By October 2013, expect to see good-mannered tourist polices speaking English, Chinese, and Japanese in Myeong-dong, Itaewon, Dongdaemun, Insa-dong, Hongdae area, Cheongyecheon (Stream), and places close to City Hall.

The 100 newly recruited tourist police officers went through a month-long course operated by the Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) on basic matters that a tourist guide should know, along with foreign language skills.

Their major duties include: crime prevention/maintenance of basic order; crackdown on illegal acts perpetrated against foreign tourists, and; handling foreign tourists’ complaints.

From now on, foreign tourists falling victim to storeowners’ profiteering or rejection of refund for goods purchased can get help from the tourist police officers or a nearby tourist police center.

*Press release (Nov 4)