A traveler’s postcard from South Korea’s ‘love motels’

National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek talks about his experience with South Korea’s so-called “love motels”: short-term rental hotels that cater primarily to people seeking space for intimate encounters. In a country with a severe housing shortage, these motels increasingly provide privacy for young adults who live — by necessity — with their parents. As Salopek discovered walking across the country, these rooms also provide budget-friendly accommodations for travelers as well.