Hostel Business Registration in Korea — 2026 Complete Guide

1. Hostel vs Guesthouse in Korean Law

In Korea, a hostel (호스텔업) is a registered tourism accommodation business under the Tourism Promotion Act. Unlike the urban guesthouse (도시민박업), a hostel can accept both domestic and foreign guests and is not limited to residential buildings.

2. Eligibility

• The building must be designated for lodging use (숙박시설) or properly rezoned
• No criminal disqualifications for the representative
• Must comply with local zoning regulations

3. Facility Requirements

• Minimum room size requirements per person
• Common areas: lounge, bathroom, kitchen
• Reception desk
• Security: lockable individual storage per bed

4. Fire Safety Requirements

• Sprinkler system or fire extinguishers on each floor
• Smoke detectors in every room
• Emergency lighting and exit signs
• Fire safety inspection and approval from fire department required before registration

5. Required Documents

• Tourism business registration application
• Building registry extract
• Building use permit or change-of-use permit
• Fire safety inspection certificate
• Floor plan (showing room layout)
• Representative's ID and criminal background check

6. Application Procedure

1. Confirm building use classification (and change if needed)
2. Complete facility fit-out to meet standards
3. Obtain fire department approval
4. Submit to local government tourism department
5. On-site inspection and registration certificate issuance (2–4 weeks)