This Hotel Rejected by Japanese Event... Now Anticipates 'Kishida Effect' Boost

Hosting for the first time in 12 years since former Prime Minister Noda
Efforts to restore relations broken 10 years ago
Likely a turning point with 'Prime Minister Kishida's hosting'

After a long period of almost no exchanges between Lotte Hotel and Japan, there are prospects that interactions will revive following Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to Korea.

Lotte Hotel Seoul exterior in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to industry sources on the 9th, Prime Minister Kishida stayed at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul, for one night and two days starting from the 7th. Kishida concluded his visit to Korea with a meeting with major Korean economic leaders at the hotel the previous day and then returned to Japan. It has been 12 years since a Japanese head of state stayed at Lotte Hotel, the last being former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in 2011.

Lotte Hotel reportedly launched an active campaign to host Prime Minister Kishida during his visit. Typically, the accommodation for state guests is decided through consultations between the embassy in Korea and the hotel. In this process, the embassy often sets strict conditions regarding security and service, all of which Lotte Hotel is said to have agreed to meet.

The hotel’s proactive effort to host Prime Minister Kishida is analyzed as an attempt to restore the strained relationship with Japan. Previously, in July 2014, Lotte Hotel canceled the booking for the 60th anniversary event of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, after which it faced difficulties in hosting events organized by the Japanese embassy for some time. The Japanese embassy reportedly banned not only events but also the use of Lotte Hotel as accommodation for Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials visiting Seoul. During his visit the following year, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became the first Japanese leader to stay at the Westin Chosun Hotel instead of Lotte Hotel. Since then, as Korea-Japan relations rapidly deteriorated and the COVID-19 pandemic overlapped, Lotte Hotel was effectively shunned by major Japanese government events.

From Lotte Hotel’s perspective, hosting Prime Minister Kishida is seen as a turning point for restoring relations with Japan. Given that the hotel’s parent group started its business in Japan and that it is located in a prime area in central Seoul, Lotte Hotel has historically hosted the most events related to the Japanese embassy in the industry. There is growing anticipation that the visit by Prime Minister Kishida will lead to renewed visits by key political and business figures from Japan to Korea.

Some express concerns that the improved relations with Japan might reinforce the perception of Lotte Group as a “pro-Japanese company,” a label that has long followed it. However, a Lotte Hotel official dismissed this, stating, "Because we have extensive experience in hosting state guests, dignitaries from various countries, including Japan, choose our hotel." In fact, just last year, several state guests visiting Korea, such as Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, stayed at Lotte Hotel Seoul.

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