Pedro’s House

Pedro’s House is a relatively new guesthouse located in Gwangju. Officially opened just over a year ago on August 19, 2013, this guesthouse aims to fill a niche. The first of its kind in the city, the guesthouse not only offers guests a place to sleep, but also shows guests the sights and offers a personal tour guide – the owner himself, Pedro Kim.

An avid traveler, Pedro wanted to open a guesthouse to fill a need he felt was unfulfilledin Gwangju. Sure, there were places to stay, but it was difficult for foreigners to find them, as they were only advertised on Korean websites such as Naver. One of the things Pedro wanted to do was make his guesthouse foreigner-friendly. He accomplished this goal by only advertising on international websites such as airbnb.com, hostelworld.com, and booking.com. People from all over the world have found his guesthouse on these websites, and also from word of mouth; a recent guest from Poland had heard about Pedro’s House from a previous guest while she was traveling in Italy.

Pedro’s other aim is for Pedro’s House to be more than just a hostel. The word “hostel” brings to mind a lot of people crammed into small rooms without much interaction from the hostel staff. Pedro wanted to make his guesthouse more intimate, so that he and his guests can get to know each other while theyexplore local culture. When a guest stays at Pedro’s House, they can look through all of the information he has on Gwangju and identify places they want to visit. Pedro often accompanies his guests and provides an insider’s view of the city.

What can you expect as a guest at Pedro’s House?

Pedro’s House currently has four rooms and can accommodate up to 11 people a night. There are two dormitory-style rooms, one male room and one female room, which sleep three and four people, respectively. Sharing a bathroom with the dormitories is a private room. A larger private room with en suite bathroom is available for those who require more privacy. There is also a rooftop terrace where guests are welcome to sleep in tents when the weather is suitable in the event no other rooms are available. A family suite will be available in the coming months, complete with separate sleeping and living rooms as well as a private bathroom.

In addition to the various rooms and rooftop terrace where guests can enjoy barbeque parties, weather permitting, amenities at Pedro’s House include a free breakfast, free wi-fi, easy access to public transportation and a travel guide, with discountedLonely Korea trips during travelers’ stays. If you want to check out the sights within the city, Pedro might even accompany you, free of charge. Pedro wants guests to make themselves at home, and having a friendly host is advantageous in making that happen.

Pedro’s House In the Community

Born and raised in Gwangju, Pedro has become a staple in the Gwangju community and is known by Koreans and foreigners alike. He is a supporter of the Gwangju International Center, Sung Bin Orphanage and Alleycon, this year offering a shuttle service for the convention.

Pedro’s favorite part about having his own guesthouse is making friends. He also enjoys learning about the different cultures, religions and jobs of his guests. He says, “It’s about life. Life is unpredictable. Everyone has a different reason to travel.”

Future Plans

It is important to have goals for the future, and Pedro’s House is no exception. His immediate plan is to create a two-room family suite. In the next two or three years, Pedro hopes to open a second location that offers rooms on top floors with a travel café on the ground floor. His goal is to bring guests and Gwangju residents together to create an atmosphere conducive to sharing culture and making friends.

For more information on Pedro’s House or to book your stay, visit pedroshouse.com.