Vandalism and Misconduct Plague Gyeongbokgung Palace as Tourism Surges
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul’s historic Joseon royal palace, has faced repeated incidents of vandalism and disrespectful behavior amid rising K-culture tourism. Recent cases include graffiti (spray paint) on walls, a foreign tourist performing advanced yoga while leaning on the palace stone wall, and a man allegedly urinating under the palace wall—who was fined 50,000 won. Public outcry has grown after reports that a high-profile visitor sat on the royal throne (eojwa, 御座) inside Geunjeongjeon, a restricted area. Authorities say cultural heritage laws ban marking or damaging sites and allow restoration cost recovery; current penalties for public urination are limited (up to 100,000 won). Officials call for stronger on-site education, more multilingual signage, guided-tour etiquette briefings, increased patrols, and possible legal revisions to better protect the palace and its symbolic national value.
