--- title: "[Essential Pension Playbook] EP.4 Hanok Pensions" description: "Episode 4 of our Essential Pension Playbook series dives into hanok pensions. With Airbnb launching a dedicated hanok category, demand is heating up. Here's what ONDA's data reveals — plus operational tips you can use today." published: 2023-02-22T00:00:00+00:00 author: "ONDA 편집팀" category: "Insights" image: "https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/64057dd248a7e96e7172b0c1_Frame_107.jpg" canonical: https://global.onda.me/en/blog?slug=know-2302-11 locale: en --- # [Essential Pension Playbook] EP.4 Hanok Pensions ⚠️ All rights reserved. Cite this piece as 'ONDA (온다)' when quoting. Hello! We're **ONDA — the digital infrastructure for Korea's hospitality ecosystem.** 📍 **Essential Pension Playbook**: four must-have insights for pension operators. This is our field guide. Welcome to Episode 4. This time, we're talking **hanok pensions**. [**"That first night in a hanok is still vivid. I fell in love with Korea's traditional houses on the spot."**](https://www.hankyung.com/life/article/202211164594i) Airbnb co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk said that staying in a hanok is reason enough to travel. In 2023, Airbnb made hanok the centerpiece of a major platform upgrade. **Hanok is the first traditional housing style worldwide to get its own Airbnb category.** With that kind of spotlight, demand for hanok pensions is only going up. Let's look at what ONDA's data says. ### **How Are Hanok Pensions Selling?** In 2022, hanok pensions processed roughly ₩4.9 billion in total transactions. **Average daily room rate: ₩143,567.** Which channels drove those sales? ![2022 ONDA Hanok Pension Sales Channel Share](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/64057cf510e72d1f40e23e35_Frame_108.jpg) Naver still leads. But international channels are pulling real weight too. Given Airbnb's hanok push, **if you run a hanok pension, connecting to international OTAs this year isn't optional — it's essential.** ### **Facility Maintenance: Can't Skip This** Cleanliness matters everywhere. But hanok maintenance demands extra care. **Wood structure = vulnerable to moisture, pests, and fire.** Here's how to stay ahead. **1. Cleaning** - Avoid harsh alkaline or acidic cleaners. They damage wood and earthen walls. - Use **pH-neutral detergent**. It cleans gently without stripping surfaces. **2. Maintenance** - **Airflow is everything.** Ventilate often. - **Keep moisture out.** If water seeps into floors, use sealant or protective mats. - **Wood and stone attract bugs and mold.** Check window screens regularly. Stock insect repellent. ### **Marketing Tips for Hanok Pensions** According to a [2021 online survey](http://news.bbsi.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=3057144) by Korea's Overseas Culture and Information Service, **83.4% of respondents said they're most interested in "experiencing traditional Korean culture."** If your guests choose a hanok, give them something to *do* there. That experience becomes your marketing content. Here are three traditional experiences you can deliver easily: **1. Tea Ceremony** ![Source: Unsplash](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/64057d0d62655db322e548eb_Frame_109.jpg) Offer a tea set and a welcome tea service. A simple ritual in a hanok setting? Unforgettable. **2. Traditional Clothing & Accessories** ![Source: Gyeongju Wonhwaru](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/64057d3410e72d5407e23e4a_Frame_110.jpg) Japanese ryokans provide yukata. You can do the same with **hanbok loungewear** and traditional rubber shoes (gomusin). Add small Korean craft items for ambiance. Foreign guests love this kind of tactile immersion. **3. Korean Flavors** ![Source: Unsplash](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/64057d4c48a7e921be7208d4_Frame_111.jpg) Serve a proper Korean breakfast. If full meal prep isn't feasible, offer **traditional snacks (hangwa)** instead. These three touches alone can lift guest satisfaction — and turn your property into something guests remember and share. ### **Where Do International Travelers Book Hanok Pensions?** Walk into COEX Starfield Library on a weekday afternoon. It's packed with foreign tourists snapping photos. Inbound tourism [jumped more than 5x in 2022 compared to 2021](https://m.yonhapnewstv.co.kr/news/MYH20221217001100641). K-content fans want "Korean experiences" — hanok included. So where do they book? Package tour groups get assigned hotels. But **FITs (free independent travelers)** search and book on **Agoda, Airbnb, Booking.com**. Increasingly, they're using **Google Hotels** too. Among ONDA's top 5 hanok pensions by revenue, **all five list on international OTAs.** More channels = more visibility = more bookings. Don't leave money on the table. #### Top-performing pensions already work with ONDA. [Get in touch](https://www.onda.me/apply-form?utm_source=home&utm_medium=trend&utm_campaign=know&utm_content=2302_11_cta)