SEOUL: A man and a woman were caught on camera defaecating on the stone walls of Gyeongbokgung in central Seoul, local broadcaster JTBC reported on Tuesday (Nov 11).
Footage showed the man crouching in the bushes while holding toilet paper on Nov 10, with a woman next to him pulling down her white pants to relieve herself.
After a few moments, the woman stood up and walked away, leaving visible stains on her clothing. Shortly after, the man emerged from the bushes.
According to the TV programme, the incident occurred at the stone walls of Gyeongbokgung, the main royal palace of the Joseon era (1392 to 1910), designated Historic Site No. 117 by the Cultural Heritage Administration.
According to the individual who filmed the scene, the pair appeared to be part of an overseas tour group who were nearby at the time.
“At the time, many Chinese group tours were visiting Gyeongbokgung,” the informant told JTBC. “They seemed to be among them.”
Police nearby reportedly intervened to stop the act, but did not detain or book the individuals. Under local law, defaecating at a cultural heritage site can be subject to a misdemeanour charge.
The incident has fuelled online criticism, echoing similar cases in Jeju Island in which overseas tourists were seen allowing children to defaecate on streets and near natural monuments. - The Korea Herald/ANN
