Union Hotel Seoul Review: Affordable Stylish Stay Near Seonyudo Station

One decision I locked down before our Seoul trip was our hotel.

Since our hotels ended up being somewhat expensive in Japan, I was determined to reign in our lodging costs in Korea.

Frankly, I’ve also always viewed Seoul more as a “food/shopping” city over a “stay-in-a-flashy-luxury-hotel” destination, so it also made sense to pinch pennies here. This led me to book Union Hotel Seoul.

It had great reviews, modern style, and decent prices per night compared to a lot of hotels in central Seoul. ≈ (선유도) is definitely not downtown (in areas like Myeongdong, Hongdae, Gangnam, etc.), but it has everything I look for when staying with my family abroad: convenience, comfort, and lack of craziness.

Let me walk you through my experience at Union Hotel Seoul complete with location pros/cons, room details, amenities, and if I would stay there again.

Location wise, staying in Seonyudo was Quiet But Well Connected

Hotel Union Seoul is located in Seonyudo in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo district. It is nowhere near Myeongdong, Hongdae, Itaewon, Gangnam, etc. If those places are on your itinerary, you will have to transfer at least once to get there.

Depending on your travel style, that will either be a total dealbreaker or a hidden blessing.

Here’s the scoop:

BIGGEST PRO: Super Close to the Subway

It is steps away from the subway station. With a baby stroller and two massive suitcases, that was a big deal.

Get out of Union Hotel Seoul and you can access public transportation within seconds.

FAMILY FACTOR: This Convenience is GOLD

Trust me. When you have kids, that matters.

Not having to Uber everywhere because you are far from subway stations is heavenly.

THE TRADEOFF: You’ll Probably Need to Transfer at Least Once

The con is that in order to get to major attractions, you’ll likely have to transfer at least once.

If you want to visit:

• Myeongdong
• Dongdaemun
• Gyeongbokgung Palace
• Hongdae

You will probably have to change trains.

To be clear, I did not find this difficult at all. Public transportation here makes it extremely easy. But if you want to literally walk out of your hotel and be immersed in shops/street food vendors immediately, this is not that hotel.

The Neighborhood Atmosphere

Personally, I liked how “quiet” it felt being there. It is more of a residential/commercial area with local flare.

There are tons of:

• Cafes
• Restaurants
• Convenience stores
• Small eateries

At night, it felt safe and relaxed vs chaotic.

If you don’t mind being a little removed from the main tourist strips and want a chill base, Seonyudo is great.

First Impression: Check-In at the 14th Floor

Something that surprised me was that the reception area is on the hotel’s 14th floor.

Not your typical hotel lobby.

Once you get on the elevator, you see:

• Floor-to-ceiling windows
• LOTS of space
• Minimalist design
• Indoor plants/lamps

It instantly feels very trendy and “design hotel-esque.” It is not over the top luxury but curated in its own cool way.

Bonus: It also has a music hall room inside the hotel which just adds to that artistic vibe.

Needless to say, I loved checking into the hotel. The lobby is really chill. You could grab a coffee and people-watch for hours.

Room: Connecting Room was Perfect for Us

Speaking of hotel rooms, we booked what they call a connecting room.

Best. Decision. Ever.

Let me explain.

Basically what a connecting room is:

• Two hotel rooms connected to each other
• One room acts as your bedroom
• One room acts as your living room

Connecting Room Perks When Traveling With Little Ones

I’ll get into the specifics of why we loved our room more below, but traveling with a toddler requires you to think about hotels differently.

You want:

• Room to spread out your luggage
• Room to store the stroller
• A “play area” where child can roam
• Separate bedroom away from main floor

It makes your hotel stay 100x better.

Here is what we liked about our rooms:

• One room had the beds/kids
• The other room had a sofa plus room to spread out
• We could unpack everything
• We never felt cramped
• We had tons of space to live out of both rooms

Connecting rooms are game-changing if you travel with families.

Room Style and Amenities

Union Hotel Seoul definitely takes on a modern minimalist style.

The rooms have nice clean lines, neutral colors, functionality, and plenty of light.

Bedding was comfortable. Lights weren’t super bright (which I prefer). Blackout curtains worked great too. Kid-proof? Definitely not. But it worked great for us.

Shower was clean and everything seemed new/up-to-date – from sockets to water pressure. It didn’t feel run down.

This isn’t a luxury hotel…but it isn’t meant to be. It is comfortable and provides what you need.

Cleanliness

The thing about midrange hotels is that if they aren’t clean or managed well, you know it.

Union Hotel was refreshing because:

• Floors were spotless
• No odors
• Air-conditioning worked great
• Furniture was not old

It felt newer than most hotels I’ve stayed at in Korea.

Again, this isn’t a place where you go to indulge on 5-star hotel pampering but it does everything well.

Amenities: Better Than Your Average Budget Hotel

Like I mentioned before, we stayed here partially due to the price point but it honestly did not feel like a cheap-no-frills hotel.

Reception Lounge

There is a spacious lounge area on the same level as the reception by the windows. You can chill here or people-watch Seoul.

It’s kind of like an upscale co-working room mixed with hotel lobby.

Music Hall

As I stated earlier, there is also this nice music hall room inside. It’s kind of artsy.

Just adds to the charm of the property.

If you like boutique-style hotels vs nothing-but-a-place-to-sleep chain hotels, you will dig this place.

View from our Hotel Room

Here was our view (note we are on the 14th floor):

• Parking Garages
• Nearby Apartments
• Neighborhood Streets

You won’t find gorgeous Han River views at Union Hotel.

You get what you pay for.

But if you want a no-nonsense, comfortable hotel that lets you get out and explore Seoul? The view is fine.

Food and Drinks Nearby

What I will say is that there is plenty of restaurants and cafes nearby. Within stumbling distance, you can find:

• Hip coffee shops
• Korean BBQ places
• Cheap noodle houses
• Convenience stores

You are never too far from food.

Personally, staying a bit outside the typical tourist area was great because I liked being able to discover hidden gems vs being surrounded by places that only cater to tourists.

Would I Stay Here Again? Union Hotel Seoul Summary

For the right type of trip, yes.

If I am traveling with my family:

• Trying to save money on accommodations
• Planning on using public transportation
• Not worrying about being steps away from the action

Then Union Hotel Seoul is a solid pick.

If I were on a rushed trip and wanted to zero-drop into central Korea attractions, I may opt for somewhere more central.

But for those on a budget that want a nice hotel with high ratings and easy subway access, Union Hotel Seoul is a great option.

Conclusion

Union Hotel Seoul was everything I hoped for and more.

Modern. Stylish. Great Reviews. Subway ACCESS. Reasonable Price. Rooms that are ideal for families.

It was our home base in Seoul and I couldn’t have asked for a better hotel.

Hit up Union Hotel Seoul if you’re looking for a well-rated, affordable hotel in Seoul with awesome metro access.