Lotte Hotel puts new spin on hanbok dispute

By Kim Rahn

Lotte Hotel Seoul is giving discounts to guests wearing hanbok to its restaurant _ an apparent strategy to deal a blow to the Shilla Hotel which was disgraced for banning a woman wearing the traditional Korean clothes from entering its buffet restaurant.

The hotel said Friday that as part of “Asian Food Parade” at the buffet restaurant La Seine during May, not only Koreans in hanbok but also guests wearing other traditional Asian clothing will receive a 20-percent discount for their food.

It is seen as adding fuel to the fire for rival hotel Shilla, which the public and authorities recently criticized harshly for having a dress code barring hanbok.

“We planned the Asian food promotion in advance. And we found that in May, many people have family gatherings or events at the hotel and thus more people wear hanbok than other times. So we came up with the special offer by combining the two occasions,” a hotel spokeswoman said.

She said not only Koreans but also other Asians sometimes come to the restaurant wearing traditional outfits. “Those from Middle Eastern countries wear traditional clothes for religious reasons. There are also foreign embassies around here, which sometimes hold traditional events,” she said.

The hotel has had staffers in hanbok in the lobby and at the concierge desk. Lotte is one of four five-star hotels in Seoul that have a Korean restaurant, while another 13, including the Shilla, don’t.

Internet users showed mixed reactions to the promotion.

“This kind of knack in business is desirable. Keep offering the discount after May,” said a blogger KORPeaceAsia, while secococo said, “Shilla is Lotte’s rival, but it is cunning to take advantage of the flaw of the other in the same business.”

A blogger named winner said, “Can I get a 50 percent discount if I wear hanbok plus straw sandals?” Another blogger, kwon38, asked, “Then do I have to pay an additional 20 percent at the Shilla?”

롯데호텔 뷔페 한복 입으면 20% 할인, 신라 겨냥?

한복을 입은 고객에게 가격의 20%를 할인해주는 행사를 가져 혹시 한복을 경원시해 물의를 빚은 신라호텔을 겨냥한 것 아니냐는 의문을 불러 일으키고 있다.

롯데호텔서울은 가정의 달인 5월 1일부터 오는 31일까지 한달 간 한복을 비롯한 아시아 각국 의상을 입은 고객에게 뷔페 레스토랑 이용 가격을 20% 할인해주는 행사를 갖는다고 밝혔다.

이는 지난번 뷔페 식당에 한복을 입은 고객의 출입을 못하게 해 일반인과 당국으로부터 비난을 산 경쟁관계에 있는 신라호텔을 겨냥한 것이 아니냐는 의구심을 키우고 있다.

“우리는 아시아 음식 프로모션 행사를 사전에 계획했다. 5월중에는 많은 사람들이 호텔에서 가족 모임이나 행사를 갖기 때문에 다른 때보다 더 많은 사람들이 한복을 입는다. 따라서 우리는 어린이날과 어버이날을 묶어 이 특별할인 행사를 갖게 됐다”고 롯데호텔서울의 한 관계자가 밝혔다.