CaliToday (28/12/2025): SEOUL – It was intended to be a post-pandemic economic boon; instead, it has devolved into what local media are calling a "sanitary nightmare." South Korea’s recent decision to temporarily waive visa requirements for Chinese tour groups has triggered a fierce social backlash, culminating this week in street protests across Seoul where demonstrators chanted a blunt message: "China, Get Out."
A Welcome Mat Turned Sour
Earlier this year, the South Korean government rolled out the red carpet, streamlining entry for Chinese group travelers to revitalize the sluggish tourism sector. While the policy succeeded in driving numbers up, it has allegedly opened the floodgates to a series of uncivil behaviors that have shocked the Korean public.
"Sanitary Terrorism"
Social media platforms in Korea are currently inundated with viral clips and photos of tourists behaving badly.
- The Starbucks Incident: One widely shared report detailed a group of tourists turning a quiet Starbucks outlet into a makeshift pub, bringing in outside food and alcohol for a boisterous drinking session, ignoring staff requests to stop.
- Desecrating Heritage: More alarmingly, authorities at Gyeongbokgung Palace—the symbolic heart of Korean history and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mount Hallasan on Jeju Island have reported incidents of tourists smoking in restricted zones and, in extreme cases, urinating or defecating in public areas.
Young Koreans online have dubbed these incidents "Sanitary Terrorism," lamenting the degradation of their public spaces.
The Streets Erupt
The online fury has spilled onto the pavement. Protesters have gathered in downtown Seoul, waving placards that read "Protect our culture" and "Chinese, leave Korea." "We welcome guests, but not those who destroy our home," said one protestor outside the Foreign Ministry. Public sentiment appears to be shifting drastically; a recent poll indicates that over 60% of South Koreans now oppose the visa-waiver policy, fearing that the cost to social order and national image far outweighs the tourism revenue.
The Government's Dilemma
Seoul officials are now caught in a precarious balancing act. While the government has vowed to "strictly control" disorder and enforce fines for public indecency, they remain hesitant to revoke the visa policy entirely, given the economic reliance on Chinese spending. However, as stories of "culture clash" continue to trend, the pressure to prioritize domestic quality of life over foreign currency is reaching a boiling point.