'War Against Myeongdong Overcharging' 10 Million Won Fine Starting October

Jung-gu, Comprehensive Plan for Myeongdong Tourism Improvement
Myeongdong Entire Area Designated as Mandatory Price Display Zone

"To prevent overcharging from taking root again, the entire Myeongdong area will be designated as a mandatory price display zone. We plan to complete the designation in October in consultation with the Myeongdong Merchants Association and others.

We will monitor souvenir and cosmetics shops frequently visited by tourists to check compliance with price display regulations, and inspect for issues such as dual pricing and unclear price displays where individual item prices are not shown in bundled products. Violations will be subject to fines of up to 10 million KRW."

Jung-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Kim Gil-seong) is implementing measures to eradicate overcharging. On the 19th, the district announced that it has prepared and will promote the "Myeongdong Tourism Improvement Comprehensive Plan" to renew the status of Myeongdong, Korea's representative tourist destination.

The district comprehensively diagnoses recent issues including overcharging and other inconveniences to tourists, and prepares measures in four major areas: ▲street vendor management ▲price stabilization ▲street environment maintenance ▲tourism service improvement.

Specifically, it will implement 10 projects including ▲management and maintenance of street vendors ▲improvement of street vendor design ▲expansion of mandatory price display zones ▲continuous guidance and enforcement of price display regulations ▲street environment maintenance (cleaning and disinfection) ▲crackdown on illegal outdoor advertisements ▲food hygiene management ▲encouragement of self-regulation by private organizations ▲crackdown on unqualified tourist guides ▲inspection and enforcement against illegal lodging facilities.

To this end, the Jung-gu Sports and Tourism Division will lead the formation of the "Myeongdong Tourism Improvement Promotion Team," consisting of eight district office departments, working closely with the Myeongdong Tourism Special Zone Council, Myeongdong Merchants Association, and others to conduct effective enforcement and inspections.

Obstructions to pedestrian traffic will also be addressed. Starting this month, about 300 street vendors, 20 stalls, and general stores in Myeongdong will be targeted for intensive inspections of items piled around stores. Administrative actions, prosecutions, fines, and administrative execution will be carried out upon violations.

Illegal outdoor advertisements will also be cracked down on. Businesses will first be guided to voluntarily remove them, followed by joint enforcement with relevant departments to forcibly collect illegal signboards and impose fines.

To keep the street environment clean and pleasant, a special cleaning plan will be established to handle waste during weekends, holidays, and nighttime on weekdays when tourists gather. Regular disinfection and pest control will also be conducted.

In cooperation with Seoul City, the inconsistent street vendor facilities will be improved with a sophisticated and unified design. To prevent food poisoning in summer, hygiene inspections of restaurants and on-site guidance for street vendor hygiene management will be conducted simultaneously.

District Mayor Kim Gil-seong said, “Myeongdong is Korea’s representative tourist destination, and if Myeongdong does not change, the level of Korea’s tourism industry cannot change. We will use this comprehensive inspection as an opportunity to renew Myeongdong’s image and become a model case for improving tourism services.”

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