SEOUL, South Korea – Despite the political unrest gripping the capital, a significant number of tourists in Seoul appeared largely unaffected as they took to the city’s major cultural attractions and bustling shopping areas on Wednesday.
Many of them awoke to concerned messages from family and friends who had heard about President Yoon Suk Yeol’s unexpected declaration of martial law the previous night. This emergency measure was a response to his challenges in advancing his agenda within a parliament dominated by opposition parties. However, the martial law was lifted just hours later after the National Assembly overruled the president’s decision, allowing travelers to continue their activities in the city.
At Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of the city’s royal palaces, visitors dressed in rented traditional attire posed for photographs early Wednesday. Emma Basnawi, an Indonesian tourist, shared that she felt a slight apprehension when she first learned about the declaration but resolved to follow her travel plans as unrest is not uncommon back home in Jakarta.
Stephen Rowan from Brisbane, Australia, was also on his way to the palace with a group. He expressed that he wasn’t overly concerned after having sought clarification from a South Korean friend regarding the political situation. “I would have been worried had the martial law remained in place,” he remarked.
On Wednesday morning, police equipped with shields gathered near the palace, a location historically known for protests. Yet, the atmosphere felt standard for a chilly December day in Seoul.
Close to the palace, tourists explored Bukchon Hanok Village, snapping photos of its charming restored traditional homes. Elisabetta Munari, visiting from Milan, Italy, ascended Namsan Mountain to reach Seoul Tower for panoramic views of the city, enjoying her first solo vacation during a week off work.
“Many friends in Italy reached out to me last night while I was sleeping,” she explained. “But everyone here appears to be going about their daily routines. I’m avoiding the city center, but I feel safe enough in other areas.”
In commercial areas like Insadong and Myeongdong, shoppers filled the streets. Geff Johnson from Sydney, Australia, strolled through Insadong with friends, admiring the art available for purchase. Although their excursion to the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea was canceled due to the earlier martial law, Johnson felt reassured by the visible police presence and the throngs of locals and tourists out shopping.
For now, he concluded, the environment in Seoul seems secure.