Busan hotel offered rooms free on impeachment day
A platinum room in Hotel 109 / Courtesy of Hotel 109
By Kim Se-jeong
Hotel 109, a business hotel near Haeundae Beach in Busan, made headlines recently.
On the day of President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment on Dec. 9, the hotel offered all of its 51 rooms for free. The rooms were booked immediately after the hotel opened for reservations, receiving almost 700 calls.
“When the candlelit vigil began, we promised our guests not to charge guests when the President resigns,” Kim Kyoung-hoon, the hotel’s general manager, told the Korea Times in an email interview. “It didn’t happen until her third apology. Then, we decided to make the same offer on the day of her impeachment regardless of the outcome.”
Kim said the initiative was possible because of a sense of responsibility shared among hotel managers and owners.
“We are also ordinary people with families and children. We couldn’t go out there to the candlelit vigil but wanted to do something.”
Kim said a big portion of the guests were families. “Guests thanked us for setting a good example for their children,” Kim said.
“Guests left thank-you messages in the guestbook. We were so blessed.” One guest left 50,000 won in an envelope, he said.
But, the initiative wasn’t all that cheerful because the hotel was criticized by nearby hotel businesses, Kim said. Haeundae is the most touristic district in Busan, with countless lodging options around.
“Especially when our initiative drew media attention, criticism came from all directions,” the general manager said. “We’ve learned nothing is easy, but we’re glad we did what we were compelled to do.”
The hotel which opened last year is located at the western end of the beach, a five-minute walk from the beach.
It has 51 smoke-free rooms, with each room outfitted with toiletries, bottled water, a razor, coffee and tea, free Wi-Fi, an LED TV, a mini bar, air conditioning and an electric kettle.
The business hotel has a copy and printer machine, a scanner and a fax in the lobby. Ironing and hairstyling equipment are available on request. The hotel has free parking.
The hotel is close to the subway and tourist spots including Dongbaekseom Park, Busan Aquarium, Busan Yachting Center, Radium Art Center and Busan Museum of Modern Art.
Special room rates are available all year around. For more information and reservations, call (051) 747-1092 or visit major hotel booking sites.