tourist Archives | Be Korea-savvy
Tourist Curfew Violators to Face Fines in Seoul’s Bukchon Area from March

Tourist Curfew Violators to Face Fines in Seoul’s Bukchon Area from March

SEOUL, Feb. 28 (Korea Bizwire) – The Seoul city government said Friday it will formally implement a policy to restrict tourist visits to a special management area of the city’s historic Bukchon Hanok Village, beginning March 1, and start to impose fines on violators. Under the policy meant to address overtourism, tourists are allowed to [...]

Chinese Tourist Nabbed for Filming Jeju Int’l Airport with a Drone

Chinese Tourist Nabbed for Filming Jeju Int’l Airport with a Drone

JEJU, South Korea, Jan. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — A Chinese tourist has been apprehended for illegally filming Jeju International Airport on the southern Jeju Island, classified as a top-level national security facility, with a drone, police said Friday. The Jeju Provincial Police Agency said it was investigating the Chinese national, whose identity was withheld, on [...]

South Korea’s Retail Landscape Faces Shifts as Duty-Free Sector Struggles Amid Changing Tourist Preferences

South Korea’s Retail Landscape Faces Shifts as Duty-Free Sector Struggles Amid Changing Tourist Preferences

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s duty-free sector is grappling with declining performance as foreign tourists increasingly favor road shops and specialty stores, such as health and beauty retailer Olive Young, over traditional duty-free outlets. This trend was highlighted at the “2025 Retail Industry Outlook Seminar” held by the Korea Chamber of Commerce [...]

Jeju Island Introduces QR Code Payment System for All Buses, Catering to Foreign Tourists

Jeju Island Introduces QR Code Payment System for All Buses, Catering to Foreign Tourists

JEJU, Jul. 30 (Korea Bizwire) – Starting August 1, all buses on Jeju Island will be equipped with a QR code payment system, marking a significant step towards modernizing public transportation and improving convenience for both local residents and international visitors. The Jeju provincial government announced on July 29 that passengers will be able to pay [...]

Foreign Tourist Arrivals in Korea Reach 96 Pct of Pre-pandemic Levels in June

Foreign Tourist Arrivals in Korea Reach 96 Pct of Pre-pandemic Levels in June

SEOUL, Jul. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of foreigners visiting South Korea recovered to nearly 96 percent of pre-pandemic levels last month, the state-run tourism promotion agency said Monday. South Korea welcomed about 1.42 million international tourists in June, marking a 47.5 percent increase from a year ago, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. [...]

Airbnb Calls for Law Revision to Allow S. Koreans to Share Homes with Domestic Travelers

Airbnb Calls for Law Revision to Allow S. Koreans to Share Homes with Domestic Travelers

SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — Airbnb Inc. launched a campaign on Monday to call for a revision to the law to allow South Koreans to share their homes with domestic travelers in the country’s major cities, it said. Under South Korea’s Tourism Promotion Act, residents in urban areas, excluding rural communities defined by law, [...]