How do I book accommodation for domestic trips in Korea but I am confused by all the options -- Airbnb, pensions, motels, hanok stays?

Each option suits a different kind of trip. Pensions (펜션) are the classic Korean choice for groups and families, basically private cabins or guesthouses often with a barbecue area and a kitchen, very common near beaches, mountains, and the countryside, and ideal when you want your own space with friends. Motels (모텔) are cheap, everywhere, and perfectly fine for a night or two, and the newer business-hotel style ones are clean and comfortable and rarely need booking far ahead. Hanok stays (한옥) are traditional tile-roofed houses, wonderful for the experience in places like Jeonju, Gyeongju, and Bukchon in Seoul, where you sleep on a heated ondol floor, ranging from simple guesthouses to pricier boutique ones.

Airbnb exists but is more limited here than elsewhere because of Korean rules on short-term rentals, so listings can be fewer and some sit in a legal gray area, though it still works well for longer city stays. For booking, most locals use the Korean apps Yanolja and Yeogi Eottae, which cover motels, pensions, and hotels with lots of photos and reviews, while Naver, Agoda, and Booking are also common and usually have English. As a rule of thumb, go pension for a group trip, hanok for a cultural night, motel for a cheap convenient crash, and compare Airbnb against hotels for a longer stay in one city.