Meet the CEO behind Korea's premier hospitality website studio — and learn why a beautiful homepage is just the beginning.
EINET: The Hospitality Website Studio
Kim Taek-hoon, CEO
EINET portfolio
Q. Hello! Please introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello. I'm Kim Taek-hoon, CEO of EINET — a web studio specializing in hospitality websites. I've been building websites for about 21 years now.
I founded EINET as a web agency in 2005 to emphasize technical excellence. Since then, we've created and managed hundreds of sites across Korea, and we offer consulting services as well.
Q. What does EINET do best?
We specialize in hospitality websites — resorts, pensions, hotels. We know how to showcase properties better than anyone.
But we don't stop at web design. We also handle interior design consulting, advertising, reservation management, and even operational support. It's a full-service approach: we help property owners run their business smoothly from day one.
Out of everything we do, website creation and pension consulting are our bread and butter. The depth of our portfolio gives us an edge — we deliver work that's simply a cut above the competition.
Q. Why expand beyond website design into reservations, operations, and interior consulting?
A pretty website used to be enough. Not anymore. Guests expect more, and the bar keeps rising.
We invested years into building a proper content management system — so owners can update their own sites without relying on us. We also tie in marketing and booking support, because a great website means nothing if no one finds it.
A lot of owners told us they struggle with these ancillary tasks. So we started thinking of ourselves as co-operators, not just vendors. If you want stable, scalable bookings, you need tight integration between your site, your booking engine (like ONDA), your OTA channels, and your marketing — all working in sync. Interior design alone won't move the needle on occupancy.
Every property is different. We focus on finding low-cost, high-impact upgrades that highlight what makes your place special. That's the real differentiator.
Q. Walk us through the website creation process.
It starts with photography. Guests choose accommodations based on photos — they can't visit every property in person. So we can't start designing until the shoot is done.
Here's the flow:
- Photo shoot: Our in-house photographers visit the property and capture it in the best light.
- Planning & scripting: Our content team reviews the images, considers location, scale, amenities, and interior style, then drafts the site concept and copy.
- Image selection & retouching: We pick the hero shots and polish them to perfection.
- Design & development: Our designers and engineers build the site around the photography and messaging.
- Review & launch: We hand over the site to the owner, iterate based on feedback, and launch.
After launch, we stay involved — maintenance, updates, consulting. It's a partnership, not a one-and-done transaction.
Before retouching
After retouching
Q. Your portfolios look exceptional. How important is photography in hospitality?
It's everything.
Time and distance make it impossible for most guests to visit a property before booking. Photos are the first — and often only — impression. That first impression drives conversion.
A single image can make someone feel like they're already there. That emotional pull is what converts browsers into bookers. We've known this from day one, so we've always invested heavily in photography. The cumulative effect of that focus is what you see in our work today.
Before retouching
After retouching
Q. What makes EINET different from other web agencies?
We obsess over content quality. Beautiful websites are the baseline. But we also constantly experiment with new approaches to keep hospitality web design from stagnating.
For example: we shoot with studio-grade gear — large-format digital cameras, high-end drones. You get commercial-photography-level results without hiring a separate studio.
But here's the bigger difference: most agencies optimize for volume. They manage dozens of properties by slashing prices to goose occupancy. That works great for the agency. Not so much for the property owner, whose margins disappear.
We take the opposite approach. We develop custom, low-investment upgrades tailored to each property's strengths. That's harder to scale, but it's what actually grows owner revenue. This sustained innovation is what sets us apart.
On-site shoot
Q. You work with photographers all over Korea. What's a typical shoot day like?
Busy. We could stretch shoots over weeks, but we keep them tight — two to three days max — to minimize disruption.
Day one is reconnaissance: we scope the property, identify what to emphasize, and draft a preliminary content plan.
Day two is the main shoot. Daytime: exteriors, amenities, rooms — anything that benefits from natural light. Evening: mood shots, atmosphere, anything that leans emotional. We also grab nearby attractions and fill in gaps.
After the shoot wraps, we edit, retouch, and deliver the assets. Then post-production begins.
Q. What drives EINET's business philosophy?
Partnership. We work with clients who share our values, and we prioritize long-term relationships over quick wins.
It's natural for occupancy to decline over time. New properties open with infinity pools and novel concepts. Without continuous reinvestment and innovation, your original build cost becomes hard to recoup — especially as Korea's population shrinks and domestic travel stagnates.
You can't coast on a great website or beautiful photos forever. You need partners who help you adapt. That's the relationship model we pursue.
Q. Which client partnerships stand out most to you?
I've run this company for 20 years, so there are many. Each one has its own story.
But if I had to name a few: Ganghwa Mari Pension and Daegwallyeong Pendant House. We've worked with them since the early days in Jeju. We co-develop new concepts, exchange guest feedback, and learn from each other. They've taught us what property management actually looks like. They're family.
Q. Any advice for aspiring hospitality entrepreneurs?
Running a pension or resort is neither a bad business nor an easy one. I'd call it exile and a marathon.
The industry changes every day. The moment you get comfortable, your revenue starts sliding.
Most owners invest their savings into a property and expect stable returns. But they often neglect the work required to grow revenue — or find it overwhelming. That's when income drops.
You don't have to solve everything alone. If you're struggling, ask for help. We're here. EINET wants to share the burden and think alongside you — not as a vendor, but as a partner.
Q. What's EINET's ultimate goal?
I've met a lot of business owners who've been at it for 10 or 20 years. Most say the same thing: you're unlikely to get wildly rich or go completely broke. Some joke that to make real money, you have to be half a con artist.
I get it. But I can't operate that way. EINET is built on the idea that companies and clients can have fun, make money together, and build something sustainable. That's what partnership means to us.
We've built our reputation on photo quality. But we're not stopping there. We're staying ahead of trends, listening to customer needs, and delivering solutions only we can provide. Our goal is to become a model mid-sized firm — one where everyone wins.
We'll keep running toward that future.