LG integrates Smart Cottage modular homes into regional tourism project

LG Electronics has opened a permanent live-in site for its LG Smart Cottage modular housing system, allowing members of the public to stay overnight in the units as part of a new cultural complex in Gimje, North Jeolla Province.(main image: LG Smart Cottage modular homes installed as permanent accommodation at Juksan Morak in Gimje, South Korea, featuring factory-built construction and integrated smart home systems.)

The installation at Juksan Morak represents the first time LG’s modular housing has been used as operational accommodation rather than a short-term exhibition or display environment. Developed in partnership with a local youth-led cooperative, the site integrates four Smart Cottage units into a broader program of regional tourism and cultural activity.

LG is targeting both individual customers and commercial operators, positioning the Smart Cottage for applications linked to short-stay accommodation, leisure developments and emerging work patterns such as remote and hybrid work. Guests staying on site use the modular units as their primary lodging while participating in local programs connected to nearby businesses, including brewing and baking workshops.

South Korea’s modular construction market is projected to reach 4.4 trillion won (AUD $5.1 billion) by 2030, driven by labour constraints, rising construction costs and demand for faster project delivery. LG has identified this growth as an opportunity to expand the practical use cases for its modular housing platform.

Interior of the LG Smart Cottage showing the transition from entry corridor to kitchen and living area, with factory-finished joinery and integrated appliances within a compact modular layout.

Modular layouts and integrated smart systems

The Juksan Morak site includes two single-storey Mono units and two duplex-style Duo units. All units are equipped with LG’s AI-enabled appliances, including refrigerators, induction cooktops, dishwashers, WashTower laundry systems and the StanbyME smart display.

“LG Smart Cottage offers a comfortable, home-like modular living experience,” said Cho Yeon-woo, head of LG Smart Cottage Company. “It is designed not only for individual customers but also as a compelling option for businesses preparing leisure and tourism projects.”

LG Smart Cottage duplex interior at Juksan Morak, showing how the upper-level bedroom is arranged within a two-storey modular configuration.

Appliances, lighting and heating and cooling systems are managed through LG’s ThinQ platform, enabling centralised digital control. LG has said this approach is intended to support operators managing multiple units by simplifying monitoring and maintenance while improving energy oversight.

The company has also highlighted the Smart Cottage’s short construction timeframe and factory-based production as factors relevant to hospitality and tourism projects seeking predictable delivery schedules.

Energy certification and safety processes

One model, the Mono Plus 26, has achieved an energy self-sufficiency rate exceeding 120 per cent and is the first prefabricated building in Korea to receive the Korea Energy Agency’s Zero Energy Building Plus certification. The rating reflects its all-electric operation, rooftop solar generation and high-efficiency HVAC systems.

LG has additionally partnered with the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation to introduce pre-certification of electrical systems during design and factory production, reducing the likelihood of post-installation rework.

Bookings for stays at Juksan Morak are available through the accommodation platform Movement Lab.