How to Register a Hanok Experience Business — Hanok Standards, 230㎡, Fire Equipment and Rate Posting

Procedure

1. 1. Confirm the building is a hanok

   The main structure must be a wooden frame of columns, beams and a traditional Korean roof truss reflecting traditional style, and it must also meet the hanok building standards announced by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Hanok designated or registered as cultural heritage and hanok registered as excellent architectural assets are not subject to these announced standards.

2. 2. Check the lodging floor area and amenities

   The total floor area of space used for lodging, including guest rooms and amenities, must be under 230㎡. Hanok designated as cultural heritage or excellent architectural assets, and hanok set by city, county or district ordinance such as hanok village houses and old family homes, are exempt from the area limit. If you offer lodging, you need a bathroom or shower facilities and must be able to supply tap water or water meeting drinking water quality standards.

3. 3. Install fire safety and hygiene equipment

   Keep at least one fire extinguisher inside or near the guest rooms, and if you offer lodging, install a single-station smoke detector in every guest room. If heating is individual, also install a carbon monoxide alarm in every guest room. Cooking facilities must meet gas and fire safety laws, and you must prepare a system for disinfection at least once a month, cleaning of rooms and bathrooms, regular bedding laundry, and a manager on site during business hours.

4. 4. Apply for registration at the district office

   Submit the tourism business registration application with a business plan, floor plan and layout of the facilities, and the hanok experience business facility list to the city, county or district office. The official checks the real estate registration certificate, and if the right of use cannot be confirmed from it, you submit proof of the right of use such as a lease agreement. If the registration standards are met, a tourism business registration certificate is issued.

5. 5. Manage the business after registration

   If you offer lodging, post your rates at the front desk and on any online booking page used for business, and charge the posted rates. Registered operators must complete safety and hygiene training, and if the number or area of guest rooms, amenity area or type of experience facility changes, apply for a registration change within 30 days of the change.

Required documents

• Tourism business registration application
• Business plan
• Document stating the applicant's name and resident registration number (for corporations, the representative and officers; foreign applicants submit home-country documents proving no grounds for disqualification)
• Proof of ownership or right of use of the real estate (if not confirmed by the registration certificate)
• Floor plan and layout of the facilities
• Hanok experience business facility list
• Rate sheet for the front desk and online posting (if lodging is offered)
• Letter of authorization (if submitted by an agent)

Fees

Generally from several hundred thousand won to a few million won in the industry. We give a quote after consultation based on whether the building meets the hanok standards, the number of guest rooms, the scope of the business plan and floor plans, and supplementation requests from the district office. Government fees are separate (new registration 30,000 won plus 700 won per guest room, registration change 15,000 won).

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Tourism Promotion Act, Article 3
• Tourism Promotion Act, Article 4
• Tourism Promotion Act, Article 14-2
• Tourism Promotion Act, Article 20-3
• Tourism Promotion Act, Article 20-4
• Enforcement Decree of the Tourism Promotion Act, Article 2
• Enforcement Decree of the Tourism Promotion Act, Article 3
• Enforcement Decree of the Tourism Promotion Act, Article 5 and Annex 1
• Enforcement Decree of the Tourism Promotion Act, Article 6
• Enforcement Decree of the Tourism Promotion Act, Annex 2
• Enforcement Rule of the Tourism Promotion Act, Article 2
• Enforcement Rule of the Tourism Promotion Act, Article 3
• Enforcement Rule of the Tourism Promotion Act, Article 69 and Annex 23
• Act on Value Enhancement of Hanok and Other Architectural Assets, Article 2
• Act on Value Enhancement of Hanok and Other Architectural Assets, Article 27

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-06

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

• If you do not post rates or do not charge the posted rates, the disposition standards are a 5-day business suspension for the 1st violation, 15 days for the 2nd, 1 month for the 3rd and cancellation of registration for the 4th.
• A person sentenced to imprisonment without labor or heavier for sex crimes, within 2 years after the sentence was completed or during a suspended sentence, may not operate or work in the business, and if this applies the registration is cancelled or the business closed within 3 months.

Frequently asked questions