Foreigners Caught Smoking in Front of Geunjeongjeon Hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace... “They Should Be Stopped,” Visitor Says

[Financial News] Some foreign tourists visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace were caught violating visitor regulations, including smoking inside the palace and entering restricted-access areas.
The scene was revealed in a Channel A report on the 29th. Cameras recently captured some foreign tourists smoking and entering restricted-access areas at Gyeongbokgung Palace.
The video showed three foreign men sitting in front of Geunjeongjeon Hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace and smoking. A citizen who witnessed them said, "Those people smoked. They should be stopped for behavior like that," calling for sanctions.
The men were later stopped by staff and left Gyeongbokgung Palace before taking commemorative photos near the entrance. When reporters asked why they had been smoking, one man who identified himself as Chinese replied, "I don't know how to smoke. You have the wrong person," adding, "Do I smell like cigarettes?"
At the site, a tour guide was also seen informing foreign tourists about the no-smoking regulations. The guide said, "Who smoked inside the palace?" and added, "Smoking is prohibited everywhere at tourist attractions."
When reporters asked whether tourists were informed of the no-smoking regulations in advance, the guide replied, "We inform them. The person in charge also tells Chinese tourists," adding, "It seems they fail to follow the rules because they don't know about them."
Signs informing visitors of the rules were installed throughout Gyeongbokgung Palace. Reporters noted, "It is hard to say they didn't know the rules when signs are clearly posted."
Cigarette butts were also found near a shelter inside Gyeongbokgung Palace. Reporters said, "In fact, smoking is not allowed even at the shelter," describing the situation at the site.
Violations of visitor regulations continued beyond smoking. Some foreign tourists entered restricted-access areas or approached facilities marked with signs telling visitors not to touch them.
A Korean tourist who witnessed the scene said that sanctions were necessary for violating visitor regulations. "It is a matter of public decency. These are our country's rules, and they should be followed," he said. "Koreans are also sanctioned if they fail to follow the rules abroad. We should also take action to prevent people from violating regulations here."


[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter