Over 11,000 sign online petition after killing in Jeju chapel
By Jung Min-ho
More than 11,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the government to withdraw its visa-free policy for Chinese tourists on Jeju Island, following the murder of a Korean woman last week.
The petition, which was started Sunday on a Daum Agora page, reached the targeted number of 10,000 in just a day. Participants urged the government to abandon the visa waiver program, which was adopted in 2008 to boost tourism to the resort island.
The move followed the murder Saturday of a 61-year-old Korean woman who was allegedly stabbed to death by a 50-year-old Chinese man for no known reason in a Jeju City chapel.
The woman, who was praying at the time of the attack, died the next day. Earlier this month, eight Chinese tourists were arrested for assaulting a female restaurant owner who asked them not to drink alcohol they bought outside the facility.
"Jeju is a valuable tourist resource. It has become lawless as Chinese are allowed to visit without a visa," said the person who started the petition. "People's safety is more important than tourism revenue."
Another said, "If our demands are not met, we should initiate a vote to recall Governor Won Hee-ryong before it is too late."
As criticisms grow, Governor Won said he will come up with measures to deter crime, but he dismissed the possibility of a total cancelation of the program.
"The program has played a critical role in making Jeju Island a global tourist destination," Won said during a radio show Monday. "I understand that many other countries are also dealing with the same issue. We will certainly develop supportive measures."
Won has also urged the Chinese consulate-general on Jeju to come up with preventive measures.
Tourists from 180 countries including China can stay on Jeju for 30 days without a visa. The program has accomplished its goal to boost tourism, but with unintended consequences.
On Jeju Island, the number of overseas tourists without a visa leapt to 629,724 last year from 69,569 in 2009. Most of the visitors are Chinese. Meanwhile, the number of illegal immigrants on the island has soared to 4,300 from around 100 during the same period. From January to July this year, 3,836 out of 543,618 foreign visitors to the island went missing.
Police believe the increasing number of illegal aliens has raised safety concerns on Jeju Island, which used to be known for "no thieves, no gates and no beggars."
The number of crimes committed by foreigners on the island has increased in recent years. Last year, 393 foreigners were arrested, up from 90 in 2009, according to the Jeju Seobu Police Station. Police arrested 347 foreigners between January and July this year, up 59.2 percent from the same period last year. Among them, 69.2 percent were Chinese.
Some showed concerns that such a move may spread xenophobia on the island. "The number of crimes by foreigners is bound to increase as the total number of foreign visitors rises," a blogger said. "But it is wrong to consider all foreigners as potential criminals."
By Jung Min-ho
More than 11,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the government to withdraw its visa-free policy for Chinese tourists on Jeju Island, following the murder of a Korean woman last week.
The petition, which was started Sunday on a Daum Agora page, reached the targeted number of 10,000 in just a day. Participants urged the government to abandon the visa waiver program, which was adopted in 2008 to boost tourism to the resort island.
The move followed the murder Saturday of a 61-year-old Korean woman who was allegedly stabbed to death by a 50-year-old Chinese man for no known reason in a Jeju City chapel.
The woman, who was praying at the time of the attack, died the next day. Earlier this month, eight Chinese tourists were arrested for assaulting a female restaurant owner who asked them not to drink alcohol they bought outside the facility.
"Jeju is a valuable tourist resource. It has become lawless as Chinese are allowed to visit without a visa," said the person who started the petition. "People's safety is more important than tourism revenue."
One petitioner said, "I'm a Jeju resident who loves this island. I feel concerned for the safety of my wife and children when they go out. I hope visa waiver programs are abolished for all foreigners, not only Chinese."
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Another said, "If our demands are not met, we should initiate a vote to recall Governor Won Hee-ryong before it is too late."
As criticisms grow, Governor Won said he will come up with measures to deter crime, but he dismissed the possibility of a total cancelation of the program.
"The program has played a critical role in making Jeju Island a global tourist destination," Won said during a radio show Monday. "I understand that many other countries are also dealing with the same issue. We will certainly develop supportive measures."
Won has also urged the Chinese consulate-general on Jeju to come up with preventive measures.
Tourists from 180 countries including China can stay on Jeju for 30 days without a visa. The program has accomplished its goal to boost tourism, but with unintended consequences.
On Jeju Island, the number of overseas tourists without a visa leapt to 629,724 last year from 69,569 in 2009. Most of the visitors are Chinese. Meanwhile, the number of illegal immigrants on the island has soared to 4,300 from around 100 during the same period. From January to July this year, 3,836 out of 543,618 foreign visitors to the island went missing.
Police believe the increasing number of illegal aliens has raised safety concerns on Jeju Island, which used to be known for "no thieves, no gates and no beggars."
The number of crimes committed by foreigners on the island has increased in recent years. Last year, 393 foreigners were arrested, up from 90 in 2009, according to the Jeju Seobu Police Station. Police arrested 347 foreigners between January and July this year, up 59.2 percent from the same period last year. Among them, 69.2 percent were Chinese.
Some showed concerns that such a move may spread xenophobia on the island. "The number of crimes by foreigners is bound to increase as the total number of foreign visitors rises," a blogger said. "But it is wrong to consider all foreigners as potential criminals."
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