Tourists in Safety Blind Spots at Unauthorized Lodging Facilities Evading Legal Oversight

12 Illegal Lodging Facilities in Incheon Caught
Unauthorized Establishments Thrive in Tourist Areas
Concerns Over Safety Blind Spots Due to Lack of Hygiene and Fire Inspections

Vacationers cooling off from the heat
Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Seohee Lee] Illegal lodging businesses targeting tourists during the vacation season are thriving mainly around tourist spots. As the number of unlicensed lodging establishments not officially registered with the authorities increases, concerns are rising that vacationers are being left in a 'safety blind spot.'

On May 19, the Incheon Special Judicial Police announced that after conducting a six-week special crackdown on illegal lodging businesses during the summer vacation season, they had uncovered 12 lodging establishments operating without reporting to the authorities. The establishments caught were 10 around Yeongjong and Yongyu Beaches and 2 in Cheongna, suspected of illegally operating pensions and guesthouses without notifying the responsible district office.

The situation is even more severe in popular vacation destinations such as Donghae and Jeju. Recently, with the activation of lodging-sharing platforms like Airbnb, there has been an increase in places cleverly disguised as lodging businesses by placing disposable toiletries in residential buildings and listing officetels as 'apartments' on the app's main screen.

According to current building laws, residential buildings classified as multi-family houses, apartment complexes, commercial buildings, or neighborhood living facilities (officetels) cannot be registered as lodging businesses. To operate a lodging business, one must report to the relevant administrative agency under the Public Health Control Act. Failure to report the business operation can result in closure of the establishment and imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 20 million KRW.

The problem is that unlicensed lodging businesses are excluded from hygiene and fire safety inspections, pushing tourists into a 'safety blind spot.' Under current laws, pension operators managing and running lodging businesses must disinfect rooms at least once every two months to prevent infectious diseases and install fire safety facilities considering the accommodation capacity, fulfilling obligations to ensure guests' hygiene and safety. However, unlicensed facilities that are not registered as lodging businesses are effectively lodging establishments but remain outside the legal oversight, thus escaping government sanctions. The resulting damages inevitably fall on consumers.

Lunar New Year Family Tragedy at Donghae Pension Site
Photo by Yonhap News

In fact, in January 2020, during the Lunar New Year holiday, a family of seven who went to a pension on the East Coast died in a gas explosion accident. The pension where the family stayed was an unlicensed facility converted from a multi-family house, and it was revealed that it avoided special investigations by fire authorities because it was not a lodging business. Subsequently, when nearby establishments were checked, many unlicensed facilities were found, sparking controversy.

The police are conducting large-scale crackdowns but say that punishment and detection are not easy. A representative from the Food Safety Team at Donghae City Health Center said in a phone interview, “We regularly monitor and conduct on-site crackdowns to detect unlicensed facilities, but it is practically difficult to catch those secretly operating in ordinary homes. Even if detected, it is awkward and difficult to forcibly close the residence since the people living there reside in those places.”

He continued, “Among those operating unlicensed facilities, many have bought pensions only to later find out that the building violates land use restrictions, leaving them no choice but to operate unlicensed lodging businesses. These people genuinely want to legalize their facilities. I think some relief measures are needed.”

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