North Gyeongsang Province, Andong push to build five-star hotel in provincial office new town

North Gyeongsang Province and Andong are moving to build a five-star hotel in the North Gyeongsang Provincial Office new town.

The province and Andong signed an MOU Thursday with Josun Hotel & Resorts and the North Gyeongsang Province Development Corporation to develop a five-star hotel in the new town.

About 30 officials attended the signing ceremony at the provincial office, including North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo, Andong Mayor Kwon Ki-chang, Josun Hotel & Resorts CEO Choi Hoon-hak and North Gyeongsang Province Development Corporation President Lee Jae-hyeok.

The province and Josun Hotel & Resorts also signed a separate MOU to revitalize the hotel and hospitality industry in North Gyeongsang Province. Under the agreement, the two sides will cooperate to expand investment in hotel and tourism accommodation facilities and to boost the food, dining, tourism and MICE industries.

The province aims to bring the Josun Hotel brand — one of South Korea's leading hotel names — to Andong to strengthen accommodation infrastructure and build a stay-based tourism ecosystem linked to the region's World Heritage sites, traditional culture and culinary offerings.

"We will actively cooperate with relevant agencies to ensure this agreement leads to expanded upscale accommodation and a more vibrant stay-based tourism sector, with the benefits spreading to local commercial districts and the broader economy," Andong Mayor Kwon Ki-chang said.

Governor Lee said it was important to go beyond simply attracting visitors and create an environment where tourists can stay, eat, enjoy themselves and even conduct business in North Gyeongsang Province. "We will develop North Gyeongsang into a new hub for stay-based tourism and lay the groundwork for tourism and the food industry to grow together," he added.