Man Believed to Be Chinese Fined 50,000 Won for Relieving Himself on Gyeongbokgung Palace Wall

No Penalty for Accompanying Woman
Claim Suggests They Were Part of a Gyeongbokgung Tour Group

A man is relieving himself on the stone wall path of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Screenshot from SNS

A man who was caught relieving himself on the stone wall of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul has been fined.

According to a report by Yonhap News Agency on November 12, the Jongno Police Station imposed a fine of 50,000 won on a man, believed to be Chinese, who was found relieving himself near the north gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace at around 3:30 p.m. on November 10. In a video that drew attention on social media, the man was seen squatting between the stone wall and a tree, and stood up when approached by police officers.

A woman, who was also present and wearing pants with stains, was not reported or penalized; the action was taken only against the man. According to relevant laws, such as the Minor Offenses Act, relieving oneself in public places where people gather or pass by, such as roads and parks, is punishable by a fine of up to 100,000 won. One internet user claimed, "At the time, dozens of Chinese group tourists were visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace, and this man and woman appeared to be part of that group."

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