Jeju airport battles garbage dumped by Chinese

Gates for international flights on the third floor of Jeju International Airport teem with rubbish from duty free goods purchased by Chinese tourists. The photo was taken on Oct. 26. / Captured from Jemin Ilbo

By Hong Dam-young

Jeju airport is grappling with overflowing garbage from Chinese tourists.

Gates for international flights on the third floor of Jeju International Airport are teeming with rubbish from duty free goods purchased by Chinese tourists, according to Jeju newspaper Jemin Ilbo.

When tourists purchase duty free goods outside the airport, they have to pick them up from a designated area at the departure gate. The problem arises when the tourists rip the wrapping from the items at the gate before boarding, to reduce their size and weight. Then they leave the rubbish on the floor.

Staff from duty free shops and cleaners have asked Chinese tourists to use dumpsters, and even gave them garbage bags. The Korea Airports Corporation in Jeju has also taken action by increasing the number of cleaners at the gate from two to three.

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"We will keep reinforcing the sanitation team at the gates for international flights," an official from the airport told The Korea Times.

He said the airport has special areas around the gate where tourists can dump the rubbish and airport staffs have been reminding them of the regulations.

"Even though there is still lots of rubbish left after they depart, less of them are dumping it on the floor after we've taken action," the official said.

"Those who keep throwing waste on the floor might face fines as a penalty in the future."

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