Suncheon-si Takes Action to Curb Overcharging During Expo Special Events

Published 09 May.2023 20:34(KST)

Joint Inspection of Food and Accommodation Businesses for 3 Days Starting from the 9th

Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu) is cracking down on overcharging aimed at taking advantage of the 2023 Suncheonman International Garden Expo through joint inspections and guidance.

With the Garden Expo attracting over 2.9 million visitors within 40 days of its opening and gaining nationwide popularity, local accommodations are nearly fully booked, and restaurants are crowded, raising expectations for revitalizing the local economy.

[Photo by Suncheon City]

However, complaints have been received about some accommodations and restaurants charging higher prices than those listed, increasing customer dissatisfaction.

Accordingly, on the 8th, the city held an executive meeting chaired by Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu and decided to form a joint inspection team to assess the situation and conduct on-site guidance.

The joint inspections will be conducted from the 9th to the 11th, targeting areas near the expo site including Yeonhyang 3 District, Ocheon District, around Suncheon Station, Jorye-dong, and Yeonhyang-dong.

Led by Director Cho Tae-hoon of the Future Industry Bureau, the joint inspection team will consist of officials from the Economic Promotion Division, Tourism Division, Food Hygiene Division, price monitoring personnel, and food hygiene inspectors. They will check for overcharging, hygiene management of food and bedding, and also encourage restraint in excessive price increases, while monitoring customer service and identifying customer complaints.

A Suncheon City official stated, “As the Garden Expo is becoming a new milestone for South Korea, the city’s image must not be damaged by overcharging,” adding, “We will do our best to eradicate overcharging through continuous inspections and guidance activities.”