"Jeju Requests Deregulation to Allow Chinese Rental Cars Despite Lack of Tourists"

Increase in Chinese Tourists Visiting Jeju
Economic Boost Expected if Rental Car Driving Allowed
However, Concerns Over Traffic Culture Differences Remain

As high prices and overcharging controversies overlap, causing a downturn in tourism in Jeju, there are opinions within the province that driving, including rental cars, should be permitted only for Chinese nationals holding their own country's driver's licenses.

As Jeju's tourism industry increasingly depends on Chinese tourists, the intention is to stimulate consumption by Chinese visitors to revitalize the economy. However, there are also considerable opposing views due to concerns about differences in traffic culture.

[Image source=Pixabay]

According to the Jeju Tourism Association, as of the 27th of last month, the total number of tourists visiting Jeju this year is 9,170,133. This is a 3.9% increase compared to the same period last year (8,821,601). Among them, domestic tourists decreased by 6.5%, while foreign tourists surged by 237%. Of the 1,276,422 foreign tourists, about 75% are Chinese, and the Jeju tourism industry expects that allowing Chinese tourists to drive rental cars will revitalize the weakened economy.

Currently, our government implements a mutual recognition system for international driver's licenses with 103 countries as of May, based on the "Geneva Convention on Road Traffic." Countries that have joined the convention allow driving in mutual countries if one holds an "international driver's license." However, China is not a party to the Geneva Traffic Convention, so Chinese tourists cannot drive in our country. Currently, Chinese nationals must obtain a Korean driver's license to drive domestically, including in Jeju.

Previously, in 2014, an amendment to the "Special Act on the Establishment of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the Creation of an International Free City," which would have allowed Chinese tourists to drive rental cars in Jeju, passed the State Council. However, it was scrapped due to strong opposition from local residents at the time.