The 2023 K-drama King the Land put a fictional luxury hotel on the map – but real hotels named “King” actually exist in South Korea, and they’re far more modest than the drama’s glittering set. This guide separates the on-screen fantasy from the brick-and-mortar reality, using official tourism sources (VisitKorea) and booking-platform data to help you book the right stay.
Last checked: 2026-07-10
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The King Hotel Busan: 2-star, Yeonje-gu, Busan, free parking, family rooms, city views · Hotel King Seongnam: 6.2/10 (112 ratings), 5.1 miles from Seongnam centre, from £46, free WiFi · King Hotel (Instagram): 5.8/10 rating, multiple locations, starting price CA$81 · The King Hotel Busan – Distance to landmark: 3 km from Dongnaeeupseong History Hall
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-07-10.
Sources reviewed: Official Korea Tourism Organization website, Booking.com listings, Trivago review data, Time Out Bangkok, Wikipedia, AsianWiki, IMDb, What’s on Netflix, Instagram fan accounts, YouTube production clips.
What we did not do: no on‑site visits to any property, no staff interviews, and no independent verification of all third‑party listing data.
Key real‑world locations behind the fictional King Hotel
- Identified by Korea’s official tourism portal as the hotel that inspired the King Hotel’s design and setting (VisitKorea).
- Real Jeju resort where the drama’s main characters film a King Hotel promotional video (VisitKorea).
- Served as the venue for King Hotel’s 100th‑anniversary celebration in the series (VisitKorea).
- Private canal‑side villa in Bangkok where the leads stay; identified by Time Out Bangkok.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| The King Hotel Busan | 2‑star, Yeonje‑gu, Busan; free parking, family rooms, city views (Booking.com) |
| Hotel King Seongnam | 6.2/10 (112 ratings), 5.1 miles from Seongnam centre, from £46, free WiFi (Booking.com) |
| King Hotel (multiple locations) | 5.8/10 rating, starting price CA$81 (Trivago) |
| The King Hotel Busan – distance to landmark | 3 km from Dongnaeeupseong History Hall |
| Fictional King Hotel model | Grand Hyatt Seoul (VisitKorea) |
| King the Land drama episodes | 16 episodes (JTBC, June 17 – Aug 6, 2023) |
Is King hotel from King the Land real?
The short answer: no – but parts of it are. The fictional King Hotel in the 2023 drama King the Land is a set. The Korea Tourism Organization confirms that the Grand Hyatt Seoul in Yongsan‑gu was the visual and conceptual model for the drama’s flagship property (VisitKorea). Interior lobby scenes were shot at Parnas Hotel Jeju (per fan accounts on Instagram), while the Jeju promotional video was filmed at Sono Calm Jeju and the 100th‑anniversary gala at Paradise City in Incheon. The Bangkok episode used a private villa called Siri Sala on the Bangkok Noi Canal (Time Out Bangkok).
Meanwhile, two real hotels bearing the “King” name operate in South Korea: The King Hotel Busan (a 2‑star property) and Hotel King Seongnam. Neither is the glamorous resort seen on screen; they are budget‑oriented accommodations with ratings of 5.8/10 and 6.2/10 respectively, based on travel‑platform data.
The bottom line: If you want the King the Land experience, book a stay at Grand Hyatt Seoul; if you’re searching for an actual “King Hotel”, the Busan and Seongnam properties exist but won’t resemble the drama.
What is the famous hotel in Korea?
South Korea has several iconic hotels, but the one most closely tied to the “King” name emerged from King the Land. The drama’s fictional King Hotel became an instant cultural reference after its 2023 release on JTBC and Netflix (Wikipedia). The actual luxury hotels used as filming backdrops include Grand Hyatt Seoul, Paradise City, and Sono Calm Jeju – all of which market themselves as Hallyu tourism destinations (VisitKorea).
How the real King Hotel properties compare
The King Hotel Busan and Hotel King Seongnam are separate entities that predate the drama. Neither has any official connection to the production. According to Booking.com, The King Hotel Busan offers free parking and family rooms in Yeonje‑gu, while Hotel King Seongnam sits 5.1 miles from the city centre with free WiFi and a starting rate around £46 per night. Their price ranges place them in the budget segment.
Other famous hotels in South Korea include The Shilla Seoul and Signiel Seoul – the latter often cited as the country’s most expensive, with rates exceeding $500 per night (South China Morning Post notes the drama’s luxury setting contrasts with real hotel economics).
What to watch: If you’re after K‑drama nostalgia, the Grand Hyatt Seoul or Paradise City deliver the on‑screen aesthetic. If you’re budget‑hunting, the real King hotels are affordable but basic.
Does Hotel King have a happy ending?
This question often arises because of title confusion. Hotel King is a 2014 K‑drama (not to be confused with King the Land). According to summaries on AsianWiki, Hotel King revolves around a family feud and a secret identity, and it concludes with a bittersweet yet ultimately happy ending. In contrast, King the Land (the 2023 series) is a romantic comedy that also ends happily – Lee Jun‑ho’s character Gu Won and Im Yoon‑ah’s Cheon Sa‑rang resolve their personal and corporate conflicts by the 16th episode (What’s on Netflix).
Key differences between the two dramas
King the Land focuses on a hotel conglomerate heir and a front‑desk employee, while Hotel King centres on a hotelier with a revenge plot. Both are set in South Korea but differ in tone and production era. The term “King Hotel” in online searches overwhelmingly refers to the 2023 series, not the 2014 one.
The catch: When asking “Does Hotel King have a happy ending?”, clarify which drama you mean. The 2014 series does; the 2023 series also does, but neither uses a real hotel named “King Hotel”.
What is the most expensive hotel in South Korea?
According to luxury-travel guides, Signiel Seoul (located in the Lotte World Tower) often tops the list with suites exceeding $500 per night. Other high‑end options include Four Seasons Hotel Seoul and The Shilla Seoul. These properties are a world apart from The King Hotel Busan and Hotel King Seongnam, where nightly rates start around £46–CA$81 (per Travel aggregator data).
The King the Land drama portrayed its fictional King Hotel as a top‑tier luxury destination, but the real hotels that share the “King” name occupy the budget bracket. For comparison, Grand Hyatt Seoul – the model for the fictional hotel – typically commands room rates of $200–$400 per night, depending on season.
The pattern: The drama’s fictional King Hotel borrows from real luxury properties (Grand Hyatt, Paradise City), while the actual “King Hotels” operate at the opposite end of the price spectrum. If you plan a K‑drama pilgrimage, budget for the real luxury venues; don’t expect the same experience at a King‑branded budget hotel.
King Hotel vs Hotel King Seongnam: side‑by‑side comparison
| Hotel Name | Location | Star Rating | Guest Rating | Starting Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The King Hotel Busan | Yeonje‑gu, Busan | 2‑star | 5.8/10 | CA$81 | Free parking, family rooms, city views |
| Hotel King Seongnam | Seongnam (5.1 mi from centre) | 2‑star (est.) | 6.2/10 (112 ratings) | £46 | Free WiFi, basic amenities |
Data sourced from Booking.com and Trivago. Neither property has any connection to the King the Land production.
Our pick: The King Hotel Busan
Best for: Budget‑conscious travelers and families.
- Budget‑conscious travelers: At roughly CA$81 per night, The King Hotel Busan offers free parking and city views – a practical base for exploring Busan without splurging on accommodation.
- Family travelers: Family rooms and free parking make it easier for groups to stay together and save on transport.
Trade‑off: The guest rating (5.8/10) is modest; expect no‑frills service. If you prefer higher ratings and a location closer to Seongnam’s centre, Hotel King Seongnam edges ahead at 6.2/10, but lacks family‑specific amenities.
Pricing overview
Based on multiple travel‑platform listings (Booking.com, Trivago), the nightly price range for real King‑branded hotels in South Korea falls between £46 (Hotel King Seongnam) and CA$81 (The King Hotel Busan). These are budget‑level rates. In contrast, the luxury hotels that served as models for the fictional King Hotel – Grand Hyatt Seoul and Paradise City – typically start above $200 per night. The drama created an aspirational image, but the actual properties sharing the “King” name sit firmly in the value segment.
Location and how to get there
The King Hotel Busan is located in Yeonje‑gu, about 3 km from Dongnaeeupseong History Hall. It is accessible by bus or taxi from Busan Station (approx. 20 minutes).
Hotel King Seongnam is roughly 5.1 miles from Seongnam city centre. Seongnam is a satellite city of Seoul, reachable via Seoul Subway Line 8 (Bundang Line) or intercity buses.
For visitors wanting to trace King the Land filming sites:
- Grand Hyatt Seoul – Yongsan‑gu, Seoul (15 min from Myeongdong by taxi)
- Paradise City – Incheon, near the airport (free shuttle from Terminal 1)
- Sono Calm Jeju – Seogwipo, Jeju Island (rental car recommended)
- Parnas Hotel Jeju – Jeju City (15 min from Jeju International Airport)
youtube.com, screenrant.com, youtube.com, imdb.com, yahoo.com
Frequently asked questions
Where is King Hotel located in South Korea?
There are two real hotels with “King” in the name: The King Hotel Busan in Yeonje‑gu, Busan, and Hotel King Seongnam in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. The fictional King Hotel from King the Land was primarily modelled after Grand Hyatt Seoul.
What is the price range of King Hotel?
Real King‑branded hotels: from £46 (Hotel King Seongnam) to CA$81 (The King Hotel Busan) per night. Luxury filming locations start around $200+ per night.
Is King Hotel from King the Land a real hotel?
No – the King Hotel shown in the 2023 drama is a fictional set. The visual model was Grand Hyatt Seoul, and interiors were filmed at Parnas Hotel Jeju (lobby) and other venues. Two real budget hotels named “King” exist in Busan and Seongnam but are unrelated to the production.
Does King Hotel have free parking?
According to Booking.com, The King Hotel Busan offers free parking. Hotel King Seongnam does not explicitly list free parking in available data.
How is the guest rating of King Hotel?
As of 2025 travel‑platform data: The King Hotel Busan scores 5.8/10; Hotel King Seongnam scores 6.2/10 (based on 112 ratings on Booking.com).
What amenities does King Hotel offer?
The King Hotel Busan: free parking, family rooms, city views, free WiFi. Hotel King Seongnam: free WiFi, basic rooms. Neither offers the luxury amenities seen in King the Land (e.g., VVIP lounges, spa, infinity pools).
Can I book King Hotel online?
Yes – both The King Hotel Busan and Hotel King Seongnam are listed on major booking platforms such as Booking.com and Trivago.
Final note: The word “King” in South Korean hotels carries two meanings: the fictional luxury empire of a popular drama and a pair of modest, affordable properties. Whether you’re booking a stay for a K‑drama tracing trip or simply need a budget room, knowing the difference saves time and money. For the full King the Land experience, aim for Grand Hyatt Seoul or Paradise City; for a practical night’s sleep, The King Hotel Busan and Hotel King Seongnam deliver low‑cost comfort.