Photo source: ©NEWSIS

On the 4th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it conducted a crackdown on unlicensed tour guides on the 30th of last month in the Jung-gu district, home to duty-free shops and the bustling Myeong-dong area, which are frequently visited by foreign tourists.

The city explained that the crackdown was prompted by the increasing number of foreign tourists visiting Myeong-dong, which has led to a rise in cases where some travel agencies hire local escorts to act as guides.

According to the Tourism Promotion Act, only individuals who have obtained a Tour Guide Interpreter license are permitted to provide guided tours to foreign tourists.

Furthermore, because unlicensed guides receive incentives based on the amount tourists spend on shopping instead of wages from travel agencies, there have been frequent cases where guides pressure tourists into visiting souvenir shops and purchasing items at inflated prices.

The crackdown involved the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Jung-gu district office, a mobile patrol unit, and relevant organizations such as the Korea Tour Guide Interpreter Association. Using a verification app to check for licenses, they apprehended one foreign escort and one unlicensed guide.

Those who engaged in illegal guiding activities will be subject to fines, and the travel agencies that hired them will also face penalties and administrative sanctions.

The city plans to strengthen cooperation with relevant agencies and continue cracking down on unlicensed guides, focusing on souvenir shops and tourist attractions.

Last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced its "Seoul Tourism Future Vision" and has been working to rebuild the tourism industry. The future vision aims for the "3-3-7-7 Tourism Era" by 2026: attracting 30 million foreign tourists, achieving 3 million won (approx. 340,000 yen) in spending per person, a 7-day stay, and a 70% repeat visitor rate.

A Seoul city official noted that the global Hallyu (Korean Wave) boom is increasing the number of foreign tourists visiting Seoul, stating, "We will respond strictly to illegal acts that undermine tourism order and strive to ensure that foreign tourists can experience a 'Seoul where they want to stay longer and visit again'."

Source: ©NEWSIS

These are English translations of articles from our GTTOUR Japanese website.