[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] It has been reported that U.S. President Joe Biden's accommodation during his visit to Korea starting on the 20th will be the Grand Hyatt Seoul.
State guests and top overseas stars have frequently visited the Grand Hyatt Seoul. Since 1992, a total of six U.S. presidents, including President Biden, have consecutively stayed at the Grand Hyatt. Former Presidents George H.W. Bush in 1992, Bill Clinton in 1998, and George W. Bush in 2008 stayed here. During their terms, former Presidents Obama and Donald Trump also visited the Grand Hyatt Seoul. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, Sophie Marceau, and others have also stayed here.
President Biden is scheduled to stay in the 20th floor “Presidential Suite,” located at the top of the Grand Hyatt Seoul. The rate is around 20 million KRW per night. The suite is nearly 100 pyeong (approximately 330 square meters) in size and includes a private fitness room, study, dressing room, kitchen, and reception room.
The reason former and current U.S. presidents choose the Grand Hyatt Seoul is mainly due to security concerns. It is located halfway up Namsan Mountain and away from the city center, making security easier. Additionally, several embassies and ambassador residences are near the hotel, providing good accessibility.
A representative of the Grand Hyatt Seoul explained, “Because the hotel is situated at a high elevation, there are no tall buildings nearby. This creates ideal conditions for VIP security and protection.”
The official website of the Hyatt Group has suspended room reservations from the 20th to the 22nd, the period during which President Biden will stay. When searching for rooms during this period, a message appears stating, “We are sorry, but this hotel is not available during the selected dates. Please search for other available hotels or modify your search information.” It appears that reservations have been closed for security reasons during President Biden’s stay.
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