Some Chinese tourists sparked outrage in South Korea after they were caught on camera relieving themselves beside a historic stone wall at Gyeongbokgung Palace, one of Seoul’s most iconic cultural landmarks.
The incident happened on November 10 and was first reported by JTBC’s “Incident Manager”. Footage from the scene showed a middle-aged man and woman squatting side by side under thick bushes along the palace’s stone wall.
The man was seen holding tissues while defecating, while the woman in light coloured pants adopted the same posture.
The clip shows that when the woman eventually stood up to leave, her pants appeared stained.
The man then emerged from the bushes moments later, both of them unaware that their actions were being filmed the entire time.
Watch the video here:
Stopped by police on patrol
Police officers who were patrolling the area spotted the couple and stopped them on the spot.
Korean media reported that Seoul police confirmed the case yesterday (Nov 12). The man was fined 50,000 won (approximately RM140) under the Minor Offences Punishment Act.
Surprisingly, the woman did not appear on the police’s list of individuals penalised.
The act shocked many Koreans as it took place in a cultural heritage protection zone and in the heart of a major tourist attraction.
Gyeongbokgung is a protected cultural treasure
Gyeongbokgung Palace was built in 1395 as the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty. It is designated as Historic Site Number 117 and is considered one of Korea’s most treasured cultural assets.
The palace has undergone multiple restorations after periods of destruction, including a major restoration project in the 1990s that removed the former Japanese Government General building and restored areas such as Heungnyemun Gate, Geoncheonggung, Taewonjeon and Gwanghwamun.
Koreans call for harsh punishment
The video quickly ignited anger online. Many Korean netizens urged authorities to take strict action and even suggested that the tour agency should be held responsible.
Others left sarcastic comments that mocked the behaviour, saying things like “There are so many toilets in Korea”, “Cancel visa-free entry”, “We are too lenient with tourists”, “This must be punished severely”, and “This is a behaviour that is hard to comprehend”.
The clip continues to circulate widely, fueling ongoing criticism about tourist etiquette and cultural preservation in major landmarks across the region.
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