By Lee Suh-yoon
Angry guests walked out of Conrad Seoul hotel on Yeouido, southern Seoul, this weekend after they found out their rooms did not offer the promised view of the annual Seoul International Fireworks Festival.
Conrad's guests had paid for one-night packages ranging from a whopping 900,000 won ($800) to 1.64 million won in order to enjoy a private and panoramic view of the once-a-year spectacle.
Conrad Seoul, a luxury brand of the hotel giant Hilton, failed to take into account that the view from rooms below the 22nd floor was blocked by a new building under construction across the street.
“We're still trying to work out the details,” a Conrad Seoul spokesperson told The Korea Times when asked why the problem had not been foreseen. “We are now in the process of refunding the affected guests one by one.”
Every October, the fireworks festival draws around 1 million residents and visitors to the banks of the Han River. The day is a boon for upscale hotels in the neighborhood, which roll out room packages double the normal rates. The hotels have been criticized in the past for trying to reap profits from what is a corporate social responsibility event provided by Hanwha Group.
The new Parc1 Tower under construction in front of the 37-story Conrad Seoul hotel will have 72 floors when completed, blocking the Han River view from many of its rooms.