Confronting a surge in unruly tourist behaviour, Jeju has unveiled South Korea’s first multilingual etiquette notice, seeking to instil order on the southern resort island.
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The Jeju Provincial Police said on Monday that it had printed 8,000 notices in Korean, English and Chinese, hoping to bridge cultural gaps and help foreign visitors grasp local laws and customs.
The notices caution visitors against minor infractions – from jaywalking and littering to smoking in restricted areas and public drunkenness – and appeal for cooperation in maintaining order.
“Officers carry the notices during patrols and hand them out when they encounter minor violations on the spot,” a Jeju police official said. “Serious offences are dealt with immediately but for minor ones, we usually issue the notice instead of stricter action.”
The official noted that offering a warning for petty violations, instead of imposing penalties on the spot, could defuse tensions with tourists and lighten the load for officers.
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After years of pandemic disruption, Jeju, a perennial tourist draw for its balmy climate, has seen a sharp rebound in visitors, led by a surge in foreign arrivals. The restoration of direct flights – especially from China – has proven pivotal, with Chinese travellers now making up the largest share of overseas tourists.
