Jeju Island In South Korea Unveils Strict Tourism Rules, Powerful Etiquette Guide To Combat Overtourism And Unruly Behavior

Published on August 30, 2025

Jeju Island successful South Korea has rolled retired strict tourism rules and a elaborate multilingual etiquette guideline to safeguard its situation and organization from nan increasing pressures of overtourism. With complete 7 cardinal visitors successful conscionable six months, nan land faces mounting challenges specified arsenic postulation congestion, discarded issues, and disrespectful behavior, including littering and nationalist misconduct. The caller measures purpose to reconstruct balance, beforehand responsible travel, and protect nan island’s estimation arsenic a world-class destination.

Celebrated arsenic nan “Hawaii of Korea,” Jeju Island ranks among South Korea’s astir sought-after destinations, attracting millions each twelvemonth pinch its melodramatic volcanic landscapes, pristine coastlines, and vibrant taste traditions. Yet, an unprecedented tourism roar has triggered superior concerns, starring officials to enforce stricter rules and motorboat broad guidelines for visitors.

A Destination Under Pressure

Jeju’s fame has surged successful caller years, attracting some home and world travelers seeking scenic beauty and unsocial taste experiences. While tourism remains a captious contributor to nan section economy, it has besides placed tremendous strain connected nan island’s infrastructure and environment. In nan first half of 2025 alone, Jeju recorded complete 7 cardinal arrivals—a staggering fig considering its resident organization of conscionable 700,000.

This surge has amplified respective long-standing issues, including overcrowded attractions, postulation congestion, and mounting discarded disposal problems. The imbalance betwixt visitors and locals has raised concerns astir sustainability, starring galore to mobility whether Jeju tin support its charm without compromising nan value of life for its residents.

Unruly Tourist Behavior Sparks Action

Adding to nan problem is simply a emergence successful what officials picture arsenic “unruly behavior” by definite visitors. Reports of littering, jaywalking, and nationalist indecency person go progressively common. Incidents specified arsenic nationalist urination and different disrespectful acts successful earthy and municipality spaces person not only tarnished nan island’s image but besides angered section communities.

Alcohol-related misconduct is different area of concern. Drunken behaviour successful nationalist spaces has created information and hygiene issues, further complicating nan already strained narration betwixt visitors and locals. These recurring problems prompted section authorities to return decisive steps to reconstruct bid and beforehand responsible tourism.

New Campaign and Etiquette Guide

In consequence to these increasing challenges, Jeju has launched a broad run focused connected improving tourer behavior. A cardinal characteristic of this inaugural is nan merchandise of a multilingual etiquette guide, nan first of its benignant successful South Korea. Available successful respective languages, nan guideline outlines expected behaviour and educates travelers connected section laws and taste norms.

The guideline emphasizes respect for nationalist spaces, due discarded disposal, and adherence to postulation rules. It besides highlights nan value of preserving Jeju’s earthy environment, urging visitors to debar damaging flora, fauna, and protected landscapes. The eventual extremity is to forestall misunderstandings while fostering a consciousness of work among tourists.

Penalties for Violations

While acquisition remains a priority, Jeju authorities person made it clear that enforcement will play a awesome domiciled successful this effort. Repeat offenders aliases those who perpetrate superior infractions whitethorn look fines of up to 200,000 Korean Won (approximately $143). This attack signals a displacement toward stricter measures to safeguard nan island’s taste and biology integrity.

Balancing Tourism and Sustainability

The preamble of these measures reflects a broader effort to equilibrium economical benefits pinch sustainable development. Tourism accounts for a important information of Jeju’s income, but unchecked maturation risks damaging nan very attractions that make nan land unique. By mounting clear expectations and penalizing irresponsible behavior, officials purpose to create a much harmonious narration betwixt visitors and residents.

Experts accent that semipermanent solutions must spell beyond fines and guidelines. Investments successful infrastructure, discarded management, and proscription systems will beryllium basal to accommodate rising numbers without overwhelming section resources. Community engagement and collaboration pinch nan recreation manufacture will besides play a cardinal domiciled successful ensuring that tourism remains a affirmative unit for Jeju alternatively than a root of tension.

Looking Ahead

Jeju Island stands astatine a captious juncture. Its earthy beauty and taste practice person made it a world recreation hotspot, but these aforesaid qualities are nether threat from excessive tourism and neglectful behavior. The caller rules and etiquette run correspond an important measurement toward preserving nan land for early generations.

As destinations worldwide grapple pinch akin issues, Jeju’s acquisition underscores a captious lesson: sustainable tourism requires cooperation, respect, and accountability from some travelers and big communities. For visitors, this intends embracing responsible practices—not only to debar fines but to thief guarantee that Jeju remains nan idyllic paradise that first captured nan world’s imagination.