Around 1.4 billion tourists travelled internationally in 2024, as per the World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism. International tourism, which took a big hit due to COVID-19, is now almost reaching pre-pandemic levels. In the past few years, this increased influx of tourists has also raised overcrowding concerns at many popular destinations around the globe. Local authorities have come up with a range of measures aiming to not only curb overtourism but also ensure tourists don’t trample on the welfare of residents. Most recently, South Korean police have issued guidelines for foreign visitors in Jeju as a reminder to conduct themselves appropriately or pay fines, according to reports.
Jeju is one of South Korea’s most famous tourist spots. This holiday destination boasts volcanic landscapes, picturesque beaches, waterfalls, hiking trails, unique local traditions and many other attractions. In recent times, locals have been complaining about misbehaving foreigners in Jeju. Some incidents have also gone viral on social media, sparking more complaints from residents. These concerns prompted the release of a dedicated guide printed in Chinese, English and Korean. As per local police, this multilingual etiquette notice is reportedly the first of its kind in the country. The objective of this document is to “prevent misunderstandings due to language and cultural differences and improve foreigners’ understanding of Korean culture and laws,” said Jeju Police Agency chief Kim Su-young, as quoted by the BBC.
“Officers carry the notices during patrols and hand them out when they encounter minor violations on the spot. Serious offences are dealt with immediately, but for minor ones, we usually issue the notice instead of stricter action,” an official at the Jeju Provincial Police Agency told The Korea Times. The guide provides information about different offences that can attract fines. Prohibited actions include littering, jaywalking, drunk and disorderly behaviour, smoking in prohibited areas, not complying with traffic rules, dine-and-dash (“fare evasion”), disturbing the peace, carrying concealed weapons, urinating/defecating in public, fake ID usage, and trespassing and/or breaking into empty houses. Most first-time offenders committing minor violations would be given a warning about the rules. However, if they repeat the offence, they could be fined up to 200,000 won (around Rs 12,000).
More than 7 million people have visited Jeju so far in 2025, according to the Jeju Tourism Association, as cited in The Korea Times.