What Tourists Complain About in Korea: The 2026 Numbers
Tourist complaints in Korea hit a record in 2026. See which cities and problems lead: taxis, lodging, payments, and what it means for you.
The short answer
Complaints are at a record high because visitors are at a record high, and they cluster in a few predictable places: taxis, lodging around big events, shopping prices and payments. Personal safety is rarely the issue. Knowing the pattern is most of the protection.
The trend
📈 Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 119 | Pandemic low |
| 2023 | 902 | Travel reopening |
| 2024 | 1,543 | Up 71% |
| 2025 | 1,744 | Record at the time |
| 2026 (Jan–Jul) | 1,753 | Record passed in seven months |
Read it against visitor numbers
Korea passed 10 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2026, about 21% more than a year earlier. Complaints are rising faster than visitors, which is a real signal, but the absolute numbers are small: under 2,000 formal complaints in seven months, against tens of millions of taxi rides, meals and hotel nights.
Where the complaints come from
🗺️ January–July 2026 by region
| Region | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Seoul | 665 |
| Busan | 594 |
| Incheon | 176 |
| Jeju | 155 |
"Cancelled bookings and excessive cancellation charges, in the weeks before the BTS concerts."
- 185 of 368 national complaints that month came from Busan
- 133 concerned general lodging
- 83.8% filed by foreign visitors
What it turns on: big events. One concert weekend produced half the country's tourist complaints in a month. If you travel for an event, book early, by card, and keep screenshots.
"About fifteen minutes by app-called taxi. The driver typed ₩80,000 into the meter and charged my card."
- Taxis: 70 of 232 foreign complaints in Busan in 2025, the top category
- Refund sought later through the app operator
What it turns on: the card record. Because the fare went through an app and a card, the traveler had a route to a refund.
What the categories tell a traveler
Where most problems happen
- Taxis from airports, venues and tourist hubs
- Lodging during concerts and festivals
- Shopping prices and tax refunds
- Foreign cards rejected, Korean number required
The habit that prevents most of them
- Meter or app estimate, plate photographed
- Platform booking, card payment, screenshots
- Posted price checked before paying
- Two cards and visitor apps installed
The complaint line also receives thank-you notes
In the first half of 2026 the 1330 complaint centre also logged 34 messages of thanks from foreign visitors, including an American traveler rescued by police after being swept out to sea at Naksan Beach, and a Chinese visitor helped through a medical emergency. These stories rarely make the statistics, but they are part of the same data.
The bottom line
Korea remains a very safe and largely honest country to visit; the record complaint numbers come from a record number of visitors and a few repeat problems. Those problems are predictable enough to avoid: taxis without a meter, event-week bookings without screenshots, and payments without a backup card.
Every complaint in these figures started with one traveler deciding to report. Report to 1330, and then write it up publicly, so the pattern is visible to the next visitor before the statistics catch up.
Sources
Sources
- Financial News — 1,753 complaints Jan–Jul 2026 and yearly totals (Sept 2026)
- Yonhap via Supple — regional breakdown Jan–Jul 2026
- Digital Daily — 440 of 1,744 complaints in 2025 about payments
- Ilgan Sports — Busan May 2026 complaints and lodging share
- CBS Nocut News — Busan taxi complaints and cases from the 2025 analysis
- Asia Economy — 34 thank-you messages to the 1330 centre (July 2026)
- Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism — 10 million visitors passed by June 2026
Frequently asked questions
How many tourist complaints does Korea receive?
The Korea Tourism Organization's complaint centre received 902 complaints in 2023, 1,543 in 2024 and 1,744 in 2025. From January to July 2026 it received 1,753, already more than the whole of 2025. Most are filed by foreign visitors.
What do foreign tourists complain about most in Korea?
Shopping, taxis and lodging lead most years. In 2025, 440 of 1,744 complaints (25.2%) involved payment problems such as rejected foreign cards. In Busan, taxis were the top category in 2025, and in May 2026 lodging cancellations around the BTS concerts dominated.
Which Korean city has the most tourist complaints?
Seoul, as the most visited city. From January to July 2026, Seoul recorded 665 complaints, Busan 594, Incheon 176 and Jeju 155. Busan's share jumped in May 2026 because of concert-week lodging disputes.
Is Korea safe for tourists despite the complaints?
Yes. Korea received more than 10 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2026, and fewer than 2,000 formal complaints were filed in the first seven months. Most complaints concern prices, payment and service rather than personal safety.
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