Aman, the global luxury hospitality group, is bringing its Janu brand to South Korea for the first time through a large-scale resort development in Aewol, Jeju Island. The project—Janu Jeju Hotel & Residences—will combine hotel, residential, and event space components, with a total investment size of approximately USD 600 million.

The property will be situated on a 222,487 m² ocean-facing site in Yusuam-ri, Aewol-eup, one of Jeju’s most popular resort areas. According to the developer, construction is expected to begin in Fall 2025, with completion slated for late 2027.

Once completed, Janu Jeju will become the sixth Janu property globally, and the third in Asia, following Japan and Thailand.

Project Structure and Stakeholders

The development is being led by Yeolhaedang, a Korean real estate and resort management company established in 2012. Yeolhaedang is responsible for investment and construction, while Aman will manage the hotel operations.

Ownership of Yeolhaedang is currently held by Studio Santa Claus Entertainment, but is scheduled to be transferred to Lucid Holdings, a financial and insurance group, by May 30, 2025.

Aman and Yeolhaedang are reportedly in discussions with overseas investors for additional project-level funding.

Janu is positioned as Aman’s “sister brand”, offering a more accessible experience while maintaining the core Aman values of wellness, design, and service. While traditional Aman resorts often command USD 3,000–7,500 per night, Janu’s expected rate is closer to USD 750 per night—still well above top-tier Korean properties like Banyan Tree Seoul, but lower than ultra-luxury benchmarks.

The Jeju project will feature:

•  A 95-room Janu hotel
•  57  branded residences in a condominium format 
•  A convention center, banquet halls, wellness spa, and gallery space 

The project has a long backstory. Originally launched by Yeolhaedang in 2016 with Chinese backing, the project stalled due to funding delays. A change in ownership occurred in 2022, but progress remained limited until the Jeju government approved a revised development plan in late 2023. That plan extended the timeline by four years and increased the investment cap, enabling the project to move forward.

With permits now secured and the operator confirmed, the project is moving toward execution with a renewed timetable. 

Janu Jeju is not Aman’s only project in Korea. The brand is also expected to manage a hotel and branded residence in Seoul’s Cheongdam district, as part of a redevelopment project by Shinsegae Group.

While the Cheongdam site was initially planned as a Janu, the parties later agreed to upgrade the brand tier and introduce the flagship Aman brand instead—highlighting Aman’s confidence in the Korean ultra-luxury market.

This article was published in Corebeat on 13th of January, 2025.