Unregistered accommodation: what changes on Nov. 12, 2026 for your bookings
From November 12, 2026, platforms must stop listing any property whose business registration they cannot verify. What this means for you.
Machine translation from French, being reviewed. Read the French version (reference)
_Traduction automatique / Machine translation_
On November 12, 2026, a new Korean rule requires booking sites to verify that each property is registered with the authorities. It targets platforms, not customers, but it can affect your bookings. Here is what is planned and what is worth checking.
What changes
The Public Health Control Act (공중위생관리법) was amended and promulgated on November 11, 2025, taking effect one year later (Herald Business). From November 12, 2026:
- the platform must verify the property's business registration certificate (영업신고증);
- if it cannot verify it, it must not list the property;
- listings already online are covered: they must be verified too, or they are removed (Newsis, Asia Business Daily).
The enforcement decree, promulgated on October 20, sets the fine at 5 million wons per violation. The law allowed up to 10 million (Newsis, SBS News). The rule also covers platforms that display properties supplied by another online agency. Local governments can flag an illegal listing and request its removal.
Who is targeted
The text is aimed at platforms and online agencies, not travelers. The Ministry of Health does, however, ask users to check the property's business information and to choose legally registered accommodation (Newsis).
Platforms are already getting ready. Naver Booking announced in September that it would check its hosts' permits and hide or remove properties with incomplete files (etnews, Sept. 7). According to an industry official quoted in the same article, the major online agencies already check this certificate when a property signs up.
What this means for you
- Book a registered property. Registered professional accommodation is the least exposed. For a short-term rental, ask the owner for their business registration number or check whether the listing displays this information.
- If you are staying after November 12 in a shared home or an apartment, log back into the platform a few days beforehand to confirm that the booking is still active. Nothing has been announced about the fate of existing bookings if a listing is removed; to be safe, check that your booking is still active.
- Keep proof. Save the confirmation and the refund terms. If the platform cancels, ask for a full refund in writing.
- Plan a fallback. For the dates of big events, a registered hotel booked in advance protects you better than a last-minute listing.
In Dari
In DariFind accommodation In DariSee neighborhoods on the mapSources
- Newsis, 5 million won fine from November 12 (Oct. 19, 2026)
- The Asia Business Daily, platforms and registration certificates (Oct. 19, 2026)
- The Herald Business, law promulgated on November 11, 2025 (July 3, 2026)
- SBS News English, fine for platforms (July 3, 2026)
- Electronic Times (etnews), Naver Booking removes unregistered accommodation (Sept. 7, 2026)
Sources
- Newsis, amende de 5 millions de wons à partir du 12 novembre · checked on 19 October 2026
- The Asia Business Daily, plateformes et certificats de déclaration · checked on 19 October 2026
- The Herald Business, loi promulguée le 11 novembre 2025 · checked on 3 July 2026
- SBS News English, amende pour les plateformes · checked on 3 July 2026
- Electronic Times (etnews), Naver réservation retire les hébergements non déclarés · checked on 7 September 2026