The largest item in the subscription score is not the no-home period
Of 84 points, the no-home period carries 32 and dependants 35. Dependants is the heaviest of the three.
Conditions used in the video
- Years without owning a home
- 7
- Dependants
- 2
- Years holding the account
- 10
Results
- No-home period, maximum
- 32 points (2 a year)
- Dependants, maximum
- 35 points (5 each)
- Account period, maximum
- 17 points (1 a year)
- Perfect score
- 84 points
- Score on these conditions
- 43 points
At a glance
The no-home period looks like the big one, but dependants is heavier. That is where the contest is decided.
- Dependants35 points
- Years without owning a home32 points
- Years holding the account17 points
The same maximum, reached on entirely different terms and timescales.
- Dependants: 6 people6 people
5 points each, the fastest to rise
- No-home period: 15 years15 years
2 points a year, nothing to do but wait
- Account period: 15 years15 years
runs from the original opening date, so beyond reach now
Why it works this way
The points system for private housing subscription totals 84 across three items: 32 for the no-home period, 35 for dependants and 17 for the account holding period.
Here is what many people have wrong. The heaviest item is not the no-home period but dependants. The gap is only 3 points, but the rate at which it rises is far greater.
7 years without a home · 2 dependants · 10 years of account
- 7 years without a home16 points
- 2 dependants15 points
- 10 years of account12 points
- Total43 points
About half of the 84-point maximum. Knowing which of the three you can actually raise is the next step.
The no-home period rises 2 points a year, reaching its 32-point maximum at 15 years. As at the date of the recruitment notice, no member of the household may own a home. If any member does, that period does not count. There is little to do beyond waiting.
Dependants rise 5 points each, reaching the 35-point maximum at six. Rising two and a half times as fast as the no-home period, this is where the score moves most.
The conditions are demanding, though. For a lineal ascendant you must be the household head as at the notice date, and they must have been listed on the same household registration as you or your spouse continuously for at least three years. On top of that, if either the ascendant or their spouse owns a home, neither counts as a dependant. A lineal descendant aged 30 or over must have been listed on the same household registration continuously for at least one year.
Heavy weighting also means a heavy incentive to game it. On 11 May 2026 the Ministry of Land announced a full audit of winners with implausibly large families and perfect-score accounts, a measure aimed squarely at this item. Inflating the dependant count by registering a false address is fraudulent subscription. It cancels the win and can lead to criminal prosecution.
The account holding period rises 1 point a year to a 17-point maximum at 15 years. What matters here is that it runs from the original opening date. Changing the type or amount saved, or transferring the account, does not reset it, because the first opening date governs. In other words there is nothing to be done about this item now. Knowing where effort is wasted is information too.
Finally, points alone do not decide the outcome. The share allocated by points varies by region and unit size, and the rest goes to a lottery. If your score is low, it is worth checking whether you qualify for a special supply category as well.
The legal basis
Drawn from government announcements and the statutes themselves as primary sources, covering only the relevant part.
「주택공급에 관한 규칙」 별표 1 (the points system criteria)
In force schedule last amended 18 December 2024
The no-home period starts at 2 points under one year and rises 2 a year to 32 from 15 years. Dependants start at 5 points with none and rise 5 each to 35 from six. The account holding period starts at 1 point under six months and reaches 17 from 15 years. The total maximum is 84.
What this means
The three items rise at different rates. Dependants give 5 points each while the no-home period gives 2 a year, so the same maximum is reached on entirely different terms.
What counts as a dependant (별표 1 나목)
In force as above
For a lineal ascendant, the applicant must be the household head as at the notice date, and the ascendant must have been listed on the same household registration as the applicant or spouse continuously for at least three years. If either the ascendant or their spouse owns a home, neither counts. A lineal descendant aged 30 or over must have been listed continuously for at least one year.
What this means
Living together is not enough on its own. Household head status, the registration period and home ownership all bear on it. Check the conditions before entering numbers in a calculator.
Enforcement against fraudulent subscription (Ministry of Land, 11 May 2026)
In force 11 May 2026
A full audit is to be conducted of winners with implausibly large families and perfect-score accounts.
What this means
Because dependants carry the heaviest weighting, they carry the strongest incentive to game. Registering a false address is fraudulent subscription and can lead to cancellation and prosecution.
Run it on your own numbers
The calculator opens with these conditions already filled in. Change the figures and your own case comes straight out.
Open the Housing Subscription Score
Frequently asked
Why are dependants the largest item?
The maximum is 35 against 32 for the no-home period, and at 5 points each it rises fastest of the three. The no-home period gives 2 points a year, so reaching its maximum takes 15 years.
Do parents living with me count automatically?
No. You must be the household head as at the notice date, and they must have been listed on the same household registration continuously for at least three years. And if either the ascendant or their spouse owns a home, neither counts.
Does opening a new account reset the period?
It runs from the original opening date, so changing the type or amount, or transferring the account, does not reset it. Since that date cannot be brought forward, there is no way to raise this item now.
What if I register an address to add a dependant?
Moving an address without a real dependency is a false registration and amounts to fraudulent subscription. It can cancel the win and lead to prosecution. On 11 May 2026 the Ministry of Land announced a full audit of winners with implausibly large families and perfect-score accounts. The heaviest weighting draws the closest enforcement.
Is there anything to do if my score is low?
Look at special supply, which selects by category conditions rather than points. From 15 June 2026 a 10% newborn special supply exists for private housing, open regardless of how long you have been married if you have a child under two.
Does a high score mean I win?
The share allocated by points varies by region and unit size, and the rest goes to a lottery. Points raise your chances; they do not guarantee the outcome.
Results are estimates based on the inputs and on the rules as at the stated date. They may differ from a lender's actual assessment, and the rules change often. Take professional advice before any decision that matters.