Overtourism Hits Seoul: Tourists Block Roads and Damage Heritage
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
Seoul’s historic sites and popular neighborhoods are struggling with a surge of foreign tourists, raising concerns about safety, heritage damage, and resident complaints. Recent months have seen crowds—particularly from China and Southeast Asia—treat areas around Gyeongbokgung Palace and neighborhoods like Myeongdong and Bukchon like open studios, sometimes blocking roads for photos and creating litter and noise. Incidents include a tourist defecating at Gyeongbokgung and overwhelmed facilities (e.g., toilets and trash systems). Industry experts warn that focusing only on visitor numbers without improving management, staffing, and infrastructure risks long-term harm to local communities and the tourism economy. The government plans measures such as restoring a tourism police unit and increasing staff at attractions, but officials say it will take time. Observers urge checks on capacity and sustainable planning to avoid the negative effects seen in other destinations.
