Olympic Reservations

[Anchor Lead]

With the opening of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games roughly 60 days away, some lodging facilities in the hosting province have raised room rates. Some are even refusing to receive reservations, casting a shadow over the success of the 2018 winter Olympics.

[Pkg]

This is a district of motels in Gangneung where ice sports events will be held for the PyeongChang Olympic Games. With old-fashioned facilities, the nightly rate is usually around 50,000 won in the winter. However, many of the facilities are refusing to receive reservations for February next year when the PyeongChang Olympic Games are held. Their calculation is that they can raise room charges when the Olympics draw nearer.

[Soundbite] (Lodging Facility Owner (Voice modified)) : "It is brief, lasting about a week. Prices are limitless, frankly."

The situation is the same near beaches. Rooms are marked vacant on an accommodation management Web site. However, the facilities are refusing to receive reservations, saying that they have already been booked. A room for two or three people costs 400,000 to 500,000 won. That's even if you can get a reservation. Prices differ, depending on the level of the facilities. However, room charges are three or four times higher than usual, and even double peak-season prices.

[Soundbite] (Lodging Facility Owner (Voice modified)) : "The prices are KRW 400,000 or KRW 450,000. They are different at each business."

There are so-called "Olympics rental rates". And if you want a large room measuring some 100 square meters, expect charges of one million won per night at some places.

[Soundbite] Lee Young-soon (Tourist) : "If prices are that high a night, it is quite burdensome for me. I cannot afford to stay here."

However, local governments are saying that lodging charges remain stable.

[Soundbite] Jeon Jae-seop (Gangwon-do Prov. Olympic Organizing Bureau) : "Lodging prices are moving downwards to stabilize. However, some businesses are raising charges and refusing to receive reservations. We will actively persuade them and take administrative measures if necessary."

Some lodging facilities' practices of overcharging or refusing to receive reservations can negatively affect other accommodations that are conscientiously following price regulations. They can even cast a shadow over the success of the PyeongChang Olympic Games.