Name: Hotel Ilsung
Address: 23, Jong-ro 48-gil JONGNO-GU, Seoul, Seoul, Seoul, 110-540, South Korea
Rating: 7

Air conditioning

24-hour reception

Smoke-free property

General

Slippers

Rooms

Accessibility features

Accessibility

Laundry

Services and amenities

Wi-Fi

Internet

Location

At the hotel

Room amenities

Sinseol-dong

Wangsimni

City Hall

Insadong

Dongdaemun Market

Gwangjang Traditional Market

Ssamji-gil

N Seoul Tower

Gwanghwamun

Gyeongbok Palace

Namdaemun Market

Deoksugung Palace

War Memorial of Korea

National Museum of Korea

Lotte World

Seoul Grand Park

Gimpo International Airport

Incheon International Airport

Hotel Ilsung

Seoul

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

11-beds

12-beds

13-beds

14-beds

15-beds

16-beds

17-beds

18-beds

19-beds

2-beds

20-beds

21-beds

22-beds

23-beds

24-beds

25-beds

26-beds

27-beds

28-beds

29-beds

3-beds

30-beds

31-beds

32-beds

33-beds

34-beds

35-beds

36-beds

37-beds

38-beds

39-beds

4-beds

40-beds

5-beds

6-beds

7-beds

8-beds

9-beds

king-bed

queen-bed

limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

2-bedrooms

3-bedrooms

4-bedrooms

5-bedrooms

6-bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

Be aware that the rooms are extremely small and one of the rooms we rented did not even have a window in the room or the bathroom which is a safety issue.  The rooms were clean they had Wi-Fi on the second floor however, the third-floorroom did not have Wi-Fi.  if you're allergic to down blankets you're out of luck because that's all they have.   If you leave your windows open at night you're going to have to hear it all night bar right outside of the windows.   Of the big pluses was the proximity to Southgate market it was within easy walking distance.

Observations from recent visit

Hotel tong vivace is heaven sent for wholesalers like me. It's just walking distance to the famous Dongdaemun fashion wholesale district. However, u must print the pictures on their website because it contains instructions on how to find the place. When u alight from the airport bus, u have to cross the street. When u see the Lg shop, there is an alley and u will see a city something hostel . Walk in the alley and turn right and keep walking. U will see a cute and cozy looking inn. The room is very small but homey and clean. There are complimentary  3 in  1 coffee sachet, tea bags and water dispenser  near the reception  area. It is better to arrive daytime so that u can easily ask around for directions.
    Outside the hotel , you will see numerous restaurants to satisfy your hunger. This hotel is best for fashion wholesalers though. If you are a tourist, better stay in myeongdong area.

Attention: Fashion wholesalers

Having just concluded a 5-night stay, the feeling is the hotel hit the right spots in providing a good location, rest quality, basic amenities. However the area can be tricky due to its inner-alley positioning.

The hotel seems to have same room sizes of 15-17 sqm, toilets separated from the bedroom. Shampoo/Bath liquids provided, toothbrush/paste and washing powder available upon request.

The location is a short walk from Dongdaemun exit 5, a left turn at the first alley after the exit. The area seem to have a fair bit of locals, judging by the presence of fruits and a small fish shops in the area. The location is generally safe but being in an inner-alley
may be tricky though, as we have been targeted once at night; a character eyeing us and walking up and down the road just outside the alley. If travelling alone, best to call the staff to come pick u up outside the alley for safety. Note there is no staff coverage after 1am though.

Area nearby are the DDM retail areas of helloapm, Miglione, Lottefitin and on the other side are the wholesale shopping centres. The neighbourhood has endless eateries and a halal fastfood place. Cafes are minimal here though, but street food abound.

Do note that if the directions indicating T World is present, it's out of date as of 31 Aug as the shop had been replaced by a beef charcaturie.

Sufficient Hotel But Beware Of Pitfalls

After spending a few days in Itaewon, I wanted a more Korean neighborhood experience, so I found Hotel Tong Vivace in the Dongdaemun district.  I paid about $68 for a single room. This is more like a guesthouse, with minimal services.  The staff was very nice and spoke enough English to make life easy. They will give you a combination to open the front door (the front desk isn't always attended after 6pm), and a combination for your room.  I hit my head going up the stairs, but that was sorta my fault, I'm 6'1".  Room was simple, clean and safe.  I appreciated the room A/C and really solid wifi.    The location is a little sketchy...tucked in a very narrow street, that is VERY untouristy. Their map is pretty good, just keep peering down the alleys until you see the City Lights building, then walk confidently into the alley!   Lots of rancorous small businesses selling everything from cell phones, to house goods to live eels (which they'll happily BBQ for you right there).  I liked the Korean hustle and bustle and felt completely safe, even in the narrow streets.  I don't speak Korean, but managed to get what I wanted when I needed it.  So, I recommend this for anyone looking to live amongst working Seoul residents, away from tourists and foreign travelers.  Very close to the fantastic Seoul Subway!

Hotel Tong - Good Enough

I booked a room online, at the other Hotel Tong in Seoul. Was informed by email that the room was actually not available, but they set me up here instead. Close to Jongno-5 station but kind of tucked away in a side alley, it is quite easy to miss. The area is not fancy  but interesting with lots of restaurants and a market across the street. 

The hotel itself is comfortable and clean. The staff barely spoke English, but tried to help as best they could.

Hotel Ilsung

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