Even Gosiwon Used as Illegal Lodgings... 357 Unlicensed Accommodation Businesses Caught in 5 Years

43.1% Residential Homes, 38.4% Officetels Make Up Majority
Seoul City Urges: "Check for Business Registration Before Booking"

#Mr. Park noticed that the people entering and leaving the officetel unit next to his residence were constantly changing. Every day, he heard the noise of drinking parties from the neighboring unit, and trash that was not sorted for recycling was cluttering the area around the building. Out of curiosity, he searched an online platform and discovered that the unit was available for 'room reservations.' He immediately reported it.

On September 25, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it had uncovered 357 illegal lodging establishments from 2020 through August of this year. Under current law, anyone operating a lodging business must register with the local district office in accordance with the Public Health Control Act or the Tourism Promotion Act. However, unregistered businesses continue to be found on online platforms. Illegal lodging establishments are left in a blind spot for safety and hygiene management, and some do not even meet fire safety standards, putting guests at risk.

Status of Unregistered Illegal Lodging Establishments by Location Type in Seoul from January 2020 to August 2025. Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government

Among the illegal lodging establishments, 43.1% were residential homes and 38.4% were officetels, making up the majority. In addition, some were found to be operating as lodging using gosiwon (small, single-room accommodations) at 7.0% and party rooms at 2.0%.

More than 98% of the uncovered illegal lodging establishments were found to take reservations through online platforms. The city warned that it is difficult to distinguish these from legitimate businesses based on photos alone. In particular, some illegal operators lure consumers by advertising low prices, self check-in, and cleaning and bedding services, making them appear to be legitimate lodging facilities.

The list published in advance on the Seoul Information Communication Plaza allows people to check whether a lodging business is registered. When using an online intermediary platform, requesting a copy or photo of the lodging business registration certificate from the host before making a reservation can also help prevent harm.

Song Euncheol, Director of the Infectious Disease Management Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "Seoul will continue to strengthen monitoring and on-site inspections to minimize safety blind spots," and added, "We ask citizens to always check whether a business is registered before making a reservation to prevent any potential harm."