[News Terms] Let's Go See the Horrors of the Russia-Ukraine War, 'Dark Tourism'

Lessons Through Experiencing Historical Sites, Disaster, and Catastrophe Locations
Mixed Reactions to Commercialization of Ukraine War Atrocities
'Old Prisoner Experience Product' Emerges in China, Sparking Controversy

Foreign media reports have highlighted Ukraine, destroyed by Russia's invasion, as a new tourist destination. On the 27th of last month (local time), AFP reported that the number of foreign visitors to Ukraine last year reached 4 million, about twice as many as in early 2022 when the war began. The agency also noted that a significant portion of these visitors are 'war tourists.'

'Dark Tourism' refers to travel that involves visiting sites of historical events, disasters, or tragedies to reflect or learn lessons through experience. It differs in nature from general travel aimed at relaxation and sightseeing.

Tourists on Russia-Ukraine War Travel Packages
Photo by AFP News Agency

A representative dark tourism site is Ground Zero, the location of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, considered one of the worst disasters of the 21st century. Originally, Ground Zero was a military term referring to the point of a nuclear explosion or the center of radiation exposure. Today, it is used as a proper noun to denote the site where the World Trade Center (WTC) collapsed during the September 11, 2001 attacks and the 9/11 Memorial Park built there. A distinctive feature of this site is the strategic placement of victims' voice messages and footage of the accident scene to immerse visitors in the tragedy.

In South Korea, dark tourism mainly focuses on the Japanese colonial period and the Korean War. The most famous site is Seodaemun Prison. Opened in October 1908 and closed in November 1987, it was a modern prison used for nearly 80 years. Recognized for its historical and preservation value, Seodaemun Prison was reopened as the Seodaemun Prison History Hall in November 1998. Visitors can indirectly experience the oppression by the Japanese and the suffering of independence activists by touring the prison cells, torture rooms, and execution sites.

Currently, there are reportedly more than ten dark tourism travel agencies operating in Ukraine. One such company, 'War Tour,' offers travel packages priced between 150 and 250 euros (220,000 to 370,000 KRW) that visit sites in the capital Kyiv, Bucha, and Irpin where Russian forces massacred civilians. The majority of customers are Americans and Europeans, and about 30 people have participated since January, according to the company. Another travel agency offers tours in southern Ukraine near the front lines for 3,300 euros (4.83 million KRW). This package is designed for tourists willing to take risks to experience the thrill of war more intensely.

Old Prisoner Experience Tourism Product
[Photo by SCMP Website]

These companies donate a portion of their profits to the Ukrainian military, but ethical controversies have also arisen. Mykhailyna Skoryk Shukaryvska, a politician from Irpin, a recent tourist 'hotspot,' said, "Some residents consider the tourism revenue as 'blood money.'" On the other hand, Ukrainian tourism authorities view war tourism positively as a way to widely disseminate the historical lessons of the war, AFP reported.

The controversy over the pros and cons of dark tourism has also emerged in China. The subject is an 'ex-prisoner experience tourism product.' On the 8th of last month (local time), Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Heilongjiang Province in northeastern China plans to offer an 'immersive' experience where tourists wear prison uniforms and shackles and embark on a journey to 'Ningguta,' a famous Qing Dynasty exile site, sparking debate on Chinese social media. The product reportedly includes a bungee jump course simulating a cliff jump to mimic suicide.