SORA RENTAL NOTE · 48
Can someone in Korea handle move-out after you leave?
Set clear authority for keys, inspection, settlement and deposit receipt, and check whether an overseas power of attorney needs formal certification.
Content checked · 3 October 2026
The key points
- Returning keys, agreeing deductions and receiving money are different tasks.
- Write exactly what your representative may do and what needs your approval.
- Check the receiving party’s requirements before arranging notarization or an apostille.
01 — 04
Start with the comic
Documents and screens are simplified illustrations. Check the sources below for actual forms and steps.
I’m abroad. Can my trusted friend handle the room handover?
List the tasks you authorize—and any limits—in writing.
My friend will show the authority document and identification.
Ask for the signed settlement record and confirmation that each task is complete.
Give authority for specific tasks
- Representative
- Authority
- Authorized tasks
A trusted friend can be considered for practical move-out tasks, but being your friend does not itself prove authority to act for you. Under Civil Act Article 114, an agent acting within their authority and on the principal’s behalf can create legal effects directly for the principal. That is why the scope should be clear.
Separate access for an inspection, returning keys, reading meter numbers, agreeing a settlement, accepting deductions and receiving the deposit. You might authorize handover but require your written approval for any money agreement. Identify the tenant, representative, rental address, authorized tasks and relevant dates rather than signing an unrestricted blank document.
Ask what form the recipient will accept
- Recipient requirements
- Identity
- Certificate and contents
Before departure, show the proposed arrangement to the landlord and ask what identity and authority evidence they need. A bank, court or public office may have its own requirements if the task extends beyond a private handover. Confirm whether an original, translation or signature certification is needed for the specific procedure.
Not every private rental authorization automatically needs an apostille. The Korean Consulate in San Francisco’s U.S.-citizen guidance distinguishes notarization from apostilles and tells applicants to confirm requirements with the receiving institution. It is a U.S. example, not a procedure to copy for Japanese or Chinese nationals; check the relevant authorities where your document is made.
Keep money authority and completion evidence clear
- Receiving account
- Deposit deductions
- Settlement / meter record
Specify the agreed account for the refund and whether the representative may receive money at all. If funds are to go to your own account, say that clearly and confirm the details with the landlord. Avoid a vague instruction to “handle everything,” which leaves uncertainty about deductions, releases or an acknowledgment that payment has been received.
Ask the representative to send dated condition photos, the key-return record, meter readings where relevant and any signed settlement. Stay reachable for questions outside the agreed scope. If the arrangement changes or you withdraw authority, tell the representative and relevant counterparties promptly and confirm what has already been done.
What to check
- Choose a trusted representative and list the permitted tasks and limits.
- Confirm the recipient’s requirements for identity, originals, translation and certification.
- State the refund account and whether money may be received by the representative.
- Keep handover evidence, your approvals and the final signed settlement.
Common questions
Does giving a friend my passport copy authorize every move-out task?
No. Identification and authority serve different purposes. Define the tasks, give only necessary information and check what the recipient requires.
Must every overseas power of attorney have an apostille?
No blanket rule applies to every private handover. Requirements depend on the document, country, task and receiving institution. Ask before paying for certification.
Official sources
Korean laws and guidance from public agencies, universities and service providers. Most originals are in Korean or English. School and product examples apply only within their stated scope.