[Herald Interview] ‘Hanok accommodations supply greater than a one-night keep’

Since his resolution to start out a part-time job at an area visitor home within the bustling neighborhood of Hongdae as a college pupil in 2017, Lee Dong-woo — CEO of the hanok keep platform Butler.Lee — knew that he had an amazing ardour for the hospitality enterprise.

“I felt that providing different individuals a spot to sleep meant one thing particular,” Lee stated in an interview with The Korea Herald at Bukchon Lounge in Jongno-gu, central Seoul on Oct. 10.

As a former music main at Korea Nationwide College of Arts, the younger CEO thought that offering lodge companies was comparable in some methods to music.

Simply as a musician must spend an enormous period of time getting ready to carry out for an viewers, lodge managers should put their utmost effort into offering their visitors with satisfying one-night stays, in keeping with Lee.

“Dealing with lodge rooms — a really private, delicate and sophisticated space — and assembly the pickiest visitors’ expectations are difficult duties, however witnessing their satisfaction is to me one thing unequalled by something on the earth,” Lee stated.

Residing the life he at all times needed as a hanok lodge CEO, Lee manages nearly 40 hanoks, that are primarily positioned within the iconic vacationer vacation spot of Bukchon Hanok Village.

Having communicated with numerous native and abroad visitors, Lee felt that the hanok expertise might be expanded.

“Many vacationers who come to Butler.Lee to remain in a hanok are terribly involved in cultural experiences, starting from meals and fashionable journey spots to particular studying alternatives and each day Korean life. Because of this we started to arrange a spread of cultural actions,” he defined.

Since its opening in 2021, Butler.Lee has offered trekking excursions, tea ceremonies, Korean lessons, particular excursions with tradition guides and different packages.

Lee was stunned to witness how excited the vacationers have been to immerse themselves in Korean tradition.

“Although the packages value further, nearly all Butler.Lee visitors have been making use of for our packages with out hesitation,” he stated, including that this led the corporate to arrange for extra.

Recognizing {that a} rising variety of holidaymakers want to expertise each day life the place they keep within the type of a “hocance” — a Korean neologism that means vacationing in a lodge not removed from residence — the passionate lodge operator gives one-day experiences corresponding to cooking lessons at his hanok properties.

Lee’s main concern is the breakfast service.

“Particular person hanok buildings are non-public properties, that means Butler.Lee properties don’t have amenities like these at lodge eating places. I’m properly conscious that visitors who love Korean tradition wish to style genuine Korean delicacies, like rice with soup,” he stated.

Hoping to fulfill this need to expertise Korean meals tradition, Lee shared that he plans to collaborate with native eating places by way of supply companies.

From architectural rules to upkeep and parking, Lee feels that hanok keep companies have extra to fret about than another accommodations and resorts.

However all the fear, he finds, is value it.

“In contrast to hanok-themed retailers, eating places and cafes, hanok accommodations are strictly certain by the nation’s hanok architectural rules as a result of they’re thought of belongings to be preserved. Even the smallest particulars of giwa — conventional Korean hanok roof tiles — are assessed when beginning up a hanok lodge enterprise,” Lee defined.

“The method may be very powerful by way of the money and time invested in a single hanok. However, visitors can have a very conventional Korean expertise. And we’re preserving our stunning tradition as properly,” he stated.

Lee additionally expressed curiosity in restoring and preserving extra deserted hanoks in areas outdoors the capital, which could assist to carry extra vacationers to the lesser-known, but charming journey spots outdoors of Seoul.