According to a report published on the WeChat public account "Chinese Embassy in South Korea" on October 23, China and South Korea are each other's major sources of foreign tourists. Thanks to visa facilitation measures, the number of tourists between the two countries continues to increase, which is beneficial for enhancing mutual understanding and friendship. It is worth noting that during recent visits by several Chinese tour groups to South Korea, they encountered situations where forced consumption occurred. As tourists were unwilling to pay or their spending did not meet the required standards, travel agencies abandoned them, forcing some tourists to interrupt their trips, resulting in personal losses. These incidents also disrupted the normal tourism order between the two countries.
The Chinese Embassy in South Korea hereby reminds Chinese groups visiting South Korea: Please choose travel agencies and tour products carefully. Be wary of unreasonable low-price tours that include forced purchases, as this can lead to travel disputes due to forced shopping, which may affect the travel experience and personal safety.
It is recommended that Chinese tourists should understand the qualifications of the travel agency organizing their trip before departure. For more information, they can refer to the list of travel agencies licensed to operate outbound tourism services issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. It is important to read the contract terms carefully and confirm with the travel agency whether certain expenses are included and if there are any minimum spending requirements. After arriving in South Korea, it is recommended to confirm these details again with the local transportation agency.
During your stay in Korea, if you are asked to consume goods under coercion or if there are disputes due to consumption issues, you can call the "12345 Government Service Convenience Hotline" located at the place where your domestic travel agency is based to file a complaint, or you can report the issue through the "National Culture and Tourism Market Online Reporting and Complaint Handling System" (http://jbts.mct.gov.cn). When filing a complaint, please provide as much detailed information as possible, such as the travel contract, the path used for registration (if it involves social media accounts or payment accounts), and the content of conversations via WeChat with the travel agency. You can also call the Korean police hotline +82-112 for assistance, if needed.
Foreign Affairs Ministry Global Consular Protection and Service Emergency Hotline (24 Hours): +86-10-12308
Chinese Embassy in South Korea Consular Security Duty Phone: +82-2-755-0572
China Embassy in South Korea Consular Protection and Assistance Inquiry Email: seoul_lb@csm.mfa.gov.cn
Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Busan: +82-51-743-7989
Residence Office of the Consulate General in Guangzhou: +82-62-361-8880
Jeju Consulate General's Security Contact Number: +82-64-722-8802
