Vehicle traffic is restricted on a road near the Constitutional Court in Jongno District, Seoul, Jan. 23. Yonhap

As rallies surrounding President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial intensify, foreign tourists are increasingly avoiding Bukchon Hanok Village and nearby attractions.

David, a 38-year-old tourist from France, visited Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul's Jongno District on Feb. 3, but vowed not to return. "I used to visit Bukchon every time I came to Seoul, but I'm now afraid of getting caught up in the daily protests for and against the impeachment," he said.

The village is located close to the Constitutional Court, where the trial is taking place.

"I was shocked by what happened at the Western District Court, but I love Korea too much to cancel my trip," he said, referring to a recent violent incident. "To stay safe, I avoided Yeouido and Gwanghwamun, but I didn't anticipate needing to stay away from the Constitutional Court as well."

Expressing his disappointment, he added, "Bukchon was one of my favorite places, but more and more areas are becoming inaccessible due to the protests." He then left for Seongsu-dong instead.

Since the impeachment proceedings began, foreign tourists have been steering clear of areas around the Constitutional Court, particularly on days when Yoon makes an appearance. These days see a significant surge in both pro- and anti-impeachment demonstrations, which frequently turn aggressive.

According to Seoul Open Data Plaza, the average peak daily population of short-term foreign visitors (those staying less than 90 days) in Gahoe-dong, where part of Bukchon Hanok Village is located, was 1,521 from Jan. 13-17. However, during Jan. 20-24, when President Yoon attended court, the number dropped by over 34 percent to 998. The number rebounded to 1,496 during Jan. 27-31, when there were no impeachment hearings due to the Lunar New Year holiday.

A closer look at the daily figures from the fourth week of January further highlights the trend. On Jan. 21 and 23, when Yoon was present at court, the number of foreign visitors hit its lowest for the month, at 832 and 837, respectively. In contrast, on Jan. 20 (1,183 visitors), Jan. 22 (1,057) and Jan. 24 (1,082) — days without court proceedings — the numbers remained at usual levels.

Foreign visitors expressed concerns about the disruptions caused by the police presence and roadblocks. Sakura, an 18-year-old tourist from Japan, said, "I saw so many police officers that I thought a crime had happened, and it scared me." Worried about reaching the airport in time for her flight, she quickly made her way to the nearest subway station, saying, "I don't have much time before my flight, but the roads are blocked, and I'm concerned about the airport bus service."

Some tourists also raised concerns about potential xenophobia among extreme protesters. Kaining, a 37-year-old tourist from Taiwan, said, "I'm worried that protesters might misunderstand if they hear me speaking Chinese. I can't explain my situation to everyone, so it's stressful."

Last month, a video circulated on social media showing an anti-impeachment protester shoving a Chinese tourist while yelling, "Why is a Chinese person here?" At an anti-impeachment rally near Exit 5 of Anguk Station on Seoul Metro Line 3, signs reading "NO CHINA" and "CCP (Chinese Communist Party) OUT" were prominently displayed, and some protesters were heard shouting, "Chinese people, get out!"

Experts warn that prolonged political instability, safety concerns stemming from recent violent incidents at Seoul Western District Court and the spread of xenophobia could negatively impact Korea's tourism industry.

"If foreign visitors continue to perceive these protests as threats or disturbances, they will start avoiding Korea altogether," said Kim Nam-jo, a tourism professor at Hanyang University. "If this situation persists, it will inevitably deal a severe blow to Korea's tourism image."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.