Estimating supply area from the ratio
The exclusive-area ratio (전용률) is the share of the supply area that is actually yours. Apartments are usually 74–80%; officetels are often around 50% because of large corridors and lobbies. Two places sold as "30 pyeong" can therefore differ a lot in usable space, so always compare exclusive area.
The official unit is square meters
Since 2007, square meters have been the legal unit for property deals and advertising in Korea. Sales notices, the property register and contracts all use m²; pyeong survives only in conversation. When comparing prices, price per square meter of exclusive area is more reliable than "price per pyeong".