This study aims to empirically analyze the characteristics, spatial distribution, and patterns of spatial reconfiguration of corporate-operated hanok stays that have expanded mainly in Bukchon since the 2020s. As tourism demand has increased, the use ...
This study aims to empirically analyze the characteristics, spatial distribution, and patterns of spatial reconfiguration of corporate-operated hanok stays that have expanded mainly in Bukchon since the 2020s. As tourism demand has increased, the use of hanok for accommodation has grown within a broader shift away from viewing hanok solely as objects of preservation or sightseeing, toward their use as spaces for stay and experience. Within this context, hanok accommodation has moved beyond small-scale, individually operated models, and corporate-operated hanok stays—offering a standardized level of service and spatial quality—have begun to emerge in earnest.
In this study, corporate-operated hanok stays are defined as accommodation facilities in which a corporate entity or business operator secures multiple hanok through purchase, lease, or entrusted management, and operates them in an integrated manner under a single brand. The study focuses on six operators that manage at least two locations within the Bukchon District Unit Planning Area and that also operate, or plan to expand, in other areas. A total of 43 hanok stay facilities operated by these entities within Bukchon were selected as the objects of analysis. The research combines GIS-based spatial distribution analysis with field surveys, comparative analysis of spatial configurations by case, and in-depth interviews.
The analysis shows that corporate-operated hanok stays are not evenly distributed across Bukchon, but are instead concentrated in core areas with high tourism demand and strong pedestrian accessibility. In particular, they tend to locate continuously along major tourist walking routes. These facilities are generally situated on small- to medium-sized parcels, often with elongated lot shapes, and the spatial organization and floor plan of each hanok tends to be adapted to these specific parcel conditions.
In terms of spatial transformation, corporate-operated hanok stays actively reconfigure spatial elements such as walls, openings, exterior finishes, and interior layouts in response to their new function as accommodation facilities. Through this process, the residential spatial order of traditional hanok is gradually transformed. Notably, the emphasis on private domains is reduced, while more open spatial configurations that assume visual and spatial connections with the exterior become prominent. Interior spaces are also reorganized around shared areas, and experiential elements such as bathtubs are introduced, shifting the character of the hanok from everyday residential space to experience-oriented accommodation. In some cases, spatial planning through collaboration with artists was observed, suggesting attempts to expand the contemporary possibilities of hanok use.
These changes do not remain limited to individual hanok, but are repeatedly accumulated at the alley scale, gradually altering the spatial character and landscape of Bukchon as a whole. This indicates that corporate-operated hanok stays influence spatial perception and patterns of use along specific alleys and pedestrian environments, rather than functioning merely as a collection of individual accommodation facilities. Accordingly, future discussions on the expansion of corporate-operated hanok stays should move beyond a focus on whether accommodation use is permitted, and instead establish management guidelines that comprehensively consider changes in alley landscapes and patterns of hanok use.