SEOUL -- Wehome, Korea’s first legal Home Sharing platform, has officially transitioned from an ICT Regulatory Sandbox validation exemption to a government-approved “Temporary Permit Home Sharing Company,” marking a major turning point for Korea’s Home Sharing industry.

Following reviews by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Science and ICT, the ICT Regulatory Sandbox Committee approved Wehome’s transition to temporary permit status. The decision is significant in that the Korean government officially verified the stability, public value, and market viability of Wehome’s six-year validation exemption program.

The transition is drawing industry attention not simply as an extension of a regulatory exception, but as a meaningful step toward establishing a sustainable institutional framework for the growth of Korea’s Home Sharing or Vacation Rental sector.

Since being designated in 2019 as Korea’s first ICT Regulatory Sandbox operator for Home Sharing, Wehome has operated legal accommodation services for both domestic and international guests. On July 20, 2020, the company launched Korea’s first legal Home Sharing service for both Korean and foreign travelers, helping open a new chapter for the industry. Since then, Wehome has accumulated extensive operational data with more than 4,000 hosts, primarily in Seoul and Busan, while leading the institutionalization of Home Sharing in Korea.

Through this permit license, Wehome will now be able to continue operating under a more stable legal and institutional framework than during the validation phase. Hosts on the platform will also be able to continue operating legally until formal legislation for Home Sharing is established. As a government-approved Home Sharing platform, Wehome is expected to further strengthen its legal credibility and become a key reference operator in future regulatory reforms and policy development for the sector. The company also plans to expand the legal Home Sharing market for both domestic and international travelers while enhancing the competitiveness of local Korean hosts.

Building on this transition, Wehome plans to further expand the Korean-style Home Sharing ecosystem. The company aims to differentiate itself from global platforms through legally verified accommodations, localized services optimized for Korea, and a broader vision of sharing K-lifestyles beyond lodging itself. In particular, Wehome is transforming into an AI-driven company and is developing an agentic Home Sharing platform designed to redefine the global market currently dominated by Airbnb.

Wehome CEO Jo SanKu commented on the significance of the transition, “This permit license approval is not only an achievement for Wehome, but also an institutional advancement for Korea’s entire Home Sharing industry. It is the result of six years of trust built together by the government, hosts, and travelers. Wehome will continue striving to strengthen Korea’s Home Sharing and its global competitiveness.”

Looking ahead, Wehome plans to expand cooperation with central and local governments, further enhance its safety- and trust-based operational systems, and contribute to local tourism and regional economies. The company is also expanding a variety of host support programs under the “WeCare” initiative to help Korean hosts operate more independently and reduce reliance on global platforms.