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, May 28 (Korea Bizwire) — The home rental platform Airbnb Inc. said Tuesday it has partnered with the Seoul metropolitan government to turn a Han River cafe into an Airbnb destination in the capital city of South Korea.
Sky Suite Hangang Bridge, located on the northern end of the Hangang Bridge, was formerly used as cafe, but its operations were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Airbnb said in a statement.
The new Airbnb accommodation at the former cafe, hosted by Seoul, will officially begin receiving guests July 17, with reservations set to open July 1 at airbnb.com/skysuite.
“As more visitors flock to Seoul and Korea, we’re confident that through these sorts of projects, we’ll continue to support the Seoul metropolitan government’s ambitions of attracting 30 million foreign tourists annually by 2027,” Airbnb’s Chief Business Officer Dave Stephenson said in the statement.
The price for a stay in the “one-of-a-kind designer Airbnb home” will be decided in June within a range of 345,000 won (US$253) to 500,000 won, it said.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said this project will help put Seoul on the global map and serve as one of the critical initial steps in transforming the river into a location where the city’s charms can be enjoyed by sharing the stunning views of the Han River with the world.
In May last year, Airbnb’s co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Nathan Blecharczyk said the company wants to work with provincial governments to boost tourism in Korea and act as a positive “conduit” for the amplification of Korean culture around the world.
In November 2022, the U.S. vacation rental company added Korean traditional houses, known as “hanok,” as a new category.
(Yonhap)
