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Octavius Hite
Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Location: Househunting, looking for a new bunker from which to convert the world to homosexuality.
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 Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:19 pm Post subject: 'Love' fills Busan's accommodation void |
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This is great! Will the neitizens of Korean be demanding that CNN return the country's honour and diginity?
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/11/16/apec.lovemotels.ap/index.html
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BUSAN, South Korea (AP) -- Round beds and red lights are among the amenities on offer at lodgings for some of the guests attending Asia-Pacific economic meetings in this port city.
While world leaders at this week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit will doze in the comfort of five-star hotels, the accommodations are of a distinctly less-starred caliber for hundreds of others: They're staying at "love motels," round beds and all.
The affordable motels, more suited for the kind of "love" that lasts hours rather than an eternity, are a fixture across South Korea. In one of the world's most densely populated countries where extended families often live together, the accommodations are a refuge for those seeking discreet locations for intimate encounters with their partner of choice.
Luxury hotels in Busan's Haeundae beach area near the summit venues are at a premium, with an estimated 10,000 guests connected to APEC's weeklong meetings, culminating in the leaders' summit Friday and Saturday.
"A lot of visitors have requested rooms at super-deluxe hotels, but due to the limited number of hotels available, not everyone was able to stay at the hotels they desired," said Koo Yu-na, an official at the APEC accommodation team.
The room shortage has sent organizers turning to the motels, which often have fanciful English names like Crystal or Luxury. Nearly half of the motels in the area are also fully booked during the summit, Koo said.
"Love motels" are decked out with features designed for covert liaisons of amorous sort. Curtains of rope at parking lot entrances allow cars inside but keep out prying eyes. Frosted glass and heavy curtains in the rooms provide further cover.
The features are necessity for some visitors: Adultery is illegal in South Korea and punishable by up to two years in prison, although the law is only really enforced by angry spouses.
Other amenities can include the red lights and round beds. At the Motel Aqua Beach where some journalists are staying, staircase railings are decorated with fanciful drawings of bare-breasted maidens.
Not included: a closet for putting one's clothes. Instead, guests get a couple hangers fit just to hold what you came in wearing.
APEC organizers acknowledge some guests aren't pleased with their accommodations.
"We have had visitors complaining about outdated facilities at some of the inexpensive hotels," Koo said.
South Korea has turned to the "love motels" before during big events, with many visitors also staying in them during the 2002 World Cup the country co-hosted with Japan, and during the Asian Games later that year.
Despite the influx of APEC guests to Busan, the motels aren't necessarily happy. Intense security means many clients are staying away. Rooms that can be rented by the hour, possibly several times over the course of a day and night, are now occupied 24 hours by the same guest.
At the Queen motel, which boasts neon lights and rope curtains but where managers insist they aren't a "love motel," business has turned for the worse during APEC. Normally, all 42 rooms are full but only six were occupied earlier this week.
A manager who would only give a last name, Kim, said people were avoiding the beach area afraid of possible terror attacks while APEC leaders are there. |
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Pligganease
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: The deep south...
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| Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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Like those CEOs, political leaders, and business power players have never stayed in a love motel, much less hired a hooker!  |
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Wangja
Joined: 17 May 2004
Location: Seoul, Yongsan
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| Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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| I'd guess that the majority haven't. |
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