interim inspections remain possible during a rating period, with four- and five-star hotels required to undergo at least one interim check since 2018.

South Korea has implemented a two-stage hotel star rating system in force since July, combining announced inspections with unannounced checks and anonymous overnight stays for four- and five-star hotels.

In the second stage, lower-tier hotels (one to three stars) undergo unannounced daytime inspections, while four- and five-star properties face an anonymous overnight stay.

The reforms focus on daily operational delivery of standards across housekeeping, maintenance, reception, guest services, and management, not just during formal inspections.

The revised rules set a consistent national benchmark for international travelers and aim to align ratings with guest expectations across regions beyond Seoul amid growing tourism.

Data protection now impacts star ratings, with hotels earning points for dedicated privacy functions, privacy programs, and related certifications, while regulatory actions can incur penalties.

The changes expand an existing system into a clearer two-stage process and tie quality to broader hotel operations, technology, security, and compliance.

Evaluators may order a third inspection if scores differ by 20% or more, and the trigger for anonymous overnight assessments to prompt further review sits at a 30% threshold.

The first assessment is conducted with advance notice to review self-assessments, documents, facilities, operations, and service standards, followed by a second, no-notice assessment.

The overarching takeaway is that hotels must maintain standards daily to meet or exceed their target rating, as evaluations test everyday guest experience as well as compliance.