In May, Mr. A booked a lodging through an online accommodation brokerage platform. After payment, the operator suggested moving to a different place than the one booked, and the location they arrived at was a commercial space far removed from lodging. Sensing something was wrong, Mr. A checked and found it was an unreported illegal lodging business.
Mr. B found it odd that the people coming and going from the unit next to the officetel where he lives changed every time. On a hunch, he searched an online brokerage platform and found that the place was taking accommodation reservations.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on the 25th that over the past five years, from 2020 to August this year, it uncovered 357 such unreported illegal lodging businesses. Of these, 98.3% (351 cases) were taking accommodation reservations through online brokerage platforms.
To operate a lodging business, one must file a business report (registration) with the relevant district office under the Public Sanitation Control Act (lodging business) or the Tourism Promotion Act (foreign tourist urban homestay business).
These unreported lodging businesses fall into blind spots for safety and hygiene management. Some also lack required fire protection systems, leaving them exposed to risks such as fires.
In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said people must check whether a lodging business has been reported before booking. When using an online brokerage platform, it also helps to ask the host for a copy or photo of the lodging business report (registration) certificate before booking.
Song Eun-cheol, head of Seoul's Infectious Disease Management Division, said, "We will continue to strengthen monitoring and on-site inspections to do our best to reduce safety blind spots."