The Shilla Seoul said Friday that it would close in January for about six months for a major refurbishment.

The hotel said that it would cease all hotel services during the six-month revamp, except the Shilla Duty Free Shop, which will be open throughout the refurbishment period.

Having been built more than three decades ago, the hotel building needs to renovate the guestrooms and bathrooms, hotel officials said.

They said that the project will only involve the interior of the hotel and not the outer design.

The exact date of construction and detailed images for the new interior, however, were not disclosed. Founded in 1979 by Samsung Group founder Lee Byung-chull, The Shilla Co. is also involved in the duty-free and leisure industries.

By Chung Joo-won (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)