Incheon Special Judicial Police Crack Down on 10 Unregistered Lodging Businesses in Officetels and Houses

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Special Judicial Police Division of Incheon City announced on the 3rd that it has uncovered 10 establishments operating illegally in officetels and houses without lodging business registration.

This crackdown was conducted from September 16 to the 4th of last month by the Special Judicial Police directly making reservations and staying overnight.

Establishment A was found to have rented five officetel units, equipped them with beds and toiletries, and operated through lodging sharing websites.

Establishment B operated three rooms in a multi-family house and was caught after installing a swimming pool on the rooftop.

Under the current Public Health Control Act, those caught operating lodging businesses without registration face imprisonment of up to one year or fines up to 10 million won.

In the case of officetels, they are classified as office facilities under the Building Act and cannot legally operate lodging businesses.

Also, to operate a lodging business in a detached house, the business owner must reside there permanently and operate in forms such as foreigner-targeted tourist city lodging businesses.

The city’s Special Judicial Police have referred seven operators of the unregistered lodging establishments caught this time to the prosecution with charges, while three others are currently under investigation.