Skip to content

The Asian entertainment database. 1,140+ dramas, films, people and guides.

Hotelier (2001) K-Drama posterH

South Korea · Drama · 2001

Hotelier

호텔리어 Also known as Hotel Lia, Hotelier (2001)

MBC · 20 episodes · 50 min · Wednesday & Thursday · 15+ - Teens 15 or older Completed

Business Drama Melodrama Romance
4 Apr 2001
Premiere
7 Jun 2001
Finale
Your rating Be the first to vote

Binge Brief

  • Hotelier aired on MBC from April 4 to June 7, 2001, across 20 episodes.
  • The story centers on a takeover fight for the fictional Seoul Hotel after its owner dies suddenly.
  • Song Hye Kyo joined the cast mid-series as hotel heiress Kim Yun Hee, one of her earliest major drama roles.
  • Song Yoon Ah won the Top Excellence in Acting Award, Best Actress, at the 2001 MBC Drama Awards.
  • Some overseas scenes were filmed in Las Vegas alongside the main Seoul Hotel setting.
  • A Japanese remake aired on TV Asahi in 2007, with Bae Yong Joon appearing in a cameo.

Synopsis

Hotelier opens with a death. President Choi, longtime owner of Seoul Hotel, has a heart attack hours after learning that Hankang Distribution chairman Kim Bok-man wants to buy up the hotel's shares. His wife, Yoon Bong-sook, suddenly has to run a company she has never managed, while their son Choi Young-jae would rather party than help her.

To fend off the takeover, Bong-sook sends employee Seo Jin-young to America to rehire Han Tae-jun, the hotel's former manager, forced out years earlier over a scandal that was not his fault. Bok-man, for his part, hires Frank Shin, a Korean-American mergers and acquisitions specialist born Shin Dong-hyuk, to help him buy the shares by any means necessary; Frank only agrees after meeting Jin-young in the United States and being drawn to her. Back in Seoul for the first time since childhood, he works both sides of the deal while falling for her, and Jin-young finds herself torn between him and Tae-jun.

A second, quieter romance grows alongside it. Young-jae falls for Kim Yoon-hee, Bok-man's melancholic daughter, but she is drawn instead to the steadier Tae-jun. Frank's own plans shift when he discovers that Jenny, a young woman Tae-jun has been caring for, is his estranged sister; the family he finds in Seoul changes how he sees the deal he came to close.

Frank switches sides, and he and Tae-jun rebuild Seoul Hotel's reputation together. Bong-sook is diagnosed with cancer and dies; Frank and Jin-young get engaged; Yoon-hee leaves for Las Vegas to study business, with Tae-jun following her abroad. Hotelier aired on MBC from April 4 to June 7, 2001, starring Bae Yong-joon, Song Yoon-ah, Kim Seung-woo and Song Hye-kyo, who joined the cast partway through as Yoon-hee.

Advertisement

Hotelier cast

Main cast
Advertisement

Best scenes

  • Shin Dong Hyuk and Seo Jin Young's emotional rooftop conversation, where business motives blur into personal feelings.

  • Han Tae Jun's dramatic boardroom confrontation, asserting his loyalty and fighting to save the hotel.

  • Kim Yun Hee's kind gesture to a distressed guest, showcasing warmth and empathy at the heart of hospitality.

  • Frank's silent goodbye at the airport, a heart-wrenching moment of unresolved love and regret.

  • The final hotel celebration scene, bringing unity, triumph, and emotional closure for the characters and viewers.

Filming locations

  • The series was primarily filmed at the Grand Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul, using its main building, villas, and the Aston House as the hotel setting.

  • International scenes were filmed in Las Vegas, per the production's own release information.

Visual design and costumes

  • Bae Yong Joon's character Frank wore tailored Western suits to emphasize his international business persona.

  • Song Yoon Ah's wardrobe blended elegance and authority: sleek blouses, pencil skirts, and neutral tones.

  • The overall hotel design featured modern lighting, marble interiors, and rich gold accents, pairing luxury with professionalism.

  • Color palettes subtly differentiated roles: warmer tones for hospitality staff, cooler for external corporate players.

  • Costumes reflected personality evolution, as Song Hye Kyo's Yun Hee moved from casual trainee looks to more refined attire.

Themes and messages

  • Hotelier explores business ethics vs. personal feelings, especially in corporate takeover settings.

  • The drama emphasizes loyalty and integrity in the workplace, even under external pressure.

  • A recurring theme is second chances in love and life, especially with characters battling past regrets.

  • It highlights the importance of teamwork and communication in high-pressure industries.

  • The show also explores emotional healing, using the hotel as a metaphor for rest, recovery, and connection.

Interesting facts

  • Song Hye Kyo joined the cast mid-series, adding fresh energy and youthful charm as hotel heiress Kim Yun Hee.

  • The drama's success inspired a Japanese remake in 2007 on TV Asahi, starring Ueto Aya and Seiichi Tanabe, with Bae Yong Joon making a cameo appearance.

  • Hotelier aired during the early years of the Korean Wave in Asia, alongside the rise of several of its cast members' international profiles.

  • Song Yoon Ah won the Top Excellence in Acting Award, Best Actress, at the 2001 MBC Drama Awards for her role as Seo Jin Young.

Remakes and other versions

A Japanese remake aired on TV Asahi in 2007, starring Ueto Aya and Seiichi Tanabe; Bae Yong Joon made a cameo appearance in the adaptation.

Real-life loves on set

There are no confirmed reports of a real-life romance developing between any of the lead actors in the Korean drama Hotelier (2001). While the drama featured emotionally compelling performances and strong on-screen chemistry, particularly between Bae Yong Joon (Shin Dong Hyuk / Frank) and Song Yoon Ah (Seo Jin Young), their connection remained professional.

Though fans speculated about a possible romance due to the characters' intimate and heartfelt interactions, none of the main cast members, including Song Hye Kyo and Kim Seung Woo, were romantically linked off-screen during or after the show's run.

In short, Hotelier offered a beautifully portrayed love story, but it was entirely fictional. The deep emotional bonds seen in the series were the result of skilled acting and storytelling, not real-life relationships.

Episodes

Ep Title Air date Status Rating
1 2001-04-04 Aired
2 2001-04-05 Aired
3 2001-04-11 Aired
4 2001-04-12 Aired
5 2001-04-18 Aired
6 2001-04-19 Aired
7 2001-04-25 Aired
8 2001-04-26 Aired
9 2001-04-27 Aired
10 2001-05-01 Aired
11 2001-05-09 Aired
12 2001-05-10 Aired
13 2001-05-16 Aired
14 2001-05-17 Aired
15 2001-05-23 Aired
16 2001-05-25 Aired
17 2001-05-27 Aired
18 2001-06-01 Aired
19 2001-06-06 Aired
20 2001-06-07 Aired

Awards

Year Ceremony Category Recipient Result
2001 MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence in Acting Awards, Best Actress Song Yoon-ah Won

Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does Hotelier (2001) have?

Hotelier has 20 episodes, which aired on MBC from April 4 to June 7, 2001.

Who stars in Hotelier?

The cast is led by Bae Yong-joon, Song Yoon-ah, Kim Seung-woo, and Song Hye-kyo.

What is Hotelier about?

Hotelier follows a fight for control of the fictional Seoul Hotel after its owner dies, as business rivals, hotel staff, and their families become entangled in takeover plans and romance.

Where was Hotelier filmed?

The series was mainly filmed at the Grand Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul, with some overseas scenes shot in Las Vegas.

Did Hotelier win any awards?

Yes. Song Yoon-ah won the Top Excellence in Acting Award, Best Actress, at the 2001 MBC Drama Awards.

If you liked this drama

Matched on genre, country and era. Closest first.

The poster is shown through the TMDB API and is used only to identify the work. If you hold rights to an image used here and want it removed, write to info@discoverasianworld.com and it will be taken down.