If you're staying in a tourist destination for a month, accommodation costs can be prohibitive, and if you're only looking for a short stay in the city, a year-long contract can be prohibitive. Customers staying longer than a week felt trapped by the existing market niche.
Live Anywhere has expanded its proven model in travel regions like Jeju and Gangwon to the entire domestic market, and has expanded its reach to the residential market, focusing on the metropolitan area and metropolitan cities.
Jeong Gyu-ho, CEO of Live Anywhere, stated, "Compared to 2021, short-term rental transactions in Jeju Island have grown fivefold in recent years (2025), and transactions in the metropolitan area have surged 340% last year." Since surpassing KRW 10 billion in sales in 2022, the company has maintained growth for seven consecutive quarters and attracted a cumulative investment of KRW 8.1 billion.
"Live Anywhere is often perceived as a service that originated from 'long-term travel,' but in reality, we first saw the business potential of the short-term rental market itself."
Based on the lifestyle of long-term travel, the company expanded its proven model in travel regions like Jeju and Gangwon to the entire domestic market, and later expanded into the residential market, focusing on the Seoul metropolitan area and other metropolitan cities. He explains the DNA of Live Anywhere clearly.
"In the travel market, we provide information on suitable homes and reasonable prices to customers who want to stay longer than usual. In the residential market, we enable flexible contracts for shorter periods, rather than fixed one- or two-year rental contracts."
It attracted a cumulative investment of 8.1 billion won and was selected by major venture capital firms such as SV Investment and A Ventures.
“What investors highly valued was the consistent sales growth,” said CEO Jeong, defining Live Anywhere as a “market pioneering service.”
"Because this isn't simply a platform for expanding an existing market, but rather a service that creates a new standard for short-term rentals, continuity of growth was paramount."
Growth is leading to profitability. The company has achieved a profit based on contribution margin since 2024. In particular, the company is actively leveraging AI technology to improve operational efficiency. He explained, "We are focusing on creating a structure that can generate greater sales even with our current workforce. Our goal is to build a dense organization where sales growth and labor costs are not necessarily proportional."
The potential of the Jeju region is astonishing. Between 2021 and 2025, short-term rental transactions in Jeju grew fivefold. Live Anywhere focuses on customers staying for a week or more.
"Rather than directly competing with the traditional lodging market, these travelers create a completely different set of needs. If you stay for a week or a month, it's difficult to satisfy every meal at a tourist attraction. Naturally, you'll find yourself repeatedly visiting a hangover soup restaurant or a local restaurant near your house. This is a consumption pattern rarely seen in typical tourism."
Guests perceive the area surrounding their homes as both a "temporary residence" and a "neighborhood." It's too early to say Live Anywhere has had a significant impact on the Jeju local economy. However, by creating experiences that foster a sense of attachment to the neighborhood, they are making a small but meaningful difference.
Even more dramatic changes occurred in the Seoul metropolitan area. Transaction volume in the metropolitan area surged 340% compared to last year, with Gangnam and Jongno districts emerging as key areas. This suggests that "one-month living" is no longer a vacation destination, but rather a flexible housing solution within the city.
CEO Jeong Gyu-ho's answer, "The key to short-term rentals in the city center is convenience," is simple and clear.
"Customers should be able to find the home they want quickly and easily, and the contract process should be streamlined. At the same time, they should have as many options as possible."
However, due to the nature of short-term rentals, there are many factors that must be coordinated with the landlord. Live Anywhere provides filters based on terms agreed upon in advance with the landlord.
A prime example is the 'short-term rent' filter. For customers with contracts of two months or more who find it difficult to pay all at once, we offer a subscription-based payment system that allows monthly payments with the landlord's consent. This differs from installment payments, which incur fees.
The recent collaboration with the monthly rent card payment service "Zipup Pay" is also attracting attention. This signals Live Anywhere's entry beyond accommodations into the realm of rental management and finance.
“As the monthly subscription period continues, I believe it will naturally lead to a longer-term rental contract.”
The collaboration with Zipuppay was the first step toward seamlessly integrating rental management and finance into the housing experience. Ultimately, he said, "We want to create a system where people can experience living in a neighborhood they haven't lived in before before deciding whether to live there." Live Anywhere is the platform that serves as the starting point for this.
The influence of K-content has led to a surge in long-term stays by foreigners in Korea, with related transactions increasing by more than threefold. CEO Jeong Gyu-ho believes that Korea's local culture already possesses global competitiveness.
"Foreign users typically stay in Seoul or the metropolitan area on their first visit, and on repeat visits, they increasingly move to regions like Jeju and Gangwon."
His strategy is to create a natural flow. He analyzed, "If we provide a convenient home rental experience through Live Anywhere in the metropolitan area, it will be a natural progression for people to return to Live Anywhere when choosing a new area."
Live Anywhere received the Gangwon Province Governor's Award at the 2025 Korea Urban and Regional Innovation Industry Expo, recognized for its contribution to expanding the "residential population." "The consumption and behavior of residential customers are clearly different from those of tourists. I believe that only after living in a region for a week or a month can one truly consider settling down in that region."
Currently, we have 17,000 accommodations in 163 regions nationwide. Short-term rentals are more challenging than regular lodging, requiring host matching and management. Live Anywhere offers its own insurance product, the "Live Ansim Plan." "We offer comprehensive coverage, including damage to property and belongings, actual fire damage, delayed checkout, special cleaning, and even attorney fees."
We also have a dedicated customer operations team dedicated to mediating between guests and hosts. "At Live Anywhere, both guests and hosts are our customers. Because a balanced operation, not biased toward one side, is crucial, we maintain a structure where one team manages both sides."
Finally, I asked him about his vision. CEO Jeong's goal was clear: "Live Anywhere aims to become the number one short-term rental platform in Korea. Our primary goal is to achieve overwhelming performance in all short-term rental transactions in Korea, encompassing both domestic and foreign customers, both residential and travel."
Representative Jeong's gaze is turned towards Asia.
"I want to create a structure where foreigners who have had a satisfying experience with Live Anywhere in Korea will naturally choose us again when they plan to stay in Japan or other Asian countries. We want to create a platform that sets the standard for short-term rental transactions beyond Korea and across Asia. That's what Live Anywhere will look like in five years."
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