Chinese Tourists Jaywalk in Front of Police... When Caught, They Ask "Why Is This Illegal?"

Jeju Police Agency Cracks Down on Violations Including Jaywalking
9 Cases of Disorderly Conduct Detected... 5 Involving Chinese Nationals
Some Jaywalkers Dash Across Despite Police Enforcement

Chinese tourists were repeatedly caught jaywalking blatantly in front of police officers in Jeju.

Chinese tourists jaywalking in front of the police.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 25th, Yonhap News reported that the Jeju Police Agency deployed 11 officers to crack down on basic order violations such as jaywalking. The police focused their enforcement efforts around Shingwang-ro in Yeon-dong, Jeju City. This area is one of the most frequented by Chinese tourists, as it is home to the Nuwemaru Street shopping district, duty-free shops, and hotels.

This special crackdown was launched to assess the situation and raise awareness in Jeju following the spread of eyewitness accounts on online communities and social media (SNS) about alleged misconduct by tourists presumed to be Chinese, such as "defecating on the street" and "leaving trash at convenience stores." The mobile patrol unit and 10 officers from the local precinct stood by on both sides of the four-lane road, monitoring for ▲jaywalking ▲public urination ▲smoking on the street ▲illegal littering. They also handed out wet wipes to passing foreign tourists as part of a campaign to promote adherence to basic public order.

Despite police enforcement, a Chinese tourist in their 20s was caught jaywalking about 10 minutes after the crackdown began. Another Chinese tourist attempted to jaywalk with their group during a gap in traffic and was also caught. While verifying this tourist’s identity, another Chinese individual was caught attempting to jaywalk between vehicles waiting at a traffic signal.

The police explained, "Within less than an hour, a total of nine basic order violations were detected. Five of these involved Chinese tourists. If we include cases where tourists were stopped from jaywalking and only given guidance, the number is even higher."

The Chinese tourists caught that day reportedly strongly resisted paying fines, saying things like, "We didn’t know it was illegal," "We came here to enjoy our trip, why ruin the mood?" "We did it unknowingly," "I don’t understand why only Chinese are being targeted," and "You should also crack down on Koreans."

The police stated, "It seems there is a cultural difference between Korea and China. Many felt unfair because behaviors that are normal in their home country are violations of the law here." However, they added, "Once we explained the situation well, many willingly paid the fines. Most were caught without knowing it was illegal, so there is a sense of sympathy." They continued, "If travel agencies or guides inform Chinese group tourists about domestic basic order rules in advance, such violations might significantly decrease. It seems urgent for local governments and tourism-related businesses and organizations to collaborate and actively promote awareness campaigns."

Photos and videos of a Chinese tourist defecating in the middle of Jeju city center have been posted online.
[Photo by Online Community Archive]

Meanwhile, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Korea in April reached 411,331, a 288% increase compared to the same month last year. Jeju Province is actively attracting Chinese tourists at the provincial level, but the side effects are significant. Some Chinese tourists frequently engage in inappropriate behaviors that clash with local sensibilities, drawing public criticism. Recently, on social media, images surfaced showing individuals presumed to be Chinese tourists defecating on a main street in Jeju, and photos of convenience stores left in a mess after Chinese tourists’ visits have also been shared, fueling ongoing controversy.