Incheon's Gyeongwonjae by Walkerhill retains 5-star status

A view of Gyeongwonjae by Walkerhill in Songdo, Incheon / Courtesy of Incheon Free Economic Zone

Gyeongwonjae by Walkerhill in Songdo, Incheon, has retained its five-star rating, maintaining its status as Korea’s first five-star traditional hanok hotel.

The hotel recently secured recertification by the Korea Tourism Association after scoring over 90 percent of the possible 600 points in a hotel rating assessment, the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) said Wednesday. The assessment combines scheduled on-site inspections with unannounced evaluations

Opened in 2015, the hotel has become one of Incheon’s landmark hospitality properties that blends traditional hanok architecture with modern hotel services.

The latest certification follows a series of rebranding and service enhancement initiatives after the Daeil International Hospitality Group took over as the new hotel operator in May last year.

Since then, the hotel has rolled out premium upgrades, such as redesigning its lobby layout to improve guest flow, installing new signage and a totem created in collaboration with national intangible cultural heritage artisan Choi Ki-young, as well as upgrades to in-room amenities and consumables.

“The five-star recertification of Gyeongwonjae by Walkerhill once again demonstrates the competitiveness of Songdo’s cultural and tourism infrastructure,” said Yoon Baek-jin, the acting commissioner of the IFEZ.

“The IFEZ will continue to actively support the hotel in establishing itself as a global tourist destination that combines the value of traditional hanok with modern hospitality, while also becoming a source of pride for Incheon residents.”

The hotel’s restaurant renovation was one of the key factors behind the recertification. The former restaurant SURA was rebranded as Dining Song and transformed into a premium dining venue that integrates traditional hanok aesthetics with contemporary elements. The restaurant also earned a Blue Ribbon, the Korean version of a Michelin nod, this year.

Dining Song features interiors inspired by ocean wave patterns, lighting that emphasizes the linear beauty of hanok structures and large windows offering views of its traditional architecture.

The expansion of private dining rooms allows the venue to accommodate family gatherings, business meetings and special occasions.

The restaurant also revamped its menu, shifting away from mainly Korean a la carte offerings toward Korean-Western fusion course menus. The updated menu focuses on reinterpreting seasonal and traditional ingredients to deliver what the hotel described as a dining experience where tradition and modernity coexist. Signature dishes include lobster zucchini roulade and seaweed prawn soup.