Tourist complaints in South Korea hit record high in 2026
Tourism complaints in South Korea have reached a record high of 1,753 in the first seven months of 2026. Common grievances include poor accommodation, overcharging, and reckless taxi driving.
Why it matters
The surge in complaints threatens the sustainability of South Korea's tourism industry, which is a vital component of its national economy.
People out on a street in Seoul. From January to July, 1,753 tourism complaints were filed nationwide, surpassing the 1,744 logged for all of 2025.
Listen Summarise Tourist complaints in South Korea hit a record 1,753 in the first seven months of 2026, surpassing the total for all of 2025, with lodging and shopping issues leading. Seoul recorded the most complaints, followed by Busan, where complaints surged due to a BTS concert attracting 110,000 visitors. Most complaints came from Chinese tourists, highlighting issues like unfair cancellation penalties, rude service, and reckless taxi driving amid a booming tourism industry. AI generated
SEOUL – Complaints from tourists visiting South Korea have already hit an all-time high just seven months into 2026, with reckless taxi driving, poor accommodation and overcharging at stores the top gripes.
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