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K-pop boy band Big Bang leader G-Dragon has financed a new pension hotel -"pensions" are small boutique hotels in the Korean countryside - and has given it to his family to operate. The new Dolce Vita Pension in Pocheon, Korea has taken both the media and social media in South Korean by storm.
It is no surprise that thousands of of fans fly to South Korea to attend K-Pop concerts every year, but now some fans will be able to stay at the K-Pop star's pension hotel, have a chance at spotting the star, compete for the attention of his family and relax in the meantime.
Given his extravagant style, the result is a funky mix of street art, pop art and high fashion. To top this extravaganza, the hotel is decorated with fan-oriented details such as miniature figurines of Big Bang and suites named after Big Bang songs.
G-Dragon also devised a room only for himself and his friends. The room is named after the title son of G-Dragon's last album - "Crayon".
"G-Dragon's family originally bought the land thinking they would build a vacation home for G-Dragon to come rest occasionally," said hotel manager Eun-mae Huh.
"Two of his mother's friends run pension hotels in the area, which is where the idea for this pension hotel came from."
G-Dragon put up around US$920,000 to finance the hotel as a gift to his parents. His father, Young-hwan Kwon, runs the hotel and currently lives there with the K-Pop star's dog, Gaho.
"G-Dragon came to stay with Taeyang recently, and 2NE1 is also supposed to come soon," said Huh.
According to the hotel manager, the success of the pension hotel came early. From the start, bookings started pouring in from fans including those who travel from far like Japan.
While Big Bang is one of Korea's biggest boy bands with the most albums sold in the country in the first half of 2012, their success overseas is not as big but has been growing rapidly since they started. In fact, they took home the title of "Best Worldwide Act" at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2011.
Therefore, the overseas fans are expected to crowd the pension hotel then and again. However, according to G-Dragon's father, the hotel will not be receiving guests under the age of 19. Apparently, teenage fans are not welcome to keep the pension hotel a quite place for guests to rest.
"It's not a place for teenage fans to come, and we won't be receiving them even if they come with parents" said Kwon in the interview. "It's not meant to be a commercial enterprise but just a quiet place for guests to stay."
Rates start at ?250,000 (double occupancy).
2.25 Gisan-ri Ildong-myeon, Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Korea.