This undated file photo, provided by Airbnb Inc., shows a new Airbnb destination, named Sky Suite Hangang Bridge, in Seoul. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea braces for a record number of foreign visitors this year, unease is spreading among Taiwanese travelers over whether their reserved lodgings may be illegal under new rules targeting unregistered accommodations.
The anxiety follows Airbnb’s announcement that, beginning October 16, it will block bookings for properties that have not filed official business registrations with local governments, a move that could eliminate tens of thousands of listings. By 2026, unregistered hosts will be barred entirely.
Taiwanese online forums and travel groups have filled with posts questioning whether booked guesthouses are legitimate, while Seoul operators say they are inundated with requests for license numbers and proof of compliance. “I’ve been swamped with messages from Taiwanese guests asking if my property is legal,” one guesthouse owner said.
Local media in Taiwan have amplified concerns, warning that officetels and apartments will be purged from Airbnb, potentially leading to shortages and higher prices. Reports urge travelers to verify the legality of accommodations before arriving.
The numbers highlight the scale of the problem. Of roughly 72,400 Airbnb listings in Korea at the end of last year, about half were apartments or officetels used for short-term rentals. Only 7,200 were legally registered, meaning nearly 80 percent operated outside the law.
While Airbnb’s crackdown is intended to align with Korean regulations, industry officials warn that legitimate alternatives are limited, particularly in the Seoul metropolitan area, raising the prospect of accommodation shortages in the country’s most popular tourist hub.
Analysts blame inconsistent enforcement and fragmented regulation for the mess. Oversight of guesthouses, farm stays, and serviced residences is divided among multiple ministries, with different rules depending on region. Crackdowns have resulted in few conversions to legal operations, with enforcement swinging erratically from year to year.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
