12 Korean Dramas Set in Hotels, Presenting Stories of Love, Mystery, and Business Competition

Kapanlagi.com - The Korean drama industry always manages to present unique and interesting settings, one of which is the luxury and bustle of the hospitality world. The hotel setting not only serves as a visual delight but also becomes the center of conflict, business intrigue, and the romantic love stories of its characters.

Various popular titles have utilized the hotel atmosphere to build memorable storylines for viewers. Quoted from KapanLagi.com from various sources, here is a list of Korean dramas set in hotels, arranged from the most recent releases to the most legendary, Tuesday (21/7).

1. Spooky in Love (2026)

Main Cast: Park Eun-bin, Yang Se-jong, Ong Seong-wu

Synopsis: Tells the story of Cheon Yeo-ri, a wealthy hotel heiress with the supernatural ability to see ghosts. She then becomes involved in a unique relationship and collaborates with Ma Gang-wook, a strict prosecutor who is actually very afraid of the mystical, to solve various unsolved criminal cases.

2. Motel California (2025)

Main Cast: Lee Se-young, Na In-woo

Synopsis: Tells the story of a woman who grew up in a rural inn called Motel California. After fleeing to the city for 12 years, she is forced to return to her hometown and reunite with her first love and childhood memories.

3. King the Land (2023) 

Main Cast: Lee Jun-ho, Im Yoon-ah (Yoona)

Synopsis: Follows Gu Won, the heir of King Group who despises fake smiles, and Cheon Sa-rang, a cheerful model employee at King Hotel. Their relationship, which begins from a misunderstanding, transforms into a sweet love story amidst family business competition.

4. See You in My 19th Life (2023) 

Main Cast: Shin Hye-sun, Ahn Bo-hyun

Synopsis: Ban Ji-eum has the ability to remember her entire past lives. In her 19th life, she is determined to rediscover her first love, Moon Seo-ha, who is now the executive director at MI Hotel.

5. Hotel del Luna (2019)

Main Cast: Lee Ji-eun (IU), Yeo Jin-goo

Synopsis: Centered around Hotel del Luna, a mystical inn in downtown Seoul that specifically serves souls before they move on to the afterlife. The hotel is managed by Jang Man-wol, a woman bound by a promise for thousands of years, along with a new human manager, Gu Chan-sung.

6. Encounter (2018) 

Main Cast: Song Hye-kyo, Park Bo-gum

Synopsis: Cha Soo-hyun, the daughter of a politician and the CEO of Donghwa Hotel, whose life is always arranged, accidentally meets Kim Jin-hyuk, a free-spirited young man, while vacationing in Cuba, which plants the seeds of love that challenge their social order.

7. Hotel King (2014)

Main Cast: Lee Dong-wook, Lee Da-hae

Synopsis: Tells the story of Ah Mo-ne, the sole heir of Hotel Ciel, who tries to save her family's business after her father's death, along with Cha Jae-wan, the cold general manager of the hotel who harbors a dark secret about his origins.

8. My Secret Hotel (2014) 

My Secret Hotel (2014) Photo: mydramalist.com

Main Cast: Yoo In-na, Namkoong Min, Jin Yi-han

Synopsis: Set in a luxury hotel, Nam Sang-hyo is tasked with planning the wedding of her ex-husband, Gu Hae-young. However, the event turns into chaos when a mysterious murder case occurs right in the middle of the wedding party.

9. Lie to Me (2011)  

Lie to Me (2011) Photo: mydramalist.com

Main Cast: Yoon Eun Hye, Kang Ji Hwan, Sung Jun

Synopsis: Gong Ah-jung, a civil servant, accidentally pretends to be married to Hyun Ki-joon, a wealthy CEO of World Hotel, leading to a complicated public scandal filled with romantic comedy situations.

10. Paradise Ranch (2011) 

Paradise Ranch (2011) Photo: imdb.com

Main Cast: Changmin (TVXQ), Lee Yeon-hee

Synopsis: Han Dong-joo and Lee Da-ji married at a very young age, but decided to divorce just six months later. Six years later, Dong-joo returns to Jeju Island to develop a luxury resort and reunites with Da-ji, who is now working as a veterinarian at Paradise Ranch. This meeting rekindles old feelings amidst business dealings, family, and complicated romantic relationships.

11. Queen of the Game (2006)

Queen of the Game (2006) Photo: mydramalist.com

Main Cast: Joo Jin-mo, Lee Bo-young, Claudia Kim, Choi Joon Yong

Synopsis: Lee Kang-jae plans revenge against the man who destroyed his father's life by approaching and seducing his enemy's daughter, Kang Eun-seol, amidst the intrigue of hotel business competition.

12. Hotelier (2001)

Hotelier (2001) Photo: mydramalist.com

Main Cast: Bae Yong-joon, Song Yoon-ah, Kim Seung-woo, Song Hye-kyo

Synopsis: Focused on business competition, operations, and the acquisition conflict of the famous Seoul Hotel. This classic drama tells the struggles of hotel professionals, including an idealistic manager and an acquisition appraiser, in maintaining the sustainability of their hotel.

13. Questions and Answers About Korean Dramas Set in Hotels

1. What is the most popular Korean drama set in a hotel?

Some of the most popular Korean dramas set in hotels are King the Land, Hotel del Luna, Hotelier, Hotel King, and My Secret Hotel. These five dramas make the hotel the main backdrop with stories that combine romance, business conflicts, and even mystery.

2. Are all the dramas on this list set in luxury hotels?

Not all of them. Most are indeed set in star-rated or luxury hotels, such as King the Land, Hotel King, and Hotelier. Meanwhile, Motel California is set in a motel in the countryside, while Paradise Ranch features more of a farm and resort development project on Jeju Island.

3. Which Korean dramas set in hotels have elements of fantasy or mystery?

If you enjoy fantasy or mystery stories, Hotel del Luna and Spooky in Love could be good choices. Hotel del Luna tells the story of a hotel that serves spirits before they move on to the afterlife, while Spooky in Love follows a hotel heir who can see ghosts and collaborates with a prosecutor to uncover various mysterious cases.

(kpl/rmt)