Operating an Airbnb Urban Guesthouse in Korea — Legal Compliance Guide 2026

1. After Registration: Operating Legally

Once you receive your foreign tourist urban guesthouse registration, you may begin listing on platforms like Airbnb. The registration is tied to a specific property — you cannot use it for other locations.

2. Foreign Guest Reporting Obligation

Under the Immigration Act, this duty applies only when the Minister of Justice gives public notice following an infectious-disease crisis alert or a terrorism alert. During that period, guests on short-term status must provide their passport (or travel certificate or entry permit), and you must submit it through the Ministry of Justice accommodation network within 12 hours of the stay or of the alert. If the network cannot be used, it may be submitted by e-mail, fax, text message, phone or in person to the local immigration office.

3. Airbnb Platform Compliance

• Post your rate table on the listing as well as at the premises, and charge only the posted rates; this is a registration standard
• Host foreign tourists; hosting domestic guests goes beyond the registered business scope

4. Tax Obligations

• How guesthouse income is classified and filed (income tax, VAT) should be confirmed with a tax professional
• Keep receipts for expenses (cleaning, supplies, repairs)

5. Common Violations and Penalties

• Hosting domestic guests beyond the registered scope: business suspension of 1 month (1st), 2 months (2nd), 3 months (3rd), then cancellation (4th)
• Not posting the rate table or not observing the posted rates: suspension of 5 days (1st), 15 days (2nd), 1 month (3rd), then cancellation (4th)
• Failing to submit foreign guests' data when the duty applies: administrative fine under the Immigration Act
• Not registering a change of trade name or representative within 30 days: corrective order (1st), suspension of 15 days (2nd), 1 month (3rd), then cancellation (4th)

6. Scaling Up: Multiple Properties

The urban guesthouse registration applies only to the property where you reside. For additional properties, you need separate registrations (each requiring owner-occupancy) or a different accommodation business license (일반숙박업).