Hotel rating criteria unified under single framework

Operators gain more flexibility based on evaluation results

A plaque ceremony marks the four-star rating of Haenam 126 Hotel. [Korea Tourism Organization]
A plaque ceremony marks the four-star rating of Haenam 126 Hotel. [Korea Tourism Organization]

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is overhauling the hotel rating system starting Tuesday, consolidating previously fragmented evaluation criteria into a single unified framework to reduce the burden on operators and improve assessment objectivity.

The ministry will begin enforcing an amended version of its official notice governing the delegation of hotel rating decisions and related procedures. The revision was developed through industry public hearings, briefing sessions and expert consultations.

At the heart of the overhaul is the consolidation of rating evaluation criteria that had previously been divided into separate standards for one- and two-star, three-star, four-star and five-star tourist hotels. Score thresholds for each star category will also be reset under the new unified framework.

Evaluations will proceed in two stages. The first involves an announced visit by assessors, while the second is conducted without prior notice. For four- and five-star tourist hotels, the second-stage assessment will retain an undercover format in which evaluators stay overnight to experience the service firsthand. If a hotel scores below its applied-for rating, the operator must either accept the lower rating or opt for a deferral and undergo reassessment. If the result comes in higher than applied for, the operator may choose between the higher result and the originally applied-for rating. However, hotels that applied for a one-, two- or three-star rating cannot receive a four- or five-star designation even if their scores would otherwise qualify.

Safety and hygiene standards will also be significantly tightened under the new system. Fire prevention and facility safety management criteria have been strengthened, and hygiene-related evaluation items have been broken down in greater detail. Bonus and penalty scoring items have been adjusted to reflect social values such as personal data protection and eco-friendly management. The penalty for operators that charge unfair prices has been tripled, rising from 10 points to 30 points.

In addition, the ministry has introduced a new set of evaluation indicators for medical tourism hotels, assessing whether properties offer medical-linked services and amenities — a move aimed at keeping pace with the growing medical tourism market.

"This revision focused on reducing the burden on the hotel industry while more firmly guaranteeing the safety and convenience of the public," said Kang Dong-jin, the ministry's director general for tourism policy. "We hope the new rating system takes root stably and serves as an opportunity to raise the quality of hotel services in Korea."


terry@heraldcorp.com