Why Seoul's Bukchon Hanok Village now closes to tourists after 5 p.m.

A Jongno District official monitors noise levels and guides visitors in Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul, Nov. 3, 2024, as part of efforts to protect the residential environment from overtourism. Newsis

By Baek Byung-yeul

• Published Feb 15, 2026 7:00 AM KST
• Updated Feb 19, 2026 4:23 PM KST

Historic neighborhood seeks balance between preservation, tourism

As the clock hits 5 p.m. every day, the mood shifts in Bukchon, one of Seoul’s most photographed neighborhoods. The crowds thin, cameras lower and officials known as Bukchon Guardians begin walking the narrow alleys, gently reminding visitors that it’s time to leave.

By day, the maze of traditional hanok houses — recently featured as inspiration for the setting of "KPop Demon Hunters" — draws crowds from around the world. But when visiting hours end, the village returns to what it has always been: a lived-in neighborhood where residents reclaim the quiet rhythm of daily life.

The area is famous for its dense cluster of hanok, traditional Korean wood-framed houses defined with tiled roofs, making the neighborhood a living showcase of Korea’s architectural heritage. Unsurprisingly, it attracts crowds of visitors, both Korean and international, wandering the narrow lanes in search of the perfect photograph.

But tourism often blurred into intrusion. Visitors strayed into residential alleys, posed in front of private gates and at times stepped beyond doorways that were never meant to be part of a sightseeing route.

To protect this historic environment, the Jongno District Office has introduced several measures over the years to tackle overtourism.

Starting in July 2025, the district launched a pilot program to ban large tour buses from entering the area's narrow streets. This month, the policy became permanent. Now, any unauthorized bus with more than 16 seats faces a fine of 300,000 won ($207) if it enters the 2.3 kilometer stretch of Bukchon. This is in addition to the visiting hour restrictions in the district's "red zones," where tourists can only enter between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Jongno District head Jeong Mun-heon emphasized that these restrictions were launched with the goal of keeping Bukchon as a livable neighborhood and a functioning hanok village where everyday life can continue alongside its heritage charm, not just a picturesque backdrop.

While the district office admitted there were some elements of trial and error during the early stages, the policies are now considered to have significantly reduced the constant noise, congestion and civil complaints that once plagued the area. Jeong believes that tensions between residents and tourists have been greatly eased through these measures.

Kim Nam-jo, a professor in the Department of Tourism at Hanyang University, supports these changes. He said that the problem of overtourism must be solved by putting the residents first, emphasizing that Bukchon is not just a tourist site but a place where people go about their daily lives.

"The convenience of the residents must be the number one priority," the professor said. He explained that visitors should be accepted only within the range that the local community can tolerate because hanok houses are more than just beautiful and traditional buildings for photos.

"They are the traditional housing of Korea that carries the identity of the Korean people. It represents the residential identity of those who have lived in this country for generations. People come here to feel the aura and the collective identity of our culture, which is why preserving the actual living environment is so important," Kim added.

Many Bukchon residents support the changes. A local resident for nearly three decades named Jung welcomed both the bus ban and visiting hour limits.

“We deserve peace and quiet too. In the past few years, the noise and traffic from both tourists and weekend protests made it impossible to stay at home or move around the neighborhood,” he said. “These rules help us control our own daily lives again and make the neighborhood predictable.”

While he understands the appeal Bukchon holds for foreign visitors, he hopes that admiration also comes with respect. “I get why people love this place. But I hope they also remember: for us, it’s home.”

Merchants divided

However, not everyone is on board with the new restrictions. In particular, the Bukchon business community remains split over their impact. Some shop owners have even put up banners urging the district office to roll back the measures.

A merchant in the village says that the 5 p.m. rule is too rigid for businesses which rely on evening foot traffic. She expressed concern that some tourists who cannot visit during the day due to their tight schedules are being completely cut off from the Bukchon experience.

"The policy should change according to the season and the sunset. We are losing the unique charm of the evening and the income that comes with it," the merchant said.

While some shop owners are discontent with the changes, the neighborhood is proving its commercial value in new and surprising ways.

Data from the Korea Real Estate Board shows that the vacancy rate for medium and large shops in Bukchon dropped to 1.9 in the third quarter of 2025 from 6.2 percent in the same period in 2024.

Fashion brands like Adidas have opened new flagship stores incorporating Korean heritage, blending modern style with the traditional atmosphere of the village. This suggests that the area is evolving into a more premium and culturally focused space rather than just a crowded tourist attraction.

For international travelers, the experience remains deeply meaningful despite the new rules. An Indonesian tourist who was exploring the area in a rented hanbok (traditional Korean dress) said that Bukchon provides a unique experience for overseas visitors.

"Other famous places look very similar across the world, but visiting Bukchon makes me feel that I am truly in Korea," she said. "Also, the quiet streets actually make me want to be more respectful to the local people and culture of Korea.”

Professor Kim believes that while the current policies might be difficult for some merchants and other stakeholders, they are necessary for the long term future of the local tourism industry. He explained that Seoul is not alone in this struggle and pointed out that other famous global cities like Venice, Barcelona and Kyoto are also dealing with the same problems.

"In some of these places, they try to manage the crowds by setting up physical barriers or making visitors pay a tourist tax," he said.

However, he added the current approach in Bukchon is more effective for the people living there because simply collecting money from tourists does not solve the root of the problem.

"The policy of restricting visiting hours or limiting the number of people has a much clearer effect on protecting the residential environment compared to just collecting taxes. It actually gives the neighborhood back to the residents," the professor said.