Ulleungdo's Tourism Image Tarnished by Repeated Overpricing Controversies
Ulleung Sunflower Cruise Suspends Operations After Sustained Losses
As controversies over inflated prices for items such as pork belly with excess fat and taxi fares have damaged Ulleungdo's tourism image, a series of cruise service suspensions has further fueled complaints from local residents.
On September 15, a post titled "Regardless of the reasons for the passenger ferry problem, normalization is necessary" was uploaded to the Ulleung County Office website.
The author mentioned the Ulleung County governor, local government officials, and Ulleung County council members, stating, "The Hupo ferry is gone, the Gangneung ferry will soon be gone, and the Eldorado is currently out of service." The post continued, "Who is responsible? At this rate, all the residents will suffer."
Passenger Ferries to and from Ulleung Halted Due to Deficits and Mechanical Failures
On September 1, the large passenger ship Ulleung Sunflower Cruise, which connects Hupo in Uljin, Gyeongbuk to Ulleung, was forced to suspend operations after accumulating losses of over 20 billion won (approximately 20 million dollars) in the three years since its launch in 2022. The Eldorado Express, which can carry 970 passengers, has also effectively ceased operations since April due to engine failure. The Sunrise, a replacement vessel, is scheduled to be deployed starting September 29.
However, some argue that to ensure sustainable tourism, it is more important to enhance the competitiveness of ferry operators rather than simply increasing the number of passenger ships. Baek Sangyong, head of the Ulleung County Development Research Institute, posted an article titled "Watching the Sunflower Cruise Suspension Starting Today" on the Ulleung County Office website on September 1, stating, "Currently, the number of ferries is excessive for Ulleungdo's annual tourist volume of 300,000 to 500,000." He argued, "The government should restore the passenger ship occupancy rate standards that were abolished after the Sewol ferry disaster, raise the bar for new ferry route approvals, and focus on improving the competitiveness of existing operators."
He added, "The ideal solution is for Ulleung County to own the routes, select suitable operators through open bidding, entrust management, and guarantee reasonable profits under a quasi-public ferry system." He emphasized, "Efforts should be made to reduce the number of ferries, and only when operators' profits are ensured can Ulleungdo's tourism truly thrive."
Ulleung County is holding a tourism reception readiness improvement campaign at Jeodong Port on August 5. Ulleung County
Ulleung Tourism Industry Faltering Amid Repeated Overpricing Controversies
Previously, Ulleungdo became embroiled in a "rip-off pricing" controversy after it was revealed that a local restaurant served tourists pork belly consisting mostly of fat and that taxi drivers were demanding excessive fares. This sparked outrage among domestic tourists and cast a shadow over the tourism industry.
In fact, the number of tourists visiting Ulleungdo has been decreasing every year. According to Ulleung County, the number of tourists fell from 460,000 in 2022 to 380,000 in 2024. From January to August this year, the number stood at 257,838, a 7.4% decrease compared to the same period last year.
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