"With the Cost of a Trip to Ulleungdo, You Could Travel Abroad Three Times"... High Prices Spark Controversy Again

Continuous Complaints About Excessive Prices for Taxis and Meals
County Office Reviewing Basis for Travel Cost Calculations

Tourists visiting Ulleungdo have recently renewed complaints about excessively high travel costs. On October 24, a post titled "Three Times the Price of a Trip to China" was uploaded to the Ulleung County Office's public bulletin board, sparking controversy.

Tourists bustling at Dodong Port, Ulleungdo. Photo by Ulleung County

The author, identified as Mr. A, stated that it cost more than 1 million won per person for a two-night, three-day trip to Ulleungdo, expressing that "prices felt even higher than in central Seoul." He compared this to a two-night, three-day trip to Dalian, China, claiming, "With the same amount of money, you could visit China three times. A package tour to Phu Quoc also costs around 1 million won per person."

Mr. A questioned the competitiveness of traveling to Ulleungdo and emphasized the need to reduce travel expenses by expanding public tourism infrastructure and utilizing state-run accommodations.

An Ulleung County official stated, "We are checking how the costs mentioned in the post were calculated and are investigating whether it was a group or individual trip."

Ulleungdo has not been free from controversy over high prices in the past. In videos uploaded by some YouTubers, criticism arose after cases were revealed where restaurants served a low proportion of pork belly meat or where taxi fares were nearly twice the expected amount. Additionally, the media has reported that fuel prices and rental car fees are higher on the island than on the mainland.

The number of tourists is on a downward trend. According to Ulleung County statistics, the number of visitors, which was in the 460,000 range in 2022, decreased to the 400,000 range in 2023, and reached 380,000 in 2024. The cumulative number of tourists from January to July this year was about 209,000, representing a 9.6% decrease compared to the same period last year.

Some residents expressed frustration at what they see as excessive criticism. A merchant in Ulleung-eup said, "We are preparing to welcome tourists, but a few cases are damaging the overall image," urging careful fact-checking and responsible reporting. Another resident commented, "The county office should actively respond so that exaggerated information does not negatively impact tourism in Ulleungdo."