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Commercial Building Lease Protection Act

What Is Gwolligeum? Korean Shop Key Money Explained

October 27, 2026October 25, 2026 by WHY KOREANS ARE
A vacant commercial shopfront in Korea with a lease notice in the window and fittings left inside.

Gwolligeum is key money paid by one Korean shop tenant to another, not to the landlord. Illegal to recognise until 2015, now protected by statute.

Categories Money Tags Commercial Building Lease Protection Act, commercial lease, gwolligeum, key money, self-employment, small business 1 Comment
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