Spent 72 Billion to Completely Renovate... A Room Without Meat Smell, Relax Deeply with 'Bulmyeong' and 'Badamyeong' [Visited]

Haevichi Jeju 10-Month Renovation... Reopening on the 29th
Upgraded to Hotel-Level Services Including Rooms, Dining, and Activities
Reflecting Travel Trends Focused on Nuclear Families and Unique Experiences
Considering Sustainability for the Next 20-30 Years

After a little over an hour's drive from Jeju International Airport, I arrived at Haevichi Resort Jeju, operated by Haevichi Hotel & Resort, an affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group. Located in the southeast of Jeju, the resort is flanked by Pyoseon Beach in Seogwipo City and the Jeju Folk Village. When I visited Haevichi Resort Jeju on the 20th, the red roofs and sandy-colored exterior walls of the buildings, along with the palm trees and green lawns in the garden, created an exotic atmosphere. Inside and outside the resort building, staff were busy making final adjustments to landscaping, painting, and facilities such as guest rooms, the lobby, and restaurants in preparation for the reopening scheduled for the 29th.

Junior Suite Terrace room at Haevichi Resort Jeju, which expanded the terrace space through renovation
[Photo by Haevichi Hotel & Resort]

"We changed everything except the framework"

Haevichi Hotel & Resort undertook a renovation of the resort building, which opened in 2003, to commemorate its 20th anniversary, carrying out the work over 10 months starting in July last year. Kim Minsu, CEO of Haevichi Hotel & Resort, explained, "Except for parts that were difficult to touch, such as the exterior structural elements, we completely renewed the overall layout." Beyond repairing aging facilities over time, the resort's identity was transformed by reflecting the latest travel trends and considering sustainability for the next 20 to 30 years. The total construction cost was 72 billion KRW.

Upon entering the guest rooms, the first impression was 'spacious and comfortable.' The 215 rooms of 10 different types at Haevichi Resort Jeju have a minimum net floor area of 63㎡ (about 19 pyeong), comparable to the size of suites in luxury hotels. Unlike the previous resort style, which was suitable for groups of 7 to 8 people cooking or grilling meat with a large kitchen and living room, the new rooms feature expanded bedroom spaces by using eco-friendly materials to build partitions dividing the rooms into two. The neatly arranged mattresses and living room accessories commissioned from notable domestic furniture designers such as Lee Jaeha and Jo Byungju conveyed a sense of coziness and elegance. CEO Kim emphasized, "Recently, travelers tend to visit destinations in small groups such as nuclear families, friends, or couples of up to four people. We shifted away from the previous large-family-oriented resort operation style and upgraded the overall atmosphere to the level of a top-tier hotel so that guests can feel this place as their second home or villa." Considering these travel trends, the standard occupancy per room was lowered to two people, with a maximum allowed occupancy of four.

The Master Suite room at Haevichi Resort Jeju, transformed to the level of a luxury hotel after 10 months of renovation
[Photo by Haevichi Hotel & Resort]

The windows in the guest rooms, lobby, and restaurants were designed in a gallery style to offer unobstructed views of Pyoseon Beach and the landscaping. The basic interior wall color is sandy beige, and some rooms feature a darker gray tone. Won Youngwook, General Manager of Haevichi Hotel & Resort, explained, "We pursued interior design that does not overshadow or contradict Jeju's natural scenery." The terrace railings were replaced with full glass panels to provide clear views of the sea, grass, and trees, removing the previous concrete structures. Among the 10 room types, the 'Junior Suite Terrace' significantly expanded the terrace space to offer package experiences such as watching movies outdoors, enjoying 'bulmyeong' (fire gazing), and yoga. The three signature suite types?Stone, Wind, and Sunset?feature large bathtubs overlooking the beach.

"A place to recharge, a resort you want to stay at"

With the renovation, Haevichi Resort Jeju aimed to become a 'staycation resort' where guests can leisurely enjoy their vacation rather than just a place to sleep and leave. Alongside facility modernization, a key focus was on wellness programs. To provide opportunities to fully appreciate the natural scenery and recharge, various experiential activities were introduced. A representative program is the 'Sunset Yoga and Singing Bowl Therapy' held on the lawn at dusk. Guided by professional instructors, the one-hour yoga session helps stabilize the mind and body. Guests also have time to meditate with eyes closed, listening to Jeju’s wind, waves, and birdsong, and savoring the scents of grass and sea. The resort also operates a roughly two-hour 'Forest Trekking' course along forest paths or oreums (volcanic cones), allowing guests to experience different seasonal atmospheres.

Morning experiential programs include 'Sunrise Run' and 'Bike Riding,' operated on alternate days. The bike riding program involves cycling along the 6 km round-trip Jeju Olle Trail Course 4. Around 8 a.m., participants ride along the Pyoseon coast, enjoying views of the emerald sea interspersed with basalt rocks, wildflowers, and trees. Accompanying staff provide explanations about major tourist sites and local lifestyles. Along the trail, a sculpture called 'Ganse,' symbolizing Jeju ponies, guides the way. 'Ganse' means laziness in the Jeju dialect.

Nam Gibaeck, Supervisor of the Jeju Guest Room Team at Haevichi Hotel & Resort, explained, "'Ganse' implies that it is good to move slowly and leisurely along the Olle Trail to appreciate Jeju’s nature." These wellness programs are offered free of charge to guests with prior reservation. Although the nightly room rates are expected to increase by about 100,000 to 150,000 KRW after the renewal, Haevichi calculates that the cost burden for travelers is not significant compared to competitors, as guests can enjoy comfortable facilities and enriching free experiential programs.

Haevichi Resort Jeju Moru Lounge
[Photo by Haevichi Hotel & Resort]

Sunset Yoga operated as a wellness program at Haevichi Resort Jeju
[Photo by Haevichi Hotel & Resort]

Additions and Subtractions

Haevichi Resort Jeju also enhanced its food and beverage services through the renewal. The lounge caf? 'Edi,' which previously operated mainly as a breakfast buffet, was transformed into an Italian fine dining restaurant. Seating capacity increased from 150 to 202, and the menu now includes signature wood-fired pizzas, steaks, pastas, and salads. A new sushi omakase and sukiyaki specialty restaurant called 'Mer & Ter' was also established. 'Mer' means sea, and 'Ter' means land.

The grill dining restaurant 'Hanoru' removed the individual grilling stations at each table and switched to a service where staff grill meat at a main cooking station and serve it to guests. In addition to meat, Korean set meal options were added. To diversify choices, new room service meal menus were introduced, which were not available before.

Italian fine dining restaurant transformed Haevichi Resort Jeju's 'IDI'
Photo by Haevichi Hotel & Resort

Among activity facilities, the outdoor swimming pool, which was previously operated only during summer, was converted into a year-round heated pool. For safety, guests with children are directed to use a separate pool located in the hotel building. Additionally, a premium service space called 'Moru Lounge,' measuring 330㎡ (about 100 pyeong), was created for guests staying in master suite grade rooms or higher and for lounge-exclusive package customers. The lounge offers breakfast, light lunch, cookies and tea, and unlimited alcoholic beverages during evening hours. Inside the lounge, works by artist Choi Wooram are displayed, creating a gallery atmosphere.

In line with travel trends emphasizing small groups, privacy, and eco-friendliness, some items previously provided by the resort were removed. The kitchen space was reduced, and all cooking utensils such as spoons, chopsticks, dishes, and pots were eliminated. The sink area now only includes a refrigerator and an induction cooktop suitable for heating convenience foods. The basic set includes wine glasses, glass cups, coffee cups, teaspoons, tea bags, and a coffee pot. Toothbrushes and toothpaste are not provided in the bathroom or toilet. Shampoo, body wash, and conditioner are supplied in large containers instead of single-use products to consider the environment. The bottled water provided in rooms is collected after use for recycling or to make customer items. General Manager Won stated, "The collection rate of PET bottles reaches 96%."