Wehome Policy

Guide to Regulatory Sandbox and Licensing for Home-Sharing

At Wehome, home-sharing is legal for both domestic and international guests. This is because the government has designated Wehome as a company for the ICT Regulatory Sandbox for home-sharing. The designation number is 2019-21-a-1 from the Ministry of Science and ICT.

The regulatory sandbox for home-sharing was first designated in 2019, and official services commenced on July 15, 2020. With the launch of Wehome's regulatory sandbox service, domestic guests can now enjoy home-sharing, and hosts can host with peace of mind. Hosting that allows for both domestic and international reservations under more flexible conditions than the Foreigner-only Urban Homestay business has also begun. This was extended in 2022. On October 24, 2023, the special exception area was expanded to include Busan.

After completing four years of verification under the regulatory sandbox, Wehome has received approval for (temporary) licensing for home-sharing from the government and is currently finalizing the last administrative procedures. Wehome is now able to continue its special exception business until home-sharing is fully institutionalized. Wehome hosts can also engage in a stable, government-trusted special exception business.

Home-Sharing Regulatory Sandbox

Designation of ICT Regulatory Sandbox (Domestic/International Home-Sharing Service (Wehome))

• Legal Basis: Article 38-2, Paragraph 3 of the Special Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Technology Utilization and Promotion of Convergence, and Article 42-4, Paragraph 5 of the Enforcement Decree of the same Act
• Related Document: Ministry of Science and ICT ICT Regulatory Sandbox Designation Number 2019-21-a-1
• Name: Domestic/International Home-Sharing Service
• Technology/Service (Main Content): A home-sharing service that provides urban homestay services targeting domestic and international guests within a certain scope (e.g., detached houses, multi-household houses, etc.)
• Validity Period: July 15, 2020 ~ July 14, 2027 (Extended until July 14, 2024)
• Details of Exception: Granted a regulatory sandbox to allow Wehome’s "Domestic/International Home-Sharing Service" to mediate urban homestays for domestic guests.
• Scope of Verification:
• Up to 4,000 hosts
• Host addresses are limited to Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City
• Operation limited to 180 days per host

Additional Conditions for Home-Sharing Regulatory Sandbox

Before registering a host on the platform, Wehome verifies fact a. or b. Fact a refers to a new host not registered as a Foreigner-only Urban Homestay business, and b refers to a host already registered as a Foreigner-only Urban Homestay business.

a. All of the following:

• Business registration of the host (If the host already has a business registration certificate under their name, there is no need for new registration. Hosts can register for a home-sharing business at the local district tax office by presenting the Wehome special exception certificate)
• The fact that the host resides in the business facility
• The fact that the host's business facility is located in an urban area and the total floor area of the facility is less than 230 square meters
• The fact that the host's business facility is one of the detached houses under Table 1, Item 1 (Detached House) of the 'Enforcement Decree of the Building Act', or one of the apartments, row houses, or multi-household houses under Table 1, Item 2 (Multi-unit Housing) of the 'Enforcement Decree of the Building Act'
• The fact that the host has received 'consent from neighbors in the case of multi-unit housing' and 'consent from the owner in the case of a tenant', in accordance with the Foreigner-only Urban Homestay business standards (Example) For multi-unit housing (apartments, row houses, multi-household houses), consent must be obtained from a majority of residents living in the same corridor or on the same floor.
• Consent must be obtained from adjacent households (including those directly above and below) that may be directly affected.
• The fact that the host has installed at least one fire extinguisher, a carbon monoxide detector (limited to individual heating), and independent smoke detectors in each guest room.

b. The fact that the host is registered as a Foreigner-only Urban Homestay business.

Additional Matters

• If all guests on a business day are foreigners, the host must provide 'meals', 'family culture experiences', and 'foreign language guidance services'.
• Wehome establishes and implements a system to ensure compliance with additional conditions.
• Receipt of a written pledge from the host stating they have 'no criminal record'.
• Wehome will exclude hosts who cause damage due to false information or who are the subject of serious or repeated resident complaints.
• Wehome and its hosts will comply with the regulations of the revised law immediately upon the enactment of the 'Urban Homestay Business for Domestic Guests' under the Tourism Promotion Act.

Home-Sharing Regulatory Sandbox Documents

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Company Name: Wehome Co., Ltd. | CEO: Cho Sangu | Privacy Officer: Kim Seok-jin | Business Registration Number: 467-81-01292 | Ministry of Science and ICT Home-Sharing Regulatory Sandbox Number: 2019-21-a | E-commerce Permit Number: 2020-Seoul Mapo-1109 | Tourism Business Registration Number: Seoul Mapo 2020-00009 | Sharing City Seoul Designation Number: Seoul City No. 126 | Venture Business Registration Number: No. 202111110030252

Customer Center: 1544-5665 Operating Hours: Weekdays 10:00-12:00 / 13:00-18:00 (Closed on weekends and public holidays) Address: 507, SVCS, 136 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul