The Square Hostel Jongno

Great location, very convenient for getting around. However, the room is quite small, best suited for a solo traveler.

Excellent hotel! Everything in the room was new and clean! Comfortable beds and pillows, and spotless white linens too. The room, though small, was cozy. The hotel's location is super convenient. Even though my room was right by the elevator, it was completely silent! I stayed for 8 days, and there was no room cleaning during that time (which was stated upfront on the booking page), but they changed our towels and emptied the trash daily. The staff were very polite and friendly ☺️ I had a package delivered to the hotel's address while I was away in Busan for a couple of days. The staff received it and brought it to my room as requested. I was very satisfied with my stay! 😊 P.S.: It would be wonderful if the hotel had washing machines and dryers.

The hotel had just been renovated about two weeks prior to my stay. While the room facilities were brand new, the formaldehyde smell was incredibly strong and pungent. Soon after entering the room, my throat felt dry and uncomfortable, and breathing was difficult. It's completely unacceptable that they would host guests in a newly renovated space without proper ventilation, showing a complete disregard for guests' health. Even more ridiculous was the construction and renovation work that started before 8 AM the next morning. The noise was incredibly loud and went on for a long time, showing no consideration for guests' rest. There was absolutely no hotel experience to be had. What was most unbearable was the extremely poor and arrogant service from a Korean male staff member at the front desk. Not only could he not communicate in basic English, but he also completely refused to properly communicate with Chinese guests throughout, his eyes and attitude clearly showing disrespect. I distinctly felt discriminated against and completely disrespected. I politely asked if it was possible to switch to a room further away from the elevator, as I was worried the elevator noise would disturb my sleep. Although he vaguely seemed to understand my request, he put on an unbelievably impatient and arrogant display, giving me perfunctory and indifferent responses throughout. During check-in, the front desk told me I could get water from the basement. I assumed it would be normal bottled drinking water, but it turned out to be dispenser water, the kind you find in offices, meaning I had to use my own cup. When I tried to confirm with the front desk if there was no bottled water, he remained impatient and rude throughout. In the service industry, respecting guests is fundamental. There's no need to take orders and earn money from Chinese tourists on platforms like Trip.com while simultaneously treating them with arrogant, indifferent, perfunctory, and dismissive attitudes. If basic service and respect cannot be provided, there's absolutely no need to join domestic platforms to host Chinese guests. Poor communication and bad attitudes – this was the worst service I've ever encountered in a hotel. I absolutely do not recommend it, and I hope the hotel seriously rectifies its staff's service attitudes!

It's a place just for sleeping. The check-in process was a bit annoying; the staff was on a personal call while people were waiting in line.

I chose this hotel because it was close to the station. I had an early morning flight, so I tried to store my luggage at the hotel, but there was no actual counter or room for storage. All they offered was a spot under a roof, visible to anyone, where I could lock my bags. Considering the risk of theft, I hope they improve this service.

Extremely convenient location with many bars, cafes, and convenience stores within walking distance. The only minor issue was a slight odor in the room.

No service to speak of. The front desk staff were completely clueless and couldn't answer any of my questions. The cleanliness was subpar, and one night there were people outside drinking and loudly talking until 3 AM.

The hotel is located in an alley near Exit 5 of Jongno 3-ga (Line 5). Pros: * The entire building is newly opened, with 4 rooms on each floor (I stayed on the 7th floor, which is the top floor). * The location is great; it's very convenient to take the bus to Hongdae or Dongdaemun. * Downstairs, there are many food options like CU, GS25, Emart24, Mega Coffee, and more. * There's an Olive Young right across from the nearest bus stop. * The TV in the room has Netflix and YouTube. * The front desk staff are all very kind and speak English. * On the day of check-out, you can leave your luggage outside (they don't actively guard it, but you can secure it with a chain and lock). Cons: * There are many bar-restaurants (like street food stalls) downstairs where a lot of locals gather. It can get crowded and a bit chaotic when returning at night, so solo travelers should be careful (but the noise doesn't reach the room at all, it's completely quiet). * Although it's close to the subway station, walking to transfer between Line 1 and Line 3 inside the station is a very long walk. I recommend checking Naver Map to see if the subway or bus is faster. If it's similar, take the bus – at least you won't have to walk endlessly. 😹 * Initially, the front desk told me they would only change towels daily and wouldn't handle trash. Later, I found out the cleaning staff does take out the trash, but they might not if there isn't much. * The room doesn't provide water; you have to buy your own. However, there's a water dispenser in the public area on B1 (I bought my own water). * If you're particular about hair dryers, you might want to bring your own, as theirs is the old-fashioned type that feels like it could damage your scalp. 😻 * The room also doesn't provide toothpaste or toothbrushes, so please bring your own. * There's only one room key card, so you can't keep the air conditioning on 24/7. This can be inconvenient if you're staying with family or friends, but it's fine for solo travelers. * I stayed in a double room. While it was new, the room was truly small. Organizing luggage requires some magical space utilization (aka, you need to find a way to make space). Conclusion: I had a pretty good stay these 7 days and slept well. I would still consider staying here again next time. ( ´▽｀)