<Korean News> "Fines for Taking Photos After 5 PM", Introduction of Red Zones in Bukchon Hanok Village

Starting in March, if visitors take photos or engage in sightseeing outside of restricted visiting hours in the residential Hanok-dense areas of Bukchon, Jongno-gu, Seoul, they will be subject to fines. This measure is aimed at alleviating the inconvenience caused to residents due to excessive tourism in the Bukchon area.

On March 1, the Seoul city government in Jongno-gu announced the official enforcement of the visiting time restrictions in the Bukchon special management area, known as the "Red Zone," and the imposition of fines starting from March 28. Visitors will be allowed to visit from 10 AM to 5 PM, and anyone visiting outside those hours for tourism purposes will face a fine of 100,000 KRW.

The Red Zone is the area around Bukchon-ro 11-gil, which is densely populated with residential Hanok houses, and tourism activities refer to all activities conducted within the Red Zone for the purpose of tourism. Jongno-gu explained, “Activities such as taking photos and videos, lingering around while observing the surroundings, and wandering the streets for tourism purposes, regardless of using shops, all fall under tourism activities.”

Fines will be imposed by the "Bukchon Safety Officer" (a government official responsible for fine enforcement), who will inform tourists, both domestic and foreign, of their violation and related regulations, and if they fail to comply after a warning, the fine will be levied. However, residents living in the Red Zone, their families, friends, visitors to shops in the Red Zone, shopkeepers, hotel guests, pedestrians passing through the Red Zone without tourism intent, and non-tourism-related vehicles will be exempt from fines.

Although Bukchon is a residential area, many domestic and international tourists visit, causing long-term inconvenience for residents who have been affected from early morning until late evening.