In response to a significant increase in foreign tourists visiting Jeju Island, local police have initiated a special crackdown on jaywalking and littering.
Jeju police conducted an enforcement operation at Jewon Intersection in Jeju-si, a hotspot for foreign tourists, as part of a broader campaign to curb violations of basic public order on June 25.
During 90 minutes starting at 8 p.m., six individuals, including four Chinese tourists and two residents, were issued tickets for jaywalking. Among those ticketed was a Chinese couple who protested, asserting that “Chinese police don’t give tickets for jaywalking.” Some Chinese tourists expressed distress, with one tearfully questioning the focus on Chinese nationals, saying, “Why are they only cracking down on Chinese people?” as multiple Chinese tourists were cited consecutively.
The Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Tourism Association reported that over 86,000 Chinese tourists visited Jeju in January, marking a 136-fold year-on-year increase. The figure represents a recovery to 91% of the tourist numbers seen in January 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The crackdown follows recent online controversies regarding the behavior of some Chinese tourists on Jeju Island. Incidents include a child, allegedly Chinese, photographed defecating on a public street and images circulating of individuals leaving trash in a convenience store despite signage requesting patrons to clean up after themselves. Over 350 jaywalking incidents have been recorded in Jeju this year, with more than 70% involving foreign nationals.
A police official said, “When we speak with foreigners who have been cited, many incidents appear to stem from cultural differences rather than intentional misconduct. We recognize that these cultural differences may also apply to other basic public order violations beyond jaywalking. As a result, we plan to produce pamphlets and other informational materials to educate foreign tourists.”
