Seoul City Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks during a press conference with foreign correspondents in Seoul on Tuesday. (Seoul City Government)
Seoul City Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks during a press conference with foreign correspondents in Seoul on Tuesday. (Seoul City Government)

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Tuesday again moved to assure foreign tourists that the city remained safe, emphasizing the municipality’s commitment to safety and openness amid ongoing political turmoil following last year’s martial law declaration.

"Korean society is a resilient one. Political turmoil is being resolved in an orderly manner, and judicial procedures are being carried out with great discipline. As a result, the tourism industry is gaining significant momentum, especially as foreigners recognize the safety of Seoul and have little to worry about when considering visiting Korea,” Oh said during a press conference with foreign media in Seoul on Tuesday.

According to the city government, the number of foreign tourists visiting Seoul has steadily increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of November 2024, 12.12 million foreign visitors had traveled to Seoul, recovering to 95 percent of the record-high 12.74 million visitors in 2019.

Last week, the world’s largest travel platform Tripadvisor announced Seoul as the best city for solo travelers.

This recognition is based on the annual top 1 percent of destinations worldwide based on traveler reviews and feedback on the platform. Tripadvisor described Seoul as a city where the past and present blend harmoniously, praising Seoul’s world-class subway system, highlighting its well-organized tourism route maps and efficient transportation operations, which make urban exploration convenient.

Attributing such achievement to the implementation of the city government’s tourism vision announced in 2023, Oh said it would continue to prioritize creating a tourist infrastructure that is convenient and safe for solo travelers, aligning with the latest travel trends.

He added that Seoul’s public safety and security could be rated as “A+ level.”

“Highlighting these aspects naturally resonates with people. These days, exaggerations and lies are difficult to sustain, as individuals have the means to instantly share their judgments and thoughts with the world in real-time. Therefore, even without us establishing a separate promotional plan, (Seoul being safe to travel) will likely be shared and recognized sufficiently,” Oh told reporters.

According to Oh, an increasing number of foreign travelers are enjoying various activities inside Seoul and one of them is hiking.

The city government has been operating the Seoul Urban Hiking Tourism Center in Ui-dong, Gangbuk-gu since 2022, September. Located near Bukhansan National Park, the center provides hiking information and related services for domestic and international tourists.

“Despite being a major metropolis, Seoul boasts many mountains that are easily accessible via public transportation, such as buses and subways,” Oh said.

Oh also highlighted the city government’s policies such as the “Stepping Stone Income” program, a social welfare initiative that aims to provide financial stability and opportunities for young people and underprivileged citizens, as well as “Seoul Without Loneliness” program which was established to address loneliness, isolation, and reclusiveness and 24-hour counseling and service connections for residents in need.