''Hotelier'' is a 2001 South Korean television drama series set in Seoul Hotel, a fictional five-star hotel undergoing an expensive expansion and renovation. The word "

hotelier A hotel manager, hotelier, or lodging manager is a person who manages the operation of a hotel, motel, resort, or other lodging-related establishment. Management of a hotel operation includes, but is not limited to management of hotel staff, bu ...

" means "a person who owns or runs a hotel." Starring Bae Yong-joon,

Song Yoon-ah Song Yoon-ah (Korean: 송윤아, born June 7, 1973) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for starring in the film '' Jail Breakers'' (2002), as well as the television dramas ''Hotelier'' (2001), '' On Air'' (2008), ''Mama'' (2014), ''The ...

Kim Seung-woo Kim Seung-woo (c. February 24, 1969) is a South Korean actor who participated in various films, television series and variety shows through out 1990 until 2022. He also works in different media platforms such as playing a talk show host role. ...

and

Song Hye-kyo Song Hye-kyo (; born November 22, 1981) is a South Korean actress. She gained international popularity through her leading roles in the television dramas ''Autumn in My Heart'' (2000), '' All In'' (2003), ''Full House'' (2004), ''That Winter, th ...

, it aired on MBC from April 4 to July 7, 2001, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 20 episodes. Bae's character is based on Korean-American businessman Hong Seung-pyo.

Synopsis

President Choi, hotelier of Seoul Hotel, dies from a heart attack hours after his old friend Kim Bok-man informed him that his company Hankang Distribution was buying shares of Seoul Hotel in preparation of a

takeover In business, a takeover is the purchase of one company (the ''target'') by another (the ''acquirer'' or ''bidder''). In the UK, the term refers to the acquisition of a public company whose shares are listed on a stock exchange, in contrast to t ...

. Choi is succeeded by his wife, Yoon Bong-sook, who had never assumed any managerial position in the hotel before. Her son, Choi Young-jae is a dissolute young man who refuses to work and spends all his time partying. To fend off the competitor, Madam Yoon sends one of the hotel employees, Seo Jin-young, to America to try to rehire Seoul Hotel's former

hotel manager A hotel manager, hotelier, or lodging manager is a person who manages the operation of a hotel, motel, resort, or other lodging-related establishment. Management of a hotel operation includes, but is not limited to management of hotel staff, bu ...

, Han Tae-jun, who was forced to resign after a scandal despite his innocence. Tae-jun is currently taking care of Jenny, a drug-addicted Korean-American girl. To assist him in buying Seoul Hotel's shares through whatever means possible, Bok-man hires Frank Shin (aka

Shin Dong-hyuk Shin Dong-hyuk (born Shin In Geun, 19 November 1982 or 1980) is a North Korean-born human rights activist. He is reputed to be the only known prisoner to have successfully escaped from a "total-control zone" grade internment camp in North Kore ...

), a wealthy Korean-American lawyer, businessman, and

mergers and acquisitions Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are business transactions in which the ownership of companies, other business organizations, or their operating units are transferred to or consolidated with another company or business organization. As an aspect ...

specialist. Frank only agrees to take the job after meeting Jin-young in America and being fascinated by her. Traveling to

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...

for the first time since he left the country as a child, Frank and his loyal business assistant Leo move into a chalet at the Seoul Hotel to better conduct their secret business deal. Through Frank's double dealings, Bok-man learns of Seoul Hotel's mismanagement problems. But Frank finds himself falling in love with Jin-young, and Jin-young feels torn between him and her old friend and colleague Tae-jun. Meanwhile, Young-jae falls for Kim Yoon-hee, melancholic heiress and Bok-man's daughter, after meeting her at a nightclub. But Yoon-hee is attracted to the kind and mature Tae-jun, whom she'd encountered at a birthday party held at Seoul Hotel. Tae-jun is weighed down by his numerous responsibilities: defending the hotel from its competitors, protecting Yoon-hee from her abusive father, preventing Jin-young from falling in love with the suspicious Frank, and helping Young-jae mend his ways. Frank soon discovers that Jenny, whom Tae-jun had rescued, is his biological sister. Together, they go to see their father, who calls them by their Korean names, Dong-hyuk and Dong-hee. His reconciliation with his family and love for Jin-young results in a change of heart for Frank, and he decides to switch sides and help Seoul Hotel. Tae-jun and Frank work together and succeed in re-establishing Seoul Hotel's reputation as a top hotel. Bong-sook is diagnosed with cancer and dies. Frank and Jin-young get engaged. Yoon-hee goes to

Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

to study business, and Tae-jun follows her abroad; in a scene after the ending credits, Tae-jun and Yoon-hee are shown reuniting on a highway road.

Cast

* Bae Yong-joon - Frank Shin /

- Seo Jin-young *

- Han Tae-jun, hotel manager *

- Kim Yoon-hee *

Youn Yuh-jung Youn Yuh-jung (, ; born June 19, 1947) is a South Korean actress, whose career in film and television spans over five decades. Her accolades include an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a British Academy Film Award, an Independent Spi ...

- Yoon Bong-sook, hotel owner *

Park Jung-chul Park Jung-chul (born Park Chul on November 5, 1976) is a South Korean actor. Park made his acting debut in 1997 through a talent search by the KBS network, and has since starred in the romantic comedy film ''Oh! Happy Day'' (2003) and television ...

- Choi Young-jae, son of Yoon Bong-sook *

Joo Hyun Joo Hyun (; born Joo Il-choon, ; March 1, 1943) is a South Korean actor. Biography Joo graduated from Konkuk University in Seoul, where he majored in political science and diplomacy. He began his acting career after being selected through a ...

- President Choi *

Han Jin-hee Han Jin-hee (born March 14, 1949) is a South Korean actor. He made his acting debut in 1969 and has remained active in television and film. In 1990 he served as president of the TV Broadcasting Actors Association. Filmography Film *''My Littl ...

- Kim Bok-man, chairman of Hankang distribution *

Choi Hwa-jung Choi Hwa-jeong (born February 10, 1961) is a South Korean actress, radio presenter and television presenter. Her syndicated talk radio show ''Power Time'', airs via SBS Power FM and its provincial affiliates since 1996. Filmography Film ...

- Lee Soon-jung, housekeeping manager *

Huh Joon-ho Huh Joon-ho (, born April 14, 1964) is a South Korean actor. His name was previously officially romanized as Hur Joon-ho and is sometimes romanized unofficially as Heo Joon-ho. His father was Heo Jang-kang, a well-known Korean actor. Huh bega ...

- Oh Hyung-man * Choi Yong-min - Leo Park, Frank's business partner * Kim In-moon - Shin Jang-hae, Dong-hyuk's father * Kim Na-rae - Jenny / Shin Dong-hee * Myung Gye-nam - head chef * Lee Gae-in - Manager Yoo * Yoon Yong-hyun - Guard Jung * Kang Ji Woo - bellboy Hyun-chul * Lee Jung-yong - Assistant chef Lee Gap-seu * Kim Yong-hee *

Yeo Hyun-soo Yeo Hyun-soo (born September 21, 1982) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Variety show Awards References External links * * * * 1982 births Living people South Korean male film acto ...

* Ahn Hye Ran - Eun Joo, Yoon-hee's best friend *

Shin Shin-ae Shin Shin-ae (; born June 3, 1959) is a South Korean actress and trot singer. She has been loved by the public by appearing in various media, including televisions programs, television dramas, movies, and theater plays. She is known for her re ...

as Shin Geum-soon

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

External links

''Hotelier'' official MBC website
* * {{Kang Eun-kyung MBC TV television dramas 2001 South Korean television series debuts 2001 South Korean television series endings Korean-language television shows Television series set in hotels Television shows written by Kang Eun-kyung South Korean romance television series