South Korean police said to tourists on the Jeju vacation island to behave

Jeju police have for the first time published guidelines reminding foreign visitors to behave or cope with fines, because the South Korean holiday island sees an increasing number of tourists.

The Jeju police published the guide according to the complaints of the inhabitants of the bad behavior of foreigners, in particular the detritus and the leash the children defecate in the street.

The guide – printed in Chinese, English and Korean – is the first of its kind in the country, according to local police, and presents itself during the summer summary season.

Jeju, a volcanic island south of the Korean peninsula, is popular for its beaches, its walking trails and its mountain views swept by the wind. Foreign visitors also come to Jeju to shop and game.

The guide aims to “prevent misunderstandings due to linguistic and cultural differences and to improve the understanding of foreigners of Korean culture and laws,” said the head of the Jeju Kim Su-Young police agency.

Eight thousand copies of the guide will be printed and distributed immediately, said Kim.

The guide lists “minor offenses” which are liable to fines. These include smoking in prohibited areas, trash, jaywalking, drunk and disorderly behavior, fleeing restaurants without paying for meals, urinating or defecating in public, using a false identity and intrusion piece and enter empty houses.

The first time that offenders have been released with a warning, but recurrences could be sentenced to a fine of 200,000 wons ($ 143; £ 106), according to a copy of the police published by the police.

South Korea has experienced a strong post-payroll rebound in tourism. Jeju alone has welcomed seven million visitors so far this year, according to local media.

In 2024, foreign visitors injected a record of 9.26 Billions won in the local economy. Almost 70% of these visitors visiting Jeju came from China.

The repression of the island against bad behavior also underlines how tourism hot spots across Asia reacted to over-tourism.

Last year, a Japanese city blocked a famous view of the road on Mount Fuji to keep tourists away seeking to take photos and selfies.