South Korea's Imperial Palace Seoul is dedicated to becoming the first local hotel brand to go global, the hotel's general manager has said.

CW Chang, the hotel's manager, says he and his team are in the first stages of establishing an international chain bearing the Imperial Palace name.

Most five star hotels in Seoul are international brands while others - such as Shilla and Lotte - are operated by local conglomerates. Imperial Palace is the only one of these which is truly independent, Chang said.

"The owner has a solid determination and vision to make a local brand hotel chain that stretches worldwide," Chang said.

"We know it is not an easy task. Many international hotel brands have proposed we become one of their properties but the owner has refused."

The Imperial Palace Seoul was established in 1989 and was awarded a five star rating in 1999. It was extensively renovated between 2002 ad 2005, and a convention center was added.

Chang acknowledged that Imperial Palace Seoul had a lower recognition among foreign visitors, but said the hotel was "making up for this weak point" by joining the Preferred Hotel Group.