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Bukchon Hanok Village is known for its picturesque and well-preserved traditional Korean houses, called ‘hanok’. Seoul most popular tourist hotspots – which attract thousands of visitors every day.
But the issue of overtourism has prompted officials to do so impose a curfew policywith a trial period starting this month (November).
The curfew limits tourists’ access to specific areas of Bukchon from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m.
Fines of up to 100,000 won ($110) will be imposed on violators.
Pending the success of the trial, it will be officially launched in March next year.
Located in Jongno District in central Seoul, Bukchon is close to other cultural attractions such as the Jongmyo Royal Ancestral Shrine and the Grand Palaces of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung.
The area attracted about six million visitors last year, compared to its approximately 6,100 residents.
And complaints about noise pollution, litter and privacy problems in the area have escalated over the years.
Some tourists have been caught on surveillance cameras trying to enter private homes or peek inside without permission, causing friction with locals. The independent reported.
District officials first raised the possibility of tourist restrictions in July.
The area will also be designated as the country’s first-ever ‘special management area’ under South Korea’s Tourism Promotion Act.
Following public complaints, signs in four languages warning tourists about noise levels were also installed in 2018.
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