Mandarin Oriental Adds Seoul to Its Asia Portfolio With 2030 Opening
The 128-room property will anchor Seoul Station’s redevelopment and deepen competition in one of Asia’s fastest-rising luxury markets.
Photo: Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is set to enter South Korea with a new boutique-style property in Seoul, slated to open in 2030. For the group, the project will tap into one of the region’s most competitive luxury markets, where global players are rapidly scaling their presence.
The 128-room hotel will rise in the Central Business District just north of the Han River, part of the large-scale redevelopment around Seoul Station. That location positions the property at the intersection of cultural landmarks, business districts, and transportation links that connect directly to the rest of the country. For travel sellers, it positions Mandarin Oriental at the heart of a city that has quietly become one of Asia’s most compelling luxury destinations, drawing high-net-worth clients for both leisure and corporate travel.
Design will be overseen by André Fu, whose work on properties such as The Upper House in Hong Kong has helped shape a new vocabulary of understated, residential-style luxury in Asia. Here, Fu is expected to bring that same sensibility, creating what Mandarin Oriental describes as an intimate, private-club feel rather than a sprawling urban resort.
As for culinary programming, the group plans three signature experiences across the 20th and 21st floors: a destination restaurant with skyline views, a refined Chinese venue, and a Korean chef’s counter designed as a theatrical dining stage. These venues will be complemented by a ground-floor bar and The Mandarin Cake Shop.
Wellness, always a brand hallmark, will arrive here with scale. The spa is envisioned as a four-floor “sanctuary,” marrying Korean healing traditions with contemporary performance therapies. Features include an 82-foot pool, golf simulators, multiball courts, and even a kids’ club.
The project is being developed with Hanwha Group, one of South Korea’s largest conglomerates, as part of its transformation of Seoul Station into a hub of commerce and culture. For Mandarin Oriental, the partnership gives a foothold in a market where competition from groups like Four Seasons, Signiel, and Josun Palace has already raised the bar for luxury hospitality.
