Literacy > Lodging Glossary > Lodging Property

Lodging Property

Property
Product
Category

In a broad sense, lodging properties refer to places that form the foundation of lodging products. However, there exists a narrower definition in Korea. Lodging properties, as one of the building uses under the Building Act, refer to building types exclusively used for the lodging business. In other words, lodging properties in the narrow sense cannot be used for purposes other than the lodging business.

Dictionary Definition

'Lodging' means 'staying temporarily at a specific place for a certain amount of money away from home,' and 'properties' refer to 'buildings or demarcated land owned by someone.'

Source: Cambridge Business English Dictionary

Statutory Definition

General lodging properties and residential lodging properties (properties that must report their lodging business under Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the Public Health Control Act and meet the requirements set and notified by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport), tourist lodging properties (tourist hotels, floating hotels, traditional hotels, family hotels, hostels, small hotels, medical hotels, and timeshares), multi-living facilities (excluding those that fall under the second-class neighborhood living facilities), and other similar facilities are collectively referred to as lodging properties.

Source: Enforcement Decree of Building Act, Annex 1

Lobin Commentary

In a broad sense, lodging properties generally consist of the following three parts:

Guestrooms: Guestrooms are spaces for sleeping and are the most essential part of a lodging property. While some lodging properties might lack other parts, none can exist without guestrooms. Additionally, the quality of guestrooms is the most significant factor influencing the pricing of lodging products.
Amenities: Spaces where optional services are provided, other than sleeping, are called amenities. For example, food and beverage outlets, lounges, banquet halls, swimming pools, and casinos fall under amenities. Depending on the type of lodging property, the relevant laws may specify the requirements for amenities.
Public Facilities: Public facilities do not directly generate revenue, but without them, the establishment cannot fulfill its role as a standalone product. The lobby is an example of public facilities. Other public facilities include parking lots, staff spaces, mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, and linen rooms.

In the narrow sense, lodging properties must meet the following requirements according to ‘Enforcement Regulation of Public Health Control Act, Annex 1’:

Residential lodging properties must have cooking facilities and ventilation facilities or windows. If cooking facilities are installed indoors, fixed cooking facilities must be installed in each room or in a communal cooking area.
Residential lodging properties must have a bathroom or shower in each room. However, a “hostel”, as defined in Article 2, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 2(m) of the Enforcement Decree of Tourism Promotion Act, may have shared bathrooms or showers.
For lodging properties that are part of a building, the guestrooms must either occupy dedicated floors or have 30 or more rooms, or the area used for lodging business must be at least one-third of the building’s gross floor area. However, considering regional conditions, the number of rooms and area standards may be relieved by ordinances of metropolitan cities, provinces, special self-governing cities, or special self-governing provinces.