Jeju Island Sees Drop in Visitors Amid ‘Rip-Off’ Controversies
Visitor numbers to Jeju Island have decreased during the summer peak season amid complaints about overpriced black pork dishes.
The once-bustling Geonip-dong black pork street has become quieter after an anonymous tourist shared a social media post in late April accusing a local restaurant of serving black pork with “98% fat” at a price of 150,000 won . Another tourist posted images of fatty pork at high prices, intensifying accusations of overcharging at local restaurants.
From the standpoint of Jeju provincial government statistics, domestic visitor numbers to the island have declined this year. As of August 10, Jeju had welcomed 7.31 million visitors, a 6.5% drop from last year’s 7.81 million. This decline is making it challenging for local businesses to recover their tourism revenue.
At popular tourist spots, although there are Chinese and Japanese visitors, the atmosphere is not as lively as in previous years. At Dongmun Market, vendors grilling lobsters while dancing to EDM no longer attract much attention.
Visitors to the famous Sukseongdo black pork restaurant now only wait 15 minutes for a table without needing a reservation, a stark contrast to the long queues of previous years.
Black pork, a renowned specialty of Jeju, is known for its distinctive flavor and requires no additional seasoning when cooked. The price for a serving of grilled black pork on the island ranges from 30,000 to 50,000 won .
Yoo, a South Korean tourist at Dongmun Market, expressed concerns about high prices before bringing his family to Jeju. However, after experiencing the services, he found the prices lower than expected and “hasn’t seen any place charging excessively,” he said.
“The controversies around fatty pork, poor service, and overcharging are issues with a few businesses, but many people think the whole island is unwelcoming to tourists,” said a black pork restaurant owner.
In addition to the negative perception following price complaints, the cost of services on Jeju Island has remained high since the pandemic, leading South Koreans to view the island as an expensive destination.
From the point of view Consumer Insight, a travel research company, 83% of survey participants believe that the money spent on a trip to Jeju could be better utilized in Japan.
“Visitors are numerous, but they are not spending much on shopping,” said a souvenir vendor at Dongmun Market, noting that sales are slower compared to pre-COVID-19 times.
To revitalize local tourism, the Jeju provincial government has established a task force to directly handle and address visitor complaints. Additionally, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has taken action in response to the tourism situation on Jeju Island. Minister Yu In-chon visited Geonip-dong black pork street on August 8 to inspect meat quality and assess improvements in the area following recent controversies.
