Cheongju SUM HOTEL

I stayed by myself. The airport bus stop is about a 5-6 minute walk, and markets and downtown are close by, so I found this more convenient than hotels near the Cheongju Intercity Bus Terminal. Yukgeoli General Market (Yukgeori General Market) nearby is quite big and worth checking out for street food or souvenirs. Rates were around 4000 yen a night, though prices change a lot and weekends cost more, so booking in the off-season helps. Check-in starts at 7 PM and check-out is at 1 PM. The late check-in is nice, but it’s a motel and there’s no luggage storage. Amenities are handed out at reception, as shown in the photo. In front of reception on the first floor, there’s free toast, cereal, a coffee machine, and popcorn, plus milk and mineral water in the fridge. My room was very clean, possibly recently renovated, and quiet at night despite my concern about noise from couples. Wi-Fi was fine, the mini-fridge had two bottles of mineral water, and there was air conditioning. Outlets by the bed and several kinds of charging cords were available. I didn’t encounter any mosquitoes, which can be a common issue in Korean hotels. The toilet had a bidet, which was nice to find in Korea, and the adjoining shower room had shampoo, conditioner, and body soap. Cleaning was done every day. Another bus stop is in front of Homeplus, with more frequent buses, but it’s about a 15-minute walk. As of November 23, 2025, the TV wasn’t working, so only Netflix and YouTube were accessible. Before that, NHK was on channel 175 and channel "J" on 79.

The counter staff were so friendly. I’ll definitely come back when I’m in Cheongju again.