South Korea's tourism, soft power gains at risk from extended political crisis

From plastic surgery clinics to tour firms to hotel chains, South Korea's hospitality sector is wary of the potential impact of a protracted political crisis, as some overseas travellers cancel trips following the recent brief bout of martial law.

SEOUL -

South Korea's travel and tourism industry, which generated 84.7 trillion won (S$79 billion) in 2023 - around 3.8 per cent of gross domestic product - has held up through previous bumps in the road, including a 2016 presidential impeachment and periodic tensions with North Korea.

But more than a dozen hospitality and administrative sources said the army's involvement in the latest political crisis was a serious development that could deter leisure and business travel, when the sector is approaching a full recovery in visitor numbers, which stood at 97 per cent of pre-Covid-19 levels as at October.

"There are concerns that safety issues in Seoul would throw cold water on the tourism industry," Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said on Dec 11 while meeting tourism industry officials to discuss a fall in travel demand.

"There is a growing number of examples of foreign tourists cancelling visits to Seoul and shortening their stays," Mr Oh said, before declaring "Seoul is safe" in English, Chinese and Japanese to the media.