1. Seoul’s Park Hyatt

Ideal for the Gangnam style
The Park Hyatt Seoul, one of the sexiest five-star hotels in the city, is surrounded by skyscrapers in the center of Gangnam, which was immortalized in a song by Psy for its upscale, trendy vibes. Views of a forest of high-rises with massive LED displays broadcasting photos of K-pop singers can be seen from the windows of white, minimalist back rooms. This futuristic vista is also accessible from the Ocelas Spa’s rooftop restaurant, granite infinity-edge pool, and leisure areas.

Spa Y Pool Y Cost £££

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Seoul’s Four Seasons (Booking.com)
Seoul’s Four Seasons (Booking.com)

2. Seoul’s Four Seasons

Ideal for culture
This charming luxury hotel blends the coziness of traditional Korean hospitality with all the modern conveniences, conveniently located across the street from Gyeongbokgung Palace, Jongmyo Royal Shrine, and Bukchon Hanok Village. There is a restaurant for every night of the week (keep an eye out for the artifacts uncovered under the Market Kitchen), and the public areas are lavish and welcoming, furnished in blazing bronze tones, with white-gold sofas and lovely flower arrangements. The Palace View Executive room, which offers views of the royal complex and access to the club lounge, is the one to reserve.

Spa Y Pool Y Cost £££

Make a reservation at the Hilton Gyeongju (hotels.com).
Gyeongju Hilton (hotels.com)

3. Gyeongju Hilton

Ideal for cherry blossoms
This sizable international resort is situated on the banks of Lake Bomun, a picturesque lake surrounded by 9,000 king cherry trees. They create a vision of pink when they bloom in April, drawing people from all over South Korea for concerts, picnics, celebrations, and the annual Gyeongju cherry blossom marathon. All of the rooms have balconies with views of the park, mountains, and lake, although they aren’t really spectacular. Other amenities include a jogging path, squash courts, an indoor pool, and a number of eateries and cafes.

Spa Y Pool Y Cost: ££

Reserve a room.
The Jeju Shilla (Expedia)
The Jeju Shilla (Expedia)

4. The best beach in Shilla Jeju

The Shilla is among the most beautiful locations to stay on the rocky volcanic island of Jeju, which is a well-liked weekend escape destination for Japanese and Korean travelers. The Hamptons-style low-rise resort is surrounded by three lagoon-shaped swimming pools (one for families, one for adults, and one indoors for winter), threaded with gardens, and brimming with recreational amenities, such as a Guerlain spa and a casino (only open to foreigners). It is only ten minutes’ walk from the Pacific-lapped Jungmun beach. Trekking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and sailing are all nearby activities.

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Spa Y Pool Y Cost £££

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(hotels.com) Signiel Seoul
(hotels.com) Signiel Seoul

5. Seoul Signiel

Ideal for the high life
A stay at Signiel Seoul offers breathtaking views of the South Korean city from its location between the 76th and 101st floors of the 123-story Lotte World Tower, Korea’s highest structure at 555 meters. The interior is equally stunning, featuring ultra-luxurious rooms decorated with floral flourishes in shades of cream and lilac, a top-notch Evian spa complete with steam rooms, saunas, and hydrotherapy pools, a modern French restaurant run by celebrity chef Yannick Alleno, and a bar that serves the most champagnes in the nation.

Spa Y Pool Y Cost £££