Jongno-gu and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Operate 'Tourism Police Jongno Center'

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Opens ‘Tourism Police Jongno Center’ at the Entrance of Bukchon Hanok Village to Create a Safe and Pleasant Residential Environment

Contributing to Crime Prevention, Crackdown on Various Illegal Activities, and Maintenance of Basic Order in Tourist-Dense Areas

Jongno-gu Tourist Police Patrolling Bukchon

Jongno-gu (District Mayor Jeong Munheon) will open the 'Tourism Police Jongno Center' (7 Bukchon-ro 4-gil) at the entrance of Bukchon Hanok Village on July 1st in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to create a safe and pleasant residential environment.

Jongno is recognized as a world-class tourist city, densely packed with major tourist attractions such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insadong, and the Hanyangdoseong Fortress Wall, and is home to various historical and cultural heritages as well as beautiful natural scenery.

However, the side effects of this fame are also significant.

In particular, since the full opening of the Blue House in May last year, Bukchon Hanok Village, located within a 1 km radius, has seen a rapid increase in tourists, raising the need for thorough crackdowns on various solicitation activities, violations of the Road Traffic Act, unlicensed guides, and illegal lodging operations, as well as strengthening the local management system.

According to the Tourism Knowledge Information System, the number of foreign tourists visiting Jongno recovered to about 52.4% compared to before COVID-19, with 1.61 million visitors from January to April 2023 compared to 3.39 million in the same period in 2019.

Furthermore, a panel survey of tourism experts by the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) predicts that international tourism demand in 2023 will recover to 80-95% of pre-COVID-19 levels.

Considering the continuous increase in tourists, the district decided in March to deploy tourism police on-site at Bukchon Hanok Village and agreed to provide district facilities as the Tourism Police Jongno Center to ensure patrol efficiency and mobility.

Starting in July, the Tourism Police Jongno Center will carry out crime prevention in tourist-dense areas, crack down on illegal activities, maintain basic order, and provide security services in Bukchon Hanok Village.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 3rd.

District Mayor Jeong Munheon stated, “As tourists have increased in the nearby Bukchon Hanok Village following the full opening of the Blue House and the easing of COVID-19, we plan to strengthen the local management system by collaborating with tourism police who have enforcement authority,” adding, “We will do our best to protect the residential environment around the tourist sites by making the center a focal point.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.