Daebul Hotel, which opened in Incheon in 1889, is the first hotel in Korea. Foreigners who arrived in Joseon via Incheon Port took their rest in Incheon before traveling to Seoul. The first western-style hotel in Korea, Hotel du Palais, opened in 1901 (though some documents claim the year was 1899). Then In 1902, Sontag Hotel opened on an estate bestowed to a German woman named Antoinette Sontag by Emperor Gojong. Hotel du Palais is believed to have been demolished in 1912 during road expansion work. Sontag Hotel closed in 1918 and was turned into a residence for Ewha Girls’ High School, before getting destroyed by a fire.

A new era was now underway. LOTTE Group tore down Bando Hotel and newly built LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL on the site. The construction cost nearly as much as Gyeongbu Expressway. When it opened in 1979 with 38 stories, it was the tallest building in Korea. At the time, the group faced pressure to keep the hotel to 18 stories, for it would otherwise end up taller than Cheong Wa Dae. But the group persisted and was able to complete LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL to its original design.

Instead of finding a global partner, LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL sent its employees overseas for training opportunities in order to improve the quality of its service. This was so unprecedented in the Korean hotel industry at the time that it received media coverage. LOTTE also produced a service manual, the first of its kind among Korean hotel brands, in its continued effort to provide comfortable stay for guests. While other local hotels adopted service manuals from foreign hotels, no one had developed its own manual specifically for the local market. Of course, the Korean service also had to exceed global standards.
From its early days, LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL ordered thick towels, the kind not available in retail, and its beds were 10cm longer and wider than typical beds in Korea. During its 2006 renovation, LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL relocated the front desk for its Executive Tower to the 14th floor, yet another unusual step. It was designed to take guests away from the noisy and bustling first floor and toward a quieter lobby at the start of their stay.

Fine dining is one of the key service areas for hotels. LOTTE HOTELS first reached out to the world-renowned chef Pierre Gagnaire in 2006 to open his restaurant at one of its hotels. LOTTE’s persistence paid off in 2007, when it became the first Korean hotel to house a Michelin 3-star restaurant with Pierre Gagnaire a Seoul. From then on, LOTTE HOTELS earned a reputation among epicures as a great culinary destination.
LOTTE HOTELS has also developed an understated but caring service that finds its way to the heart of its guests. In 2009, LOTTE HOTELS celebrated its 30th anniversary with the grand prize at the Customer Satisfaction Management Awards, and it has continued to pick up trophies since. In 2022, LOTTE HOTELS extended its winning streak in the hotel category of the Korean Standard-Service Quality Index to 10 years, and in the business hotel category of the same index to six years.

At the time of its opening, LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL made headlines for being the tallest building in the country. It has since been surpassed by others, though in 2017, as SIGNIEL SEOUL opened at LOTTE WORLD TOWER, it once again became the tallest hotel in Korea. But it is never about just the height with LOTTE HOTELS. The view from up high helps turn every moment spent into a memorable one for guests.
Euljiro, where LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL stands, has been the business and cultural center of Korea since Joseon Dynasty days. Landmarks and attractions such as Gwanghwamun, Yukjo Street, Deoksugung, Namdaemun and Seosomun can all be a source of wonder for international tourists. Jamsil, home of LOTTE HOTEL WORLD, was at the heart of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, which showcased Korea to the rest of the world as it scripted the ‘Miracle on the Han River.’ LOTTE HOTEL WORLD is also adjacent to the LOTTE World Adventure theme park and other large cultural and convention centers. It serves as a microcosm of South Korea’s rapid growth.