The method for assigning hotel star ratings in Korea is set to change. The one- to five-star grading system familiar to consumers will remain in place, but the evaluation criteria tables used to assess hotels will be consolidated into one. Even existing five-star hotels will be subject to the new standards when their rating validity period ends and they undergo reassessment.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday it would implement a partial amendment to the "Guidelines on the Entrustment of Hotel Rating Determination Work and Rating Determination" to reduce the evaluation burden on the hotel industry and enhance the credibility of the rating system.
Hotel ratings are a system that assigns grades based on assessments of guest rooms, ancillary facilities, service, hygiene, and safety management. Receiving a five-star rating once does not mean it is maintained permanently. Under the current system, hotel ratings are valid for three years, and hotels must undergo renewal evaluation before the validity period expires.
The core of this overhaul is the consolidation of the previously star-specific evaluation tables into a single one. Previously, one- and two-star, three-star, four-star, and five-star hotels were each examined according to different evaluation criteria. Going forward, a unified 1,000-point evaluation table will be applied to the tourist hotel business, with star ratings assigned according to the score.
Under the new standards, a five-star rating requires 900 points or more, a four-star rating requires 800 points or more, and a three-star rating requires 650 points or more. A two-star rating requires 500 points or more, and a one-star rating requires 400 points or more. The aim is to reduce hotels' burden of preparing for evaluations by consolidating the star-specific criteria into one and to enhance the consistency of the rating system.
Evaluations are conducted in two rounds. The first-round evaluation involves reviewing materials submitted by the hotel and inspecting the site after prior notification. The second-round evaluation is conducted as a surprise assessment, visiting the site without advance notice. However, four- and five-star hotels will maintain the mystery evaluation, in which evaluators stay overnight and directly check rooms and services, as before.
Depending on the evaluation results, existing star ratings may change. For example, if a five-star hotel fails to meet the five-star standard in its renewal evaluation, it will receive a lower grade or have its grade withheld pending reassessment. Conversely, if a hotel scores higher than the grade it applied for, it can choose between the result grade and the applied grade. However, hotels that applied for one- to three-star ratings cannot immediately receive four- or five-star grades even with high scores, as their second-round evaluation method differs from that of four- and five-star hotels.
Standards directly tied to consumer protection will be strengthened further. The ministry supplemented fire prevention and facility safety management standards and subdivided hygiene-related evaluation items. Sanctions on overcharging, which has sparked controversy during peak seasons and major events, have also been strengthened. Hotels found to have overcharged will see their penalty deduction increase from the existing 10 points to 30 points.
Evaluation metrics for the medical tourism hotel business have also been newly established. Medical tourists have greater demand than general tourists for hospital transfers, convenience during recovery periods, and services linked to medical institutions. Reflecting these characteristics, the ministry decided to include factors such as medical-linked services and the provision of convenience in its evaluations.
"This notice amendment focuses on reducing the burden on the hotel industry while more strongly guaranteeing the safety and convenience of the public," said Kang Dong-jin, Tourism Policy Officer at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. "I hope the new evaluation system will serve as an opportunity to raise the quality of domestic hotel services."
