"Chinese Tourists No Longer Sweep Entire Baskets" Myeongdong Commercial Area Feels 'Unenthusiastic' Despite Crowded Streets

The Atmosphere Has Changed a Lot Compared to Before
Invisible Group Tourists

The Myeongdong shopping street in Seoul, which recently had more than half of its stores vacant, is bustling again with foreign tourists. However, nearby merchants unanimously said that the commercial atmosphere is not the same as before due to the disappearance of yukeo (Chinese tourists).

On the 2nd, a foreign tourist is browsing an accessory shop in the Myeongdong shopping street, Jung-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Seohee Lee]

On the 2nd, Lee Seong-geun (46), who has been running an accessory shop in Myeongdong shopping street, Jung-gu, Seoul for 12 years, said, "In the past, Chinese group tourists would come and sweep a whole basket of goods, but these days it is hard to find Chinese group tourists, and there are more individual Chinese tourists or Japanese tourists. Even if they come, they don't buy as many items as before," adding, "They say the Myeongdong commercial district has revived, but the atmosphere we actually feel is not the same as before."

The disappearance of yukeo, who were previously considered the major spenders in the Myeongdong commercial district, and the travel trend shifting to ssankeo (individual Chinese tourists) have resulted in sales not being the same as before.

On that day, stores around Myeongdong were crowded with foreign tourists browsing cosmetics, sneakers, accessories, and more, with no empty shops. Most were small groups of travelers such as families or couples, and it was difficult to find group tourists who came to browse and purchase goods in bulk as before.

Professor Lee Eun-hee of Inha University’s Department of Consumer Studies said, "In China, people can easily find famous Korean tourist spots through social networking services (SNS), so the number of people coming with guides for group tours has greatly decreased," adding, "As a result, the travel trend has shifted to sightseeing-focused trips rather than shopping, which may have directly affected the Myeongdong commercial district, where foreign tourists who come for shopping are the core."