"50,000 Won a Night Is Worth It" 2030s Become Big Spenders on 'Hokangs' [Heo Midam's Youth Report]

7 out of 10 People in Their 30s Enjoy a Hotel Vacation Every Two Months
Experts Say It Is Related to Young People's Desire for Showing Off

Editor's Note[Editor's Note] How is your youth remembered? From teenagers to college students and office workers, we share the joys and sorrows, worries and laughter unique to 'youth.'

A luxury hotel in Haeundae, Busan. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] # Office worker Kim Mo (29) recently booked a suite room at a luxury hotel in downtown Seoul to celebrate his wedding anniversary. Kim said, "I wanted to spend the wedding anniversary meaningfully, but I was hesitant to travel because of COVID-19, so I booked a hotel. Since it was just the two of us, I felt safe from COVID-19, and nowadays, wherever you go, you are very conscious of others' eyes, but hotels don’t have that, so it seemed comfortable." He added, "Hotels have become much more affordable compared to the past, so it wasn’t a big burden."

Due to the impact of COVID-19, with air routes blocked last year, more young people are choosing nearby hotels over traveling to distant places. They are spending time with family and acquaintances at hotels, enjoying swimming, spas, and other activities together.

In particular, some young people enjoy spending time alone at hotels or staying in their rooms watching Netflix, embracing a sense of isolation. Luxury hotels, which used to be popular mainly among middle-aged and older adults with economic means due to their daily rates of 300,000 to 500,000 KRW, are now gaining greater popularity among people in their 20s and 30s. Experts analyze that the younger generation’s desire for display and status has influenced this trend.

Job seeker Lee Mo (25) recently booked a hotel room with friends. He said, "Since going out itself has decreased due to COVID-19, I felt the urge to go somewhere. Also, studying at home for job preparation was increasingly exhausting. I want to heal by having breakfast and spending time with friends who share my mindset at a hotel."

Photo by Instagram screenshot.

Young people are found to enjoy 'Hokangs' (hotel + vacation) about once every two months on average. According to an online travel agency Expedia’s survey conducted in December last year targeting 200 travelers in their 20s and 30s, 7 out of 10 respondents enjoyed Hokangs about once every two months. In particular, they answered that they could fully enjoy the happiness of travel even without going abroad (62.5%) or traveling far away (60.5%).

On Instagram, photos tagged with '#Hokang', '#Hokanggram', and similar hashtags are continuously being uploaded. One netizen posted a photo taken in a hotel room background, saying, "I’m happy after resting well for one night and two days at the hotel," adding, "It feels like compensating for the exhausting daily life caused by COVID-19."

Among them, some in their 20s and 30s are found to visit hotels alone rather than enjoying them with family or acquaintances. Known as 'Hokokjok' (consumers who stay holed up in hotels), they find solace by spending time alone at hotels.

Another office worker Oh Mo (28) said, "I want to enjoy leisure alone at a hotel rather than going in a group with acquaintances," adding, "When I go with acquaintances, there are many things to be considerate about. I want to have time solely for myself rather than paying attention to someone else." He added, "I want to spend a day at the hotel doing nothing and not receiving any calls."

Experts analyze that young people, unable to enjoy travel due to COVID-19, have turned to hotels as an alternative.

Professor Kwak Geumju of the Department of Psychology at Seoul National University said, "It has become difficult to travel due to COVID-19. Young people, tired of repetitive daily life, have turned to hotels to regain vitality in their daily lives," adding, "It is also related to the younger generation’s desire for display. Nowadays, daily life has become monotonous due to COVID-19, so there is nothing to post on SNS, and some go to hotels to show off that 'I am special.'"

She continued, "Due to COVID-19, hotels have become much more affordable than before. They are now able to enjoy expensive hotels that they couldn’t afford previously at relatively low prices."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.