bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Reuters

Kwon Young-doo, owner of a private art gallery in Seoul’s historical Bukchon Hanok Village, is concerned about an impending curfew policy aimed at mitigating overtourism in the area.
The curfew, set to be trialled in November and officially launched in March, will limit tourist access to specific areas of Bukchon between 5pm and 10am.
Those who break the curfew will be liable to a fine of up to 100,000 won (US$70).
“Who would want to visit?” says Kwon, the owner of the Bukchon Asian Cultural Art Museum, who moved to the historic area 18 years ago. “They’ll leave with a bad impression of South Korea.”

Bukchon Hanok Village, with its narrow winding alleyways in hilly northern Seoul, dates back to the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910).
The area has become a popular tourist destination, especially after being featured on a TV show a decade ago.
Tourists and Koreans alike are drawn to the neighbourhood for its quaint houses with signature wood columns and doors, courtyards and tiled roofs.
However, increased tourism has become more than an inconvenience for the residents, who complain about noise, littering, public urination and invasion of privacy.

Some tourists have been caught on surveillance cameras trying to enter private homes or peeking inside without permission, generating friction with locals.
Many residents have chosen to leave, leading to a 28 per cent drop in the village’s population over the past 10 years, according to the district office of Jongo – the part of the city the village is located.
The area attracted around 6 million visitors last year, compared with its resident population of around 6,100.
It’s often difficult to maintain a normal daily routine due to disturbances like people dragging suitcases around
Kim Eun-mee, a Bukchon Hanok Village resident
Chung Moon-hun, the Jongno district head, says the goal is to protect the rights of residents; the restrictions will be adjusted if necessary to make it effective.
The area where curfew hours and fines will be imposed is around 34,000 square metres (8 acres) – about the size of five football fields.
But residents are sceptical about the policy’s effectiveness, citing loopholes such as exemptions for tourists staying overnight in hanok houses. They also blame the proliferation of corporate-run hanok stays for disrupting their lives.

Since 2020, authorities have loosened restrictions on traditional Korean houses offering accommodation, resulting in a surge in corporate-run hanok stays in the residential areas, residents say.
In 2010, 10 traditional houses in Bukchon were registered under the name Traditional Korean Housing Experience Businesses; by October 2024, that number had ballooned to 116, according to the district office.
“People come for just a day to enjoy themselves, and the noise from parties is extremely loud,” says Kim Eun-mee, who lives next to a hanok stay. Clearing rubbish in front of her home has become a chore she has to do several times a day.

“It’s often difficult to maintain a normal daily routine due to disturbances like people dragging suitcases around even during the early hours, which frequently wakes me up,” she says.
Lee Dong-woo, chief executive of hanok stay booking platform Butler Lee, says the business took off when owners who found it difficult to renovate or maintain old houses entrusted the property to hospitality businesses.
“These requests are driving the expansion, not because we are actively evicting current residents to operate hanok stays, which is completely untrue,” says Lee, who manages 17 hanok stays in Bukchon.

Tourists are divided over the curfew. Some agree the residents’ quality of life is important. Others chafe at the idea of getting fined for simply walking down a public street.
There are also questions about enforcement; how to tell tourists from residents, how to make foreigners pay the fine, and the language barrier.


South Korea slaps Johnny Somali with travel ban over US live-streamer’s ‘commotion’ case

Chef of Singapore’s 2-Michelin-star Jaan opens British comfort food restaurant in Vietnam

Uncovering Hanoi, Vietnam’s rich culture and cuisine

China’s winter tourism, sports heat up hope of thawing economy

Asia travel

Korean hanok village in Seoul sets curfew to curb overtourism. Will it work?

Tourists take selfies at Bukchon Hanok Village. Photo: Reuters

Tourists crowd Seoul’s Bukchon Hanok Village in October 2024. A curfew aims to prevent overcrowding and curb bad behaviour, but locals are divided as to whether it will be a help or a hindrance. Photo: Reuters

Kwon Young-doo, owner of the Asia Cultural Art Museum in Bukchon Hanok Village, thinks the new curfew could leave tourists with a bad impression of South Korea. Photo: Reuters 

A tourist shoots a video at Bukchon Hanok Village. Friction between residents and tourists has arisen in recent years, with the latter accused of trying to enter private properties, urinating in public and more. Photo: Reuters 

Tourists, including some dressed in traditional Korean hanbok, walk through Bukchon Hanok Village. residents blame overtourism in their village on loosening of restrictions leading to an increase in corporate-run hanok stays. Photo: Reuters

Tourists at an intersection at Seoul’s Bukchon Hanok Village. Photo: Reuters

Far from Seoul, natural and cultural gems make for a special autumn retreat in South Korea

A traditional fermented paste producer in South Korea’S Jeolla region. Photo: Instagram

Gwanbangjerim Forest, in Damyang County, South Jeolla province, is one of the spots in the Jeolla region the South Korean government is promoting to spotlight the country’s more peaceful side. Photo: Shutterstock

Juknokwon, a sprawling bamboo grove, is one of Damyang’s “Three Great Forests” promoted as part of the Local 100 initiative. Photo: Getty Images

South Korean culture minister Yu In-chon speaks with tourists at Damyang County’s Juknokwon bamboo forest. Photo: Instagram

Master Ki Soon-do (centre) demonstrates the process of making “jang”, a Korean fermented paste, at her fermentation centre in Damyang County, South Jeolla province. Photo: Instagram

A scene from a modern rendition of Chunhyang-ga, performed by the Namwon Municipal Orchestra for Korean Traditional Music, near Gwanghallu Pavilion. Photo: Instagram

7 Seoul restaurants of top chefs in Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars, and how to get a table

Whole wheat noodles at Trid in Seoul. Photo: Instagram /tridseoul

Chef Kwon Sung-jun from Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars at his Seoul restaurant Via Toledo. We look at this and six other must-visit places run by finalists in the cooking show that serve Italian, Japanese, Korean and fusion food. Photo: Instagram/viatoledo_official

Negi Dining Lounge, the Seoul restaurant of Culinary Class Wars finalist Jang Ho-joon, is in Seoul’s Gangnam district. Photo: Negi

Shenzhen travel guide: how to get a visa on arrival, which apps to download and cashless payment in the Chinese city

To get to places in Shenzhen like Dongmen Pedestrian Street (above), Hong Kong residents without the right visa can apply for one on arrival. That’s not all you need to know - we break down the essentials for your trip from Hong Kong. Photo: Shutterstock

WeChat is useful for electronic payments and for its mini-programs – apps within the app. Photo: Shutterstock

The simplest option within Hong Kong to reach Shenzhen is to take the MTR East Rail Line to Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau stations. Photo: Erika Na

Shenzhen taxis can be ordered via Didi Chuxing, the Chinese equivalent of Uber. Photo: Shutterstock

Alipay accepts foreign-issued credit cards and can be used to make e-payments in Shenzhen. Photo: Shutterstock

Baidu Maps is more accurate than Google Maps in Shenzhen. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle

Travel & Leisure

From November, tourists walking around Seoul’s historical Bukchon Hanok Village from 5pm to 10am will be fined. The move has people divided


From November, tourists walking around Seoul’s historical Bukchon Hanok Village from 5pm to 10am will be fined. The move has people divided.


Tourism

South Korea