On December 3, I woke as much as a flurry of texts from involved mates. In a single day throughout a televised handle, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial legislation (momentary army rule over a civilian authorities), plummeting the nation’s capital metropolis into panic. A mere six hours later, following mass protests in entrance of the Nationwide Meeting constructing, parliament unanimously rejected Yoon’s decree. If the failed energy shift proved one factor, it’s this: South Koreans are efficient at swiftly mobilizing and utilizing protests to uphold democracy.
As a Korean American who visits Seoul typically and frequently covers the vacation spot—I’d simply returned from my third journey of the yr days earlier than the incident, I obtained a number of questions from curious mates: What’s the town like proper now, and the way protected is it to journey there?
The Seoul I left behind on November 28 felt as dynamic as ever. From seeing my first cheotnun (first snow)—few sights are as stirring as your favourite metropolis, quiet and dusted white—to comforting myself with Pyongyang naengmyeon (North Korean buckwheat noodles in chilly beef broth) and soju (clear distilled liquor comprised of rice), and scouring the vacation pop-ups within the metropolis’s hippest neighborhood Seongsu-dong, I packed in loads throughout the journey. Little, if something, foreshadowed what would occur one week later.
Since reversing the martial legislation, Yoon has been the topic of intense scrutiny, leading to a failed impeachment try this previous weekend and extra not too long ago, a ban on him touring exterior South Korea. Journey for Individuals, nonetheless, is open and customarily thought of protected; up to now, no international locations have carried out a journey ban to South Korea. The U.S. State Division issued a Degree 1 journey advisory for South Korea; 1 is the bottom on a scale of 1 to 4, indicating “Train Regular Precautions.” However what which means in follow requires some added context.
Throughout these tense instances when management is on shaky grounds, it’s finest to follow widespread sense. On December 7, the U.S. Embassy and Consulate within the Republic of Korea issued a safety alert for U.S. vacationers, recommending they “keep away from areas the place demonstrations are going down and train warning within the neighborhood of any massive crowds, gatherings, protests, or rallies.” Regardless of South Korea’s lengthy and storied protesting tradition that’s largely been with out incident, issues might unexpectedly escalate.
For essentially the most half, locals don’t really feel overly anxious or uneasy. “We perceive that current occasions might trigger issues, however we need to emphasize that Seoul stays a protected and vibrant vacation spot,” says Kelly Wong, director of promoting at 4 Seasons Resort Seoul. “Protests in South Korea are usually peaceable and well-managed, with minimal impression on each day life. The town shortly returns to regular after such occasions.”
Michael Ahn, the founding father of Rakkojae, a household of boutique hanok (conventional Korean home) lodges, agrees. He feedback, “Individuals in Seoul proceed to dwell their on a regular basis lives. I imagine South Korea is protected to go to, because it has all the time been.”
My buddy and perfume entrepreneur Soohyang Kim hasn’t seen a serious shift in locals’ life, both. She says, “Whereas the method of holding these concerned accountable stays, life is pretty regular for everybody.” On the day following Yoon’s declaration of martial legislation, faculties throughout Seoul and the nation have been open. Important companies equivalent to hospitals, grocery shops, and banks have been working as standard, too.
Though some lodge room cancellations and postponements occurred within the wake of December 3, almost all of them have been from overseas enterprise vacationers. “Nearly all of reserving cancellations got here from the federal government sector—they’re extra of a deferral to a future journey date—with only some cancellations from worldwide leisure clientele,” explains Wong. “Native company are nonetheless socializing with restaurant eating and staycations.” In the meantime, a Japanese consumer who’d scheduled a photograph shoot at Ahn’s Seoul property canceled on December 4. Apart from that incident, he says, “We didn’t obtain a noticeable quantity of cancellations.”
By way of her worldwide lodge company who’ve been on the town since final Tuesday, Wong has picked up on a typical thread: “Overseas company have been extra impressed by the peaceable and well-organized nature of protests than nervous about security,” she says.
Whereas the way forward for the nationwide authorities hangs within the stability, Seoul and South Korea stay totally open as a journey vacation spot. And regardless of the swirling political turmoil, the nation’s eating places, retailers, lodges, cultural establishments, and persons are ready to welcome you. Simply keep in tune together with your environment, and also you’ll have a rewarding and, equally vital, protected trip. I feel Kim stated it finest: “In the event you’re planning a visit to South Korea, please proceed with pleasure and confidence—and a wholesome sense of warning.”
I share my buddy’s mindset. I had deliberate an early spring go to in 2025 for months, and the present political local weather isn’t swaying me in any other case. Like the remainder of the world, I’m retaining an in depth eye on South Korea and eager for a swift and peaceable decision.
