Broken Bathtub and Moldy Wallpaper... Shocking Condition of an 180,000 Won Weekend Room

Seoul City Accommodation Cleanliness 'Shocking'
Bathtub Broken and Walls Covered in Mold
Contacted Booking App but Told Refund Requires Owner's Approval
"I Gave Up the Accommodation Fee and Just Left"

A netizen shared a story about visiting an accommodation in downtown Seoul and being so shocked by the cleanliness of the room that they just left.

Photos of the accommodation revealed by Mr. A. The bathtub faucet has water stains, and foreign substances appear to be stuck, indicating it has not been properly cleaned. Because it hurts, it's the owner's fault.

On the 7th, a post titled "As a fellow self-employed person, this kind of situation is a bit uncomfortable" was published on the self-employed online community 'Apeunikka Sajangida' (Because It Hurts, I'm the Boss). The author, Mr. A, said, "I travel quite frequently for business trips, so I often stay overnight at accommodations unexpectedly, but this is the first time I’ve encountered such a place, and I was very taken aback," attaching several photos.

Photos of the accommodation revealed by Mr. A. The ceiling and wallpaper are covered with mold. Because it hurts, it's the owner's fault.

The hotel shown in the photos was visibly unclean at a glance. The bathtub faucet was covered with grime, and there appeared to be foreign substances that hadn’t been properly cleaned. In fact, there was a crack in the middle of the bathtub. The desk where the computer was placed was full of dust as if it hadn’t been wiped properly, and the mouse was coated with white residue. The condition of the ceiling and wallpaper was also severe. Mold had formed, and the wallpaper near the air conditioner was stained black. There were also clear water stains dripping from the air conditioner.

According to Mr. A, the accommodation is located in a nightlife alley commercial district in Seoul. The lodging fee is 50,000 KRW on weekdays and around 180,000 KRW on weekends. He said, "I was stunned by the extremely unclean condition of the accommodation," adding, "As a fellow self-employed person with various experiences, I understand that nothing can be perfect and unintentional mistakes can happen. However, I tried to think positively, ignore it, and rest for a short while, but the foreign substances on the mattress cover, mold, and dust around were too severe."

Eventually, unable to endure it any longer, Mr. A complained to the accommodation owner. However, the owner shamelessly responded, "Most accommodations in this price range in this commercial district are like this," and added, "Refunds are absolutely not possible after about 40 minutes of check-in. If you want a refund, contact the lodging app."

Mr. A then inquired with the lodging app but was told, "Refunds are only possible with the owner’s permission," he claimed. Mr. A stated, "Not wanting to cause a scene or get upset, I politely apologized and left without staying, forfeiting the lodging fee." He emphasized, "I hope others don’t experience this. Whatever the business, honesty without lies and sincerely treating customers like family is the only way to create a good cycle and excellent results."

The post received comments such as "Isn’t that just brazen business?" "The room condition is really the worst," "Good decision to forfeit the lodging fee and leave," "How can anyone sleep there?" "There are many places like that in less competitive rural areas, but how can this happen in Seoul?" and "Please reveal the business name."