Seoul city hotels to be changed into housing for young people

Tourist hotels located in the center of Seoul will be changed into housing for the youth. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Wednesday its decision to convert the 238 rooms of Benikea Hotel, near the Dongmyo subway station (Line No. 1) in Seoul’s Jongno District, into housing for young people.

The Benikea Hotel, an 18-story building with three basement levels, completed construction on December 15, 2015 and has been used as a tourist hotel. At the end of last year, the owner of the hotel submitted a plan to change the use of the hotel to the Seoul city government. Earlier in December last year, the Seoul city government announced its housing supply plan that aims to supply vacant hotel rooms and offices in the city to young people and newlyweds.

Among the 238 rooms, two suites with separate rooms and a living room will be converted into houses for newlyweds and the rest of the rooms will be changed into studios for single-person household. The size of the rooms varies from 16 square meters to 43 square meters. The first and second basements will accommodate facilities, including a gym and a book café. The renovation cost will be covered by the business owner, who will have the right to rent out 207 rooms out of 238.

Tenants will be able to move in from January next year after the owner completes the land use change procedure, begins the renovation work in the second half of this year, and puts them up for rent in September.


will@donga.com