Baguni Hostel
why
Bring Emotions to Your Trip. Baguni Hostel
Traveling culture is changing. Individual travelers are looking for small, but unique places that lead to new experiences rather than going to obvious tourist destinations in groups. Trustworthy pieces of information on social media are linked by hashtags to form a network, information on good cafes, restaurants, shops, and accommodations have also joined individual tastes together, diversifying the segments of experiences. The generation that takes part in the shared experience which brings emotions to the trip is clearly looking for a different experience than the previous generations by appreciating the borderless travel experience within a world that is connected by social media.
Baguni Hostel that we introduce today is an accommodation completed with the notion of being a design hostel for the first time visitors to Korea in response to changes in the global perspective and travel trends, all within the small city of Suncheon. The positioning of a hostel which is more affordable than a hotel and qualitatively superior to a guest house appeals to today's younger generation who value the cost-effectiveness for the experience they can obtain. In the background of the hostel's foundation, the change of travel trends turn to women in their 20s and 30s, and Rail-ro trip culture traveling by train was an important aspect for the owner to establish such a hostel.
Branding strategies that are seen through a coherent context with the motif of a basket and various service strategies create new experiences from the tourist's point of view and have created the identity that only Baguni Hostel could have. The rooms with capsule beds showcase the idea of a compact space environment, and the public spaces such as cafes, bars or pubs can be used not only by the guests but also by local residents. A well-designed hostel acts like a local tourist information center and has a significant meaning as a community for travelers sharing information about the surrounding area.
Tourist attractions such as Suncheon Bay Eco Wetland and World Garden Expo have given Suncheon a reptuation as an eco-city, but there were not many places that could stimulate the emotion of traveling. With the advent of Baguni Hostel, new changes are taking place, with young and sensational people making empty warehouses and stores into sensational locations. As KTX links Seoul, Suncheon, and Yeosu within 3 hours of each other, the inflow of individual tourists is increasing and new places are connected to the basket hostel. Experienced as a place where people's emotions and tastes meet with an overnight stay at Baguni Hostel, new Suncheon will definitely be different from old Suncheon. The balance between big cities and smaller, more local cities is so important, even with the benefit of only having to travel short distances linked by hashtags, the unique stories of the region will be the driving force for a return visit.
Baguni Hostel that we introduce today is an accommodation completed with the notion of being a design hostel for the first time visitors to Korea in response to changes in the global perspective and travel trends, all within the small city of Suncheon. The positioning of a hostel which is more affordable than a hotel and qualitatively superior to a guest house appeals to today's younger generation who value the cost-effectiveness for the experience they can obtain. In the background of the hostel's foundation, the change of travel trends turn to women in their 20s and 30s, and Rail-ro trip culture traveling by train was an important aspect for the owner to establish such a hostel.
Branding strategies that are seen through a coherent context with the motif of a basket and various service strategies create new experiences from the tourist's point of view and have created the identity that only Baguni Hostel could have. The rooms with capsule beds showcase the idea of a compact space environment, and the public spaces such as cafes, bars or pubs can be used not only by the guests but also by local residents. A well-designed hostel acts like a local tourist information center and has a significant meaning as a community for travelers sharing information about the surrounding area.
Tourist attractions such as Suncheon Bay Eco Wetland and World Garden Expo have given Suncheon a reptuation as an eco-city, but there were not many places that could stimulate the emotion of traveling. With the advent of Baguni Hostel, new changes are taking place, with young and sensational people making empty warehouses and stores into sensational locations. As KTX links Seoul, Suncheon, and Yeosu within 3 hours of each other, the inflow of individual tourists is increasing and new places are connected to the basket hostel. Experienced as a place where people's emotions and tastes meet with an overnight stay at Baguni Hostel, new Suncheon will definitely be different from old Suncheon. The balance between big cities and smaller, more local cities is so important, even with the benefit of only having to travel short distances linked by hashtags, the unique stories of the region will be the driving force for a return visit.
people
Three Men Who Chose to Start a Business in Their Middle Age
The passion for entrepreneurship is always strong, but it is not easy in Korea to walk such a road. Moreover, if you are responsible for a family and your current occupation is relatively stable, the enthusiasm to attempt a new path gets quickly lost. Lim Gwang-pil, the co-founder of Baguni Hostel, is an emergency physician and a father in his 40s with two daughters. Though he cared for the sick people in the emergency room with a determined work ethic, there was always another dream in his heart. He loved traveling more than anything, and he had the simple dream of leading a life of greeting travelers one day.
“You should be careful when starting a business in your 40s. I presumed that starting a business in my middle age was not going to be an easy choice. However, I then thought it would be possible if I focus on what I love and what I can do well with like-minded friends." Lim envisioned starting a hostel. Just like Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei took an oath of fraternity in the Peach Garden, Lim and his high school friends Choi Won-ho and Yang Jae-hyuk decided to start a business together sharing a drink at the offshore of Suncheon with the idea of making Korea's first design hostel chain.
Although their intentions were the same, as the strengths and weaknesses of each member were clearly different, they naturally respected each other, taking different roles respectively. Having previously worked as an emergency physician in an ED, Lim had a rich creative mind and the initiative and drive. Choi, who worked as a customs broker, enjoyed cooking and was skilled in handling finances. Yang’s strong suit was in management, based upon his previous experiences running a business. Gathering their ideas together was not an easy task, but like bread and butter, decisions were made that strengthened their core business strategies without conflict.
Before Baguni Hostel opened in May 2016, the three representatives wrote up their business plan and improved competence of their business, visiting successful design hostels abroad. After opening, Choi and Yang resigned from their previous jobs to focus on managing Baguni Hostel. Choi ran the Basterds Café on the 1st floor and contributed to the quality of service. Yang was in charge of room maintenance and customer reception. Lim, accommodating his job as an emergency physician, applied his creativity in marketing and planning to promote Baguni Hostel through original events and Social Networking activities. Manager Shim Woo-Ju, the Zhao Yun to the three representatives, brought energy to management and worked on Baguni Hostel’s branding strategy.
“You should be careful when starting a business in your 40s. I presumed that starting a business in my middle age was not going to be an easy choice. However, I then thought it would be possible if I focus on what I love and what I can do well with like-minded friends." Lim envisioned starting a hostel. Just like Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei took an oath of fraternity in the Peach Garden, Lim and his high school friends Choi Won-ho and Yang Jae-hyuk decided to start a business together sharing a drink at the offshore of Suncheon with the idea of making Korea's first design hostel chain.
Although their intentions were the same, as the strengths and weaknesses of each member were clearly different, they naturally respected each other, taking different roles respectively. Having previously worked as an emergency physician in an ED, Lim had a rich creative mind and the initiative and drive. Choi, who worked as a customs broker, enjoyed cooking and was skilled in handling finances. Yang’s strong suit was in management, based upon his previous experiences running a business. Gathering their ideas together was not an easy task, but like bread and butter, decisions were made that strengthened their core business strategies without conflict.
Before Baguni Hostel opened in May 2016, the three representatives wrote up their business plan and improved competence of their business, visiting successful design hostels abroad. After opening, Choi and Yang resigned from their previous jobs to focus on managing Baguni Hostel. Choi ran the Basterds Café on the 1st floor and contributed to the quality of service. Yang was in charge of room maintenance and customer reception. Lim, accommodating his job as an emergency physician, applied his creativity in marketing and planning to promote Baguni Hostel through original events and Social Networking activities. Manager Shim Woo-Ju, the Zhao Yun to the three representatives, brought energy to management and worked on Baguni Hostel’s branding strategy.
location
Suncheon, the Tourist Hub of Rail-ro
Suncheon is a suburban middle-sized city that boasts both man-made and natural cultural resources. The Suncheonman Wetland Reserve, Songgwangsa Temple, Seonamsa Temple, Naganeupseong Walled Town, and Suncheonman National Gardens are a few of the many tourist attractions in Suncheon. With the opening of a KTX station, the traveling time from Seoul was reduced to two and a half hours. Suncheon is also well known for its image as an Eco-city. Being the center of traffic and transport between the Honam and Yungnam Region is one of Suncheon's attractive features. Suncheon is popular among the younger generation who enjoy trips by train as it is known as the tourist city for Rail-ro users.
When deciding on the site for Baguni Hostel, the three representatives chose Suncheon based on the reasonable price of land and competition with other local accommodations, compared with Yeosu. Rather than set up near famous tourist attraction sites, they emphasized accessibility to the station, public transport, local marketplaces, and establishments. Their final decision was the Jogok-dong area which not only looked down upon the river but also was a five-minute distance from the train station.
"We were not aware at the time of purchase that, despite being in a business district with a decent floor area ratio, we were restricted to building up to three stories because the land was part of the waterfront landscape zone. It was an arduous process of trial and error for us." Despite the limitations of being unable to build higher than three stories, the planning of Lim and the design of expert group Z_Lab made it possible for a well-organized infrastructure and service strategy. Because Rail-ro tourists were predominantly women in their twenties or thirties, it was important to understand their target audience.
“From the initial planning, we wanted a Hostel that appealed to the target audience of young women who used the Rail-ro Railroad service. Learning that they usually acquired their information through social media and actively shared their preferences and experiences, we curated our travel information of Suncheon to appeal to them. Extra attention was put into producing maps of Suncheon that had the hottest travel tips and info and leaflet designs.” The Basterds Café on the first floor became a center of communication as people would share their personalized travel experiences of Suncheon.
When deciding on the site for Baguni Hostel, the three representatives chose Suncheon based on the reasonable price of land and competition with other local accommodations, compared with Yeosu. Rather than set up near famous tourist attraction sites, they emphasized accessibility to the station, public transport, local marketplaces, and establishments. Their final decision was the Jogok-dong area which not only looked down upon the river but also was a five-minute distance from the train station.
"We were not aware at the time of purchase that, despite being in a business district with a decent floor area ratio, we were restricted to building up to three stories because the land was part of the waterfront landscape zone. It was an arduous process of trial and error for us." Despite the limitations of being unable to build higher than three stories, the planning of Lim and the design of expert group Z_Lab made it possible for a well-organized infrastructure and service strategy. Because Rail-ro tourists were predominantly women in their twenties or thirties, it was important to understand their target audience.
“From the initial planning, we wanted a Hostel that appealed to the target audience of young women who used the Rail-ro Railroad service. Learning that they usually acquired their information through social media and actively shared their preferences and experiences, we curated our travel information of Suncheon to appeal to them. Extra attention was put into producing maps of Suncheon that had the hottest travel tips and info and leaflet designs.” The Basterds Café on the first floor became a center of communication as people would share their personalized travel experiences of Suncheon.
MAKING STORY
What began as a conviction to complete the first design hostel in the country was riddled with obstacles when nominating a suitable construction company due to the limitations of being located in the countryside. Having a reasonable estimation of costs for construction as well as furniture, supplies, household appliances, fabric, branding, graphic design, and making the website based on the planned budget was important. "There was much concern in nominating a construction company. We were able to save costs for the framework by working with ANT Construction, who had local construction experience, and we brought in two Seoul teams, Gladworks and Rawdesigns, to work on the finishing for the interior and balance the overall quality of the construction."
The external design of the building resembled the patterns of a woven basket and the zinc-finished roof was designed to resemble the neighboring hillside. The front view of the building had an exposed aggregate concrete finish which displayed the features of the concrete elegantly and also saved costs. Installing Baguni Hostel sign on the right of the building and using colored tiles on the back provided a rhythmic quality. During the construction process, Z_Lab cooperated with Kaare Klint and Rareraw in developing the design of the basket and capsule beds. Efforts were put into a comfortable design such as one-on-one woodwork to create a pleasant interior space. Such efforts paid off as Baguni Hostel received the honors of Suncheon's Most Beautiful Architecture Award in 2016.
The external design of the building resembled the patterns of a woven basket and the zinc-finished roof was designed to resemble the neighboring hillside. The front view of the building had an exposed aggregate concrete finish which displayed the features of the concrete elegantly and also saved costs. Installing Baguni Hostel sign on the right of the building and using colored tiles on the back provided a rhythmic quality. During the construction process, Z_Lab cooperated with Kaare Klint and Rareraw in developing the design of the basket and capsule beds. Efforts were put into a comfortable design such as one-on-one woodwork to create a pleasant interior space. Such efforts paid off as Baguni Hostel received the honors of Suncheon's Most Beautiful Architecture Award in 2016.
Lim began to look for an expert group of professionals that could bring his ideas of a design hostel to fruition. He wanted a team that was not limited to architectural design but could design the branding, styling, and service from a unified perspective. Of course, they had to be experienced in working with Hostels. After meeting with several teams, Z_Lab was selected for the project. A previous trip to Zeroplace, an accommodation that Z_Lab had designed, had left an impression upon the representatives. Z_Lab's previous works had focused on designing individual rental housing in Jeju Island and they were interested in working on a design hostel in Suncheon.
“When I visited Europe, I had the opportunity to spend a night in the Basel St. Alban Youth Hostel in Basel, Switzerland. The design was outstanding and I was surprised how they designed the whole facility to be barrier-free. I had thought how nice it would be to have such Design Hostels in our country and so Baguni Hostel was a dream come true to us.” said Z_Lab Executive Director Noh Kyung-rok. “As a student, the Design Hostels that I experienced on my trip to Europe left an impression on me, and when we received the offer, I knew that Z_Lab and the representatives of Baguni Hostel shared the same vision.”
“When I visited Europe, I had the opportunity to spend a night in the Basel St. Alban Youth Hostel in Basel, Switzerland. The design was outstanding and I was surprised how they designed the whole facility to be barrier-free. I had thought how nice it would be to have such Design Hostels in our country and so Baguni Hostel was a dream come true to us.” said Z_Lab Executive Director Noh Kyung-rok. “As a student, the Design Hostels that I experienced on my trip to Europe left an impression on me, and when we received the offer, I knew that Z_Lab and the representatives of Baguni Hostel shared the same vision.”
SPACE
55 Beds and the Story of Staying
Baguni Hostel consists of three stories and 55 beds. The 1st floor’s reception desk and Basterd’s Café and pub act as a common space for visitors. The 2nd floor is exclusive for women tourists and has a 4-person and 8-person dormitory with individual capsule beds, a powder room, restroom, public shower, and bathroom. The 3rd floor consisted of twin rooms for couples and friends, a split-level room for family, and capsule bedrooms for male tourists. There are patios on the 2nd and 3rd floors where guests may view the scenery of Dongcheon riverside and open kitchen space for simple cooking.
The reception desk on the 1st floor of Baguni Hostel acts as a medium between the local community and tourists. When entering the building, tourists are provided with maps that have information about the neighborhood, the best restaurants approved by the three representatives and tips for Suncheon travel. It is also furnished with various travel supplies and lockers to store luggage during check-in and check-out. Pass the reception desk is the Basterds Café and Pub, an ‘it-place' where tourists and residents alike can enjoy high-quality coffee and crafted beer. The Basterds Café and Pub is a place to enjoy breakfast in the morning, a café for the Suncheon locals and tourists in the afternoon, and a pub where people can relieve the stress of travel and their everyday lives at night.
The 2nd floor is a female exclusive area. The area follows an exquisite design strategy that appeals to the target audience of women in their 20s and 30s. The first room on the second floor is four person-room for 3 to 4 female guests to have a comfortable stay. There is a table for guests to enjoy a cup of coffee while viewing the open Dongcheon river scenery. As an efficient use of the limited space, the 8-person dormitory uses an open structure, lacking a door that connects directly from the hallway. Windows are installed for guests to enjoy the scenery of the Dongcheon riverside and a mirror and electric plug are installed in the twin-story capsule beds. The Powder Room and Chat Room contain various travel books and satisfy the sensation of traveling to the female guests.
The open scenery of the Dongcheon riverside and the mountains is an entrancing sight. The 3rd floor is composed of double and twin rooms for couples that wish to travel in peace and family rooms. Individual rooms on the 3rd floor are like hotel rooms and have private showers and bathrooms for extra comfort. The systematic arrangement of the shelves designed by Rareraw, who also designed the capsule beds, and other aesthetic ornaments adds elegance to the space. The family room is unique in that it consists of two floors and can accommodate up to 4 people with the finest view in the Hostel, similar to a Hotel suite room. Beyond the individual rooms is the men’s dormitory space for men who are on a business trip or traveling alone. When there are too many female guests, the dormitory may also be used as a female exclusive space.
The reception desk on the 1st floor of Baguni Hostel acts as a medium between the local community and tourists. When entering the building, tourists are provided with maps that have information about the neighborhood, the best restaurants approved by the three representatives and tips for Suncheon travel. It is also furnished with various travel supplies and lockers to store luggage during check-in and check-out. Pass the reception desk is the Basterds Café and Pub, an ‘it-place' where tourists and residents alike can enjoy high-quality coffee and crafted beer. The Basterds Café and Pub is a place to enjoy breakfast in the morning, a café for the Suncheon locals and tourists in the afternoon, and a pub where people can relieve the stress of travel and their everyday lives at night.
The 2nd floor is a female exclusive area. The area follows an exquisite design strategy that appeals to the target audience of women in their 20s and 30s. The first room on the second floor is four person-room for 3 to 4 female guests to have a comfortable stay. There is a table for guests to enjoy a cup of coffee while viewing the open Dongcheon river scenery. As an efficient use of the limited space, the 8-person dormitory uses an open structure, lacking a door that connects directly from the hallway. Windows are installed for guests to enjoy the scenery of the Dongcheon riverside and a mirror and electric plug are installed in the twin-story capsule beds. The Powder Room and Chat Room contain various travel books and satisfy the sensation of traveling to the female guests.
The open scenery of the Dongcheon riverside and the mountains is an entrancing sight. The 3rd floor is composed of double and twin rooms for couples that wish to travel in peace and family rooms. Individual rooms on the 3rd floor are like hotel rooms and have private showers and bathrooms for extra comfort. The systematic arrangement of the shelves designed by Rareraw, who also designed the capsule beds, and other aesthetic ornaments adds elegance to the space. The family room is unique in that it consists of two floors and can accommodate up to 4 people with the finest view in the Hostel, similar to a Hotel suite room. Beyond the individual rooms is the men’s dormitory space for men who are on a business trip or traveling alone. When there are too many female guests, the dormitory may also be used as a female exclusive space.
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INTERVIEW
Interview with CEO Lim Kwang-pil of basket hostel
stayfolio
Baguni Hostel
Out of the many choices in the lodging industry, is there a reason you started a hostel business?
Guesthouses are conventionally thought to be low-price accommodations. While they have the opportunity of meeting other travelers, the warm interaction with the owner and the general excitement, they typically lack basic cleanliness and comfort. On the other hand, for hotels, guests pay excessively high prices for the service. We thought it a good choice to combine the advantages of both accommodations and provide a reasonable service to individual travelers. Not to mention the design of the hostel is easy on the eyes.
The concept (or name) of Baguni (basket) is Interesting. What does the baguni in your hostel’s name represent?
Baguni is a name that defines the overall Hostel experience. Whether it be the basket-shaped exterior or the designs of the capsule bed that are built to emulate the feeling of comfort of a basket. The baskets that are provided when checking in the Hostel, or the baskets that you may buy during your stay. We put much thought into the identity of the basket and even considered the flow of our designing process. To us the basket is the first as it is the last, it is everything.
What kind of person are you, and the other owners of the hostel?
The three of us are high-school friends. We are companions that have been together since the stormy years of adolescence. Like all friends our age, we drank and played pool and went to watch baseball and went on trips together before going our separate ways. But we were able to reunite for an opportunity to open Baguni Hostel. Choi, who manages the café and pub Basterds, used to be a customs brokers. He resigned from his job because it wasn't his kind of work and his love for cooking led him to take charge of the Basterds Café and Pub. Lim is the only one of us who has experience in the service industry, having owned an Internet Café for over 10 years, and is in charge of reception and managing the rooms. I am working as an emergency physician in an ER. I have always enjoyed conceptualizing ideas and since I am better than my two friends in using social network platforms, I took charge of the planning and marketing.
Was there any focus for the branding, naming, and storytelling of Baguni Hostel?
The basket. We tried to focus on the fundamental value that the basket had. The basket may not be needed for the time being, but is imperative in storing valuable items. A basket of flowers, or a basket of fruit, or a basket of gifts are what you would present to a loved one. The value of what is inside a basket is not solely for the individual but for people to share. We provide travelers with necessities in the basket for them to enjoy and share. The naming of the basket and the type of service we provide. We put much effort into providing enjoyment and trust to the guests so they associate our service with the meaning that the basket holds.
What was your main focus regarding the design of Baguni Hostel?
When visiting design hostels in foreign countries, we deduced that a unified branding strategy and a design that could provide tourists with a new experience were the similarities between the hostels. A well-made design hostel performs the role of the local information center and a community to share information between tourists. We wanted to showcase the success of such design hostels locally. We wanted to provide a different outtake on Suncheon travel with a singular brand image, a new spatial experience in capsule beds, and leaflets and maps that provided trustworthy travel information from the local community.
A lot of focus was put into designing the Basterds Café and Pub, which provided to tourists and local residents. We created a brand image of Basterds (a homage to the movie Inglourious Basterds) which signified the three of us and made use of caricature images. To provide a service to the community, we put effort into our F&B, importing specialty coffee from Bean Brothers and craft beer form Ark Beer, which were relatively difficult to manage.
A lot of focus was put into designing the Basterds Café and Pub, which provided to tourists and local residents. We created a brand image of Basterds (a homage to the movie Inglourious Basterds) which signified the three of us and made use of caricature images. To provide a service to the community, we put effort into our F&B, importing specialty coffee from Bean Brothers and craft beer form Ark Beer, which were relatively difficult to manage.
Were there any difficulties in the construction of Baguni Hostel? Do you have any interesting stories?
Next to Baguni Hostel, there is the Dongcheon River that flows all the way to Suncheonman wetlands. Because there had never been any previous construction on the land, despite a soil survey, there was much water when doing the groundwork for construction. In fact, there was so much water that we were concerned about whether we could even start construction. During the exterior tile installations, the winter was so cold that the river froze for the first time in thirty years, which delayed construction. But luckily, we managed to finish construction without any safety accidents.
Are there any factors that differentiate the spatial composition of Baguni Hostel?
Designed as an accommodation for travelers from the planning phase, the Hostel was organized to not have any empty space. Unmanned lockers that could be conveniently used, the reception desk to greet and provide information to the tourists, a small shop to buy souvenirs, an observatory to enjoy the scenery, a common use kitchen for light cooking, a balcony where one could share a conversation while appreciating the view, a fully prepared powder room, and fitting room, a restroom to read books and relax, a beautiful garden and a café / pub that provided guests with breakfast, coffee and craft beer. That is Baguni Hostel.
What details were put into the design identity of Baguni Hostel?
Yellow is the color that symbolizes Baguni Hostel. It has been my favorite color and during the initial planning stages, we had hoped that Z_Lab and the other expert groups could help incorporate the identity of color into space. Whether it be the signs installed outside of the building or the decorations on each floor, the color yellow adds liveliness to the area. When I chose decorations such as clocks, speakers, plant boxes, and mobiles, I made sure to follow the yellow color theme. There were many people who complimented us on the amount of detail that we put into the color of the Baguni coins. The truth is, while they are used for 1000 won, they actually cost much more than that. (laugh)
Are there any features that differentiate Baguni Hostel’s management strategy?
We chose to provide a service that is centered on each individual guest. Our coin service provides a lot of opportunities to engage with our guests. When providing our guests with a service, we try to identify the needs and problems they may have during their stay. This information may make management less efficient and is a challenge but it helps us provide a wider range of services.
What is the age group or income bracket of guests? Where do they come from?
Because the Hostel is targeted towards young women in their twenties and thirties, more than 80 percent of our guests are businesswomen in their late twenties. Regionally, an overwhelming number of guests come from Seoul or the Gyeonggi province. In the beginning, we saw a lot of people who worked in creative fields such as architecture or design but there has been a large influx of middle-aged women as well. Recently, we see a lot of people coming with their parents and Baguni Hostel seems to have exceptionally high levels of satisfaction among daughter and mother tourists.
Were there any memorable guests?
There are many guests that we are grateful for. There was a guest who visited our Hostel three times barely a year after opening. The first time was with a friend, the second was with her boyfriend and recently she came with her mother. She bought a pair of slippers only to realize, after she got home, that she had received two pairs of the left slipper. She had every right to be angry, but instead found the experience amusing. We learned that a satisfactory stay at Baguni Hostel could make unpleasant mistakes into enjoyable moments. It taught us once again that forming an intimate relationship with customers was important.
Can you introduce the charm of Suncheon as a region? Were there any regional limitations as well?
Since olden times, Suncheon has been a center of traffic with roads stretching in all directions. Chogyesan and its beautiful scenery, Songgwangsa and Seonamsa Temples, the ecological repository of Suncheonman wetlands, and Waon beach, known for its beautiful sunsets, are a few of the man-made and natural resources that Suncheon has. There are many attractions to visit such as the Suncheonman National Garden, which is the number one national park in Korea and shooting locations for TV dramas. Suncheon is a place where Jirisan and the South Sea meet and it has plenty of fresh produce and local cuisines.
However, the limitations of Suncheon are obvious. Suncheon is a small city in the countryside. There is a lack of accessibility from Seoul and the Gyeonggi province, where our main customer base resides. You could say that all visitors are tourists on a trip because they are able to experience the local resident's cuisines as well as the local culture. It is a shame that there are not as many visitors because of Suncheon being such a small city.
However, the limitations of Suncheon are obvious. Suncheon is a small city in the countryside. There is a lack of accessibility from Seoul and the Gyeonggi province, where our main customer base resides. You could say that all visitors are tourists on a trip because they are able to experience the local resident's cuisines as well as the local culture. It is a shame that there are not as many visitors because of Suncheon being such a small city.
Where there complications when managing Baguni Hostel?
When we opened the Hostel, it was just the three of us. We thought it would be possible because there were not many guests and that we need to understand our tasks before hiring the staff. Not to mention the burden of maintenance costs. However, we learned that regardless of whether there are few or many guests, there is a certain number of faculty necessary to run a business of this proportion. In the beginning, many customers left reviews telling us that we looked too tired. At that time, we did not understand the basics of providing a service. We had to be comfortable and content for the guests to feel the same way. Realizing our mistake, we hired more staff and are satisfied with our work now.
Do you have other plans for Baguni Hostel outside of managing a lodging business?
Out of the guests that stayed at Baguni Hostel, there have been people who have their own brand or running a business. People who write, people who make jewelry with recycled material, people who draw and people who operate a workshop. We would like to create a space where these people and other local artists can cooperate together. We hope to create an epigenous business model that can strengthen the brand image of Baguni Hostel, where we can open a select shop that follows the identity of Baguni and can spread the brand while promoting the local artist's work as well. Working with various artists sounds enjoyable. We also want to introduce a concierge desk that can provide necessities and travel packages.
STAY’s recommended
Local Destination
Youth Storage
Suncheon lower market
Yongsan scenary
STAY’s recommended
Local Restaurant
Byeok-o-dong
Daewon-restaurant
Flavor-Chicken
STAY’s recommended
Local Shop
Souvenir of Baguni hostel
STAY
Experiencing a Different Suncheon from the One I Know!
The Reason that I am revisiting Suncheon maybe because I yearn to experience what it had to offer. I had gotten to know of Baguni Hostel merely by chance through my friend's Facebook post: I had never heard of such a place in Korea! Initially having thought it to be in a foreign country, I clicked like on the post without my even knowing. To me, the Suncheon that I had visited before was not a place with many things to do. But when looking at the reviews of the guests who had stayed in Baguni Hostel, I saw a different side of Suncheon that I had not known of. I got on the KTX train to Suncheon. I spent the time reading the book Everyday, Brand and pondering what a good brand was. Before I knew it, the train had arrived in Suncheon. A distance of two and a half hours, Suncheon had grown so close to me.
Baguni Hostel was close to the station. Located halfway between the Suncheon station and the marketplace, it was in the ideal location where I could take a stroll to the night market. Dongcheon is a river that passes through Suncheon. The shimmering Dongcheon riverside along with the April cherry blossoms is an unforgettable sight, still somewhere deep inside my memory. The check-in time for the hostel was four in the afternoon. The basket pattern exterior and the atmosphere of the reception space rivaled that of a fancy hotel and gave me the impression that it was truly the design hostel I had heard it be. As I checked in, I was provided with a basket. In the basket were a travel map, a leaflet with a guide of the hostel, and a pocketful of coins that I could use as currency. The coins could be used to purchase breakfast, coffee, or a beer, and even travel necessities such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, or a sleeping mask. I was told that the coins I didn't use could be given to other guests or used for charity. I was surprised by the intricate coin system.
I stayed in the female dormitory. The dormitory of Baguni Hostel is clearly different from the dormitory of a regular guesthouse. Past the hallway, without any clear separation of a door, are twin capsule beds that create my own snug space just by drawing the curtains. I stayed on the second floor. The beds had the convenience of having separate sockets and lighting as well as a mirror and a small drawer. Don’t forget to hang the basket by the side of the bed. The option to choose my pillow, the ornaments that decorated the common space and the selection of books were all attractive details of the hostel. And I must compliment the consideration that they put in the powder room. A hairdryer, curling tongs, and even manicure tools: I felt I wouldn't get tired of this place no matter how long I stayed.
In the evening, I visited the marketplace. It is a place to enjoy great local food at a reasonable price and various concerts and performances. I left the marketplace early to take the nighttime city tour to Jukdobong Park. Looking at the night scenery of Suncheon, the Dongcheon River flowing through it and the ocean barely visible is refreshing. Before I go to bed, I use my coins to enjoy a beer along with other guests in the Basterds Café and Pub. The true joy of travel is sharing stories with each other: the place is foreign but we are still the same people. Morning greets me after my first night in Suncheon. I was surprised by the breakfast table, which was felt surprisingly like a hotel buffet. The table was set with roasted tomatoes, cereal, and a Balmuda toaster. Breakfast was three coins, the morning coffee was on the house. After taking my fill, I headed towards the Suncheonman National Garden.
The Suncheonman National Garden is a National Park that was designed to preserve the Suncheonman Wetland, one of the world's five coastal wetlands. It recently reopened to tourists after being closed due to the aftermath of avian influenza. The Suncheon lake garden is my favorite as it reminds me of Jeju's Oreums. It is a beautiful garden that gives life to Suncheon's geographical features and the waterworks for it was designed by the great landscape artist, Charles Jencks. The reflection of the garden and the six rolling hills upon the lake clear my mind of distractions. Grasping my now empty stomach, I head to Byeukodong, a restaurant recommended by Baguni Hostel. Byeukodong is known for its cheap prices. Stir-fried pork and cabbage are available for the low price of 8000 KRW and comes with 20 kinds of side dishes. It is a miracle that the restaurant is able to make a profit!
After a late lunch, I went back to Baguni Hostel. The Hotel manager recommended ‘Youth Store’, a 50-year-old granary that was remodeled by a group of young entrepreneurs into one of Suncheon's hottest places. Relatively close to Baguni Hostel, I was surprised by its size before being surprised a second time by the multitude of shops, food courts and even a stage for performances. It is remarkable how one Hostel can have such a positive impact on the local community and create more places for people to enjoy. It was a different Suncheon from the Suncheon I had experienced before. And Baguni Hostel had been the window to this new opportunity.
Baguni Hostel was close to the station. Located halfway between the Suncheon station and the marketplace, it was in the ideal location where I could take a stroll to the night market. Dongcheon is a river that passes through Suncheon. The shimmering Dongcheon riverside along with the April cherry blossoms is an unforgettable sight, still somewhere deep inside my memory. The check-in time for the hostel was four in the afternoon. The basket pattern exterior and the atmosphere of the reception space rivaled that of a fancy hotel and gave me the impression that it was truly the design hostel I had heard it be. As I checked in, I was provided with a basket. In the basket were a travel map, a leaflet with a guide of the hostel, and a pocketful of coins that I could use as currency. The coins could be used to purchase breakfast, coffee, or a beer, and even travel necessities such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, or a sleeping mask. I was told that the coins I didn't use could be given to other guests or used for charity. I was surprised by the intricate coin system.
I stayed in the female dormitory. The dormitory of Baguni Hostel is clearly different from the dormitory of a regular guesthouse. Past the hallway, without any clear separation of a door, are twin capsule beds that create my own snug space just by drawing the curtains. I stayed on the second floor. The beds had the convenience of having separate sockets and lighting as well as a mirror and a small drawer. Don’t forget to hang the basket by the side of the bed. The option to choose my pillow, the ornaments that decorated the common space and the selection of books were all attractive details of the hostel. And I must compliment the consideration that they put in the powder room. A hairdryer, curling tongs, and even manicure tools: I felt I wouldn't get tired of this place no matter how long I stayed.
In the evening, I visited the marketplace. It is a place to enjoy great local food at a reasonable price and various concerts and performances. I left the marketplace early to take the nighttime city tour to Jukdobong Park. Looking at the night scenery of Suncheon, the Dongcheon River flowing through it and the ocean barely visible is refreshing. Before I go to bed, I use my coins to enjoy a beer along with other guests in the Basterds Café and Pub. The true joy of travel is sharing stories with each other: the place is foreign but we are still the same people. Morning greets me after my first night in Suncheon. I was surprised by the breakfast table, which was felt surprisingly like a hotel buffet. The table was set with roasted tomatoes, cereal, and a Balmuda toaster. Breakfast was three coins, the morning coffee was on the house. After taking my fill, I headed towards the Suncheonman National Garden.
The Suncheonman National Garden is a National Park that was designed to preserve the Suncheonman Wetland, one of the world's five coastal wetlands. It recently reopened to tourists after being closed due to the aftermath of avian influenza. The Suncheon lake garden is my favorite as it reminds me of Jeju's Oreums. It is a beautiful garden that gives life to Suncheon's geographical features and the waterworks for it was designed by the great landscape artist, Charles Jencks. The reflection of the garden and the six rolling hills upon the lake clear my mind of distractions. Grasping my now empty stomach, I head to Byeukodong, a restaurant recommended by Baguni Hostel. Byeukodong is known for its cheap prices. Stir-fried pork and cabbage are available for the low price of 8000 KRW and comes with 20 kinds of side dishes. It is a miracle that the restaurant is able to make a profit!
After a late lunch, I went back to Baguni Hostel. The Hotel manager recommended ‘Youth Store’, a 50-year-old granary that was remodeled by a group of young entrepreneurs into one of Suncheon's hottest places. Relatively close to Baguni Hostel, I was surprised by its size before being surprised a second time by the multitude of shops, food courts and even a stage for performances. It is remarkable how one Hostel can have such a positive impact on the local community and create more places for people to enjoy. It was a different Suncheon from the Suncheon I had experienced before. And Baguni Hostel had been the window to this new opportunity.
4 POINT OF VIEW
ORIGINALITY
Dreaming to Become the Ideal Example for Domestic Design Hostel
Completed by the determination to create the country’s first design hostel, Baguni Hostel boasts a differentiated service from its unified branding seen in its usage of the basket and yellow color scheme, to its service design, such as the Baguni currency. With the potential of Suncheon as a global Garden City and the convenient transportation via the KTX, Baguni Hostel was able to steal the hearts of their young trend-sensitive women guests. The introduction of Baguni Hostel was welcoming to Korea, where backpacking travel culture is still unfamiliar. The partnership of three middle-aged entrepreneurs, the coordination with various expert groups, and the branding strategy and user-centered experience design are all valuable attributes that make Baguni Hostel the ideal example for a design hostel.
DESIGN
To serve, To offer, To share! The Experience Design of Baguni Hostel
The meaning of the basket, the symbol of Baguni Hostel, has a consistent theme from architectural design to the service design. The brand and design package of Baguni Hostel, with yellow as the dominant color, are a pleasure to look at. The effort of multiple expert groups with Z_Lab at the head can be seen beginning with the baskets and their contents to the maps, leaflet, signs, and logo, the detail of the baskets on the capsule beds or the webpage, and the design of the building. The motto ‘To serve, To offer, To share!' encourages guests to revisit the hostel with its underlying consideration and sensitivity that is felt in the generosity of the baskets or the Baguni coin service.
Hospitality
The Baguni Generosity Full of Coins
The three high school buddies, Lim Gwang-pil, Choi Won-ho, and Yang Jae-hyuk began the Hostel business as middle-aged men in their forties. Lim, interested in new endeavors, managed the planning and business strategy, visiting foreign Hostels and developing the concept of the basket which they incorporated into their business. Choi was in charge of the quality of Basterds Café and Pub while Lim took care of the overall management and maintenance of the Hostel. The balance between the three people was a great strength in creating Baguni Hostel's various service strategies. Under the slogan of ‘Stay Different', the representatives catered to the preferences of their target female tourists in their 20s and 30s, with customer experiences of the Hostel and the Baguni generosity spreading quickly through Social Networks. Adhering to the current consumer values of both efficient spending and spending for themselves, Baguni Hostel provides a different perspective of the city of Suncheon while spreading the understanding of Hostel culture and providing joy and pleasure to tourists.
PRICE
A Trip for a New Experience Unlike any Hotel or Guesthouse
Baguni Hostel's price composition is 30,000~34,000 KRW for a dormitory, 80,000~110,000 KRW for a twin/double room, and 150,000~190,000 KRW for a family room. The price range is between that of a regular hotel and guesthouse but the five coins that are provided during check-in provide the opportunity to experience different services and enjoy a trip to Suncheon in a different light that would make you want to come again, solely because of your time in Baguni Hostel. The small but eloquent differences to detail are hidden everywhere. Whether it be a travel destination for oneself, the Suncheonman wetlands and the park, with the neighboring Yeosu can provide memories that can be enjoyed with a loving family as well. There is no better place to stay than Baguni Hostel to enjoy a new experience.
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- Stay Name
- Baguni Hostel
- Stay Type
- Hostel
- Contact information
- Address
- 153-16, Jogok-dong, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
- Guests / No. of Room
- 1~8 / 8
- Price
- US$ 21.61 ~ US$ 136.85
- Check-in / out
- 16:00 / 11:00
- Feature
- Breakfast, Projector or TV
PHOTO BY Kim Jae-Kyeong |