[VIDEO] Are tourists still being scammed in Korea? We went to find out

Korea, famend for its vibrant tradition, expertise and bustling city life, has turn out to be a well-liked vacation spot for worldwide vacationers. Nevertheless, like all vacationer hotspot, it faces its justifiable share of points. Some guests report being scammed virtually instantly upon arrival, with taxi drivers charging exorbitant fares to these unfamiliar with native charges. Others recount experiences in fashionable vacationer areas and markets, akin to Hongdae, Gwangjang Market or Dongdaemun, the place distributors ceaselessly inflate costs for non-Korean audio system.

To place these claims to the take a look at, the Howdy Korea group carried out an experiment: What would occur if a foreigner, pretending to not communicate any Korean, navigated sure on a regular basis interactions?

A take a look at at Incheon Worldwide Airport

Our first cease was Incheon Worldwide Airport, typically hailed because the satisfaction of Korea. Ranked because the third-best airport on the earth by SKYTRAX, it boasts world-class facilities and environment friendly companies. Nevertheless, some vacationers declare that getting from the airport to Seoul could be a scam-ridden ordeal, significantly when coping with taxi drivers.

To research, Howdy Korea host Yasmin Aladdin, fluent in Korean, approached taxi drivers talking solely Arabic and English. At first, the outcomes have been reassuring — drivers quoted the usual charges set by the airport or just agreed to cost by the meter. However was this politeness real, or was the seen presence of a digicam influencing their conduct?

To probe additional, Yasmin returned after a brief wait, this time with the digicam much less seen, utilizing solely a hid recording machine. The change in remedy was rapid. The primary driver she spoke to quoted an inflated fare of 80,000 to 90,000 received, plus a ten,000-won toll price — twice the quantity estimated by native map companies like Google Maps and Kakao Map. When Yasmin sought clarification on whether or not this was a premium taxi charge, the motive force insisted it was the usual fare and warned that black taxis (premium taxis) would value her twice as a lot. Shocked, the Howdy Korea group declined the experience and returned to the airport foyer.

The discrepancy was clear: as quickly because the cameras have been gone, so was the honesty.

The altering face of Gwangjang Market

Subsequent, we turned our consideration to Gwangjang Market, one in every of Seoul’s most well-known meals and textile markets. Lately, the market has gained a infamous fame amongst vacationers, with quite a few social media posts and Reddit threads accusing distributors of worth gouging. Some guests have even vowed by no means to return, citing a scarcity of transparency in pricing.

Nevertheless, upon arrival, we encountered a really completely different actuality. Over the course of our investigation, we spoke with roughly 20 to 30 retailers, utilizing solely English. Surprisingly, each vendor had clearly displayed costs and multilingual menu boards. What had modified?

To seek out out, we interviewed the director of the Gwangjang Market Retailers’ Affiliation, who was keen to focus on the enhancements remodeled the previous yr.

„The modifications got here by way of a joint effort between retailers and the Seoul Metropolitan Authorities,“ he defined. „We’ve got been actively educating distributors on bettering service high quality, guaranteeing menus are displayed each in exhausting copies and thru QR codes obtainable in 20 languages. We even held a service enchancment decision assembly to strengthen these efforts.“

Past service provider coaching, the Seoul metropolis authorities has carried out a “thriller shopper” program, by which inspectors pose as common clients to watch pricing and repair high quality. If points come up, the Retailers’ Affiliation steps in to implement mandatory modifications.

When requested concerning the previous accusations regarding overpricing, the director acknowledged the issue. „Sure, it was a major concern, and we took accountability for it. It took a while, however we’re seeing progress. Complaints about overpricing have drastically decreased, and we’re dedicated to sustaining this normal. I can confidently say our market has improved.“

A step towards better transparency

Whereas our investigation confirmed that some scams persist — significantly in some settings like airport taxis — it additionally revealed indicators of progress. Gwangjang Market’s transformation exhibits that accountability and proactive measures could make a distinction, setting a constructive instance for Korea’s broader tourism trade.

For vacationers, the important thing takeaway is to remain knowledgeable. Researching native costs, utilizing official transportation apps and being conscious of potential purple flags might help mitigate the chance of being overcharged. For Korea’s tourism sector, the lesson is evident: transparency and truthful pricing are usually not simply moral imperatives however important for sustaining a welcoming and respected journey setting.