South Korea looks to reassure tourists spooked by political chaos

SEOUL - South Korea is urging tourists to continue visiting the country, and also actively engaging with foreign governments regarding the safety of tour groups following political tensions triggered by a failed martial law attempt.

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"There is a slight concern that tourist arrivals may decline next year," Culture Minister Yu In-chon said in an interview with Bloomberg Television in Seoul.

"But we are trying to stabilise this situation by continuing to provide relevant information, sending letters to diplomats and communicating with foreign tour organisations."

Seoul's push to attract foreign tourists comes after President Yoon Suk Yeol's shock decision to declare martial law last week.

Although the decree was revoked within hours, the resultant political turmoil is weighing on tourism at a time when South Korea is striving to woo foreign visitors to match levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic.

While it is too early to gauge any immediate impact from the crisis on the number of arrivals, signs are mounting that Chinese tourists are shunning the country until the situation calms down.