Seoul to crack down on overpriced hotel rates ahead of major fireworks festival

Seoul is set to intensify its efforts to regulate hotel rates near Yeouido in preparation for the Seoul International Fireworks Festival. The city government, along with the Yeongdeungpo, Mapo, and Yongsan district offices, will launch joint inspections from September 1-3. Their primary focus will be on hotels offering views of the festival, scheduled for September 5, which is expected to draw over 1 million attendees.

Inspectors will scrutinize whether hotels are adhering to newly imposed rules regarding the display of room rates. This includes a requirement introduced on July 14 that mandates prices be listed on online booking platforms as well as at the hotel's reception desk. The revised regulation stipulates that a first offense of not complying with the rate-posting rule could now lead to a five-day suspension of business operations, a more stringent penalty than the previous system of merely issuing warnings or ordering improvements.

Moreover, the city will enforce administrative actions against any identified violations, with the involvement of district health departments, as they now possess the authority to impose such penalties under public health regulations. In addition to targeting hotels, Seoul will also keep a watchful eye on room rates across the board to ensure fair practices during this anticipated influx of visitors.