[Features reporter] After martial law declaration in S. Korea: Is it safe to travel?

Since President Yoon declared martial law, there have been growing concerns about the impact on the tourism industry.
I heard that you had the chance to hear directly from foreign tourists about this?

Yes, Soa. At times like this, people’s anxiety and concerns become the biggest factor.
Especially if it’s your first time visiting a country.
So, I visited Myeongdong, a popular area for tourists, to ask visitors who recently came to Korea how they were feeling about the situation.
Let’s take a look.

From January to October this year, South Korea welcomed almost 14-million foreign tourists, recovering ninety-4-percent of the visitors seen in the same period of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, President Yoon Seok Yul’s declaration of martial law on December 3rd has had an impact on the travel industry.

An official from a hotel near the National Assembly in Yeouido, told a local news agency that on the day after the declaration of martial law, the cancellation rate was forty-4-percent higher than the December average.
The Four Seasons Hotel Seoul usually has sixty to seventy percent of its bookings from foreign tourists.
After the martial law declaration, the hotel received over 1-hundred inquiries.
Although the actual cancellation rate was low, a hotel official said that bookings for December remain uncertain.

In response, the South Korean government has acted to minimize the effect on the tourism industry.
The Culture Ministry has asked the tourism industry to inform other countries that tourist sites are operating as usual.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also sent a note to foreign missions in Korea, assuring them that daily life remains unchanged and therefore, there is no need to adjust travel advisories.

“As the government works on these efforts, let’s take a moment to hear from tourists already in Korea.
How are they experiencing the situation? Let’s find out.”

“We started planning our honeymoon like 8 months ago, maybe 9 and Korea was always on our wish list so we decided to go to Korea We were going to wait to hear for the big news and then we’re going to the site but we thought everything is normal so we decide to come.”
“We just arrived today and everything seems perfect and we’re happy.”
“And amazing.”

For those visiting Korea for the second time, their understanding of the protest culture and safety concerns didn’t stop them from returning.

“Well this is my second time to Korea and this year I’ve bring along with my family, my wife and my kids.”
“Here we feel like home actually I feel excited and this is one of my dream country that I want to go.”

“I mean it happened a few days before I was supposed to fly and I definitely had to keep an eye on the situation but I wasn’t too worried because I’ve experienced protesting in Korea before and I know it’s a very, very safe place to be so ”

While it’s uncertain how long the current instability will last, efforts are being made to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens, residents, and visitors alike who’re seeking the same peace and security during their time in South Korea.
source : https://www.arirang.com/news/view?id=278973