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

• Rooms suitable for individual travellers such as backpackers (no per-person minimum area is set)
• Toilets, showers, kitchens and similar facilities so that users are not inconvenienced; these may be shared
• A cultural and information exchange space serving Korean and foreign guests
• Ownership of, or a right to use, the land and building

4. Fire Safety Requirements

• Firefighting systems (such as sprinklers and automatic fire alarm systems) must be installed and maintained to the fire-safety standards; which systems are required depends on the building's use and size
• The electrical safety inspection certificate for the building is checked at registration

5. Required Documents

• Tourism business registration application
• Business plan
• A document stating the name and resident registration number of the representative (and, for a company, each officer); foreign nationals submit documents proving no disqualification ground
• Proof of ownership of, or a right to use, the property (only where the land registry does not show it)
• Floor plan and layout plan of the facilities, and a facility list
• Report or application forms, with attachments, for permits deemed granted on registration (such as the lodging business report)

6. Application Procedure

1. Confirm building use classification (and change if needed)
2. Obtain business plan approval from the city, county or district head (required for a hostel before registration)
3. Complete facility fit-out to meet standards
4. Submit the registration application to the city, county or district office
5. Review by the registration review committee and issuance of the registration certificate (statutory processing period for the application: 7 days)