Iconic tourist attractions on Jeju Island, including the (성산) Seongsan Sunrise Peak, have temporarily been shut down since Christmas Eve as a preventive measure for COVID-19.
Local businesses that cater to tourists have already been hit hard since the beginning of the pandemic. Now, with stronger restrictions in place, they are experiencing a deep economic depression.
Mike Laidman reports.

(성산) Seongsan Sunrise Peak is the place for visitors from around the country to come and see the first sunrise of the new year.
It has been temporarily closed since Christmas Eve, and visitors who weren't aware of the shutdown have had to change their plans.


Businesses nearby have been devastated.
There are far fewer people out on the streets among the many restaurants, and “for lease” notices are becoming more and more commonplace.


The (성산) Seongsan Sunrise Festival, which highlights the new year’s first sunrise, has naturally been canceled, too.
Business owners, already struggling to keep their heads above water, are feeling frustrated.

Gatherings of more than five people have been banned as a measure of tightened social distancing.
The number of daily visitors to the island dropped to 17,000 on December 23rd, down from a daily average of 41,000 last year.


The booking rates for accommodations and rental cars, which usually hit 100 percent during the end of the year, are unsurprisingly low this year.


According to the Jeju Provincial Tourism Association, the booking rate for chartered buses is only 2 percent this week.
The booking rate for accommodations is between 19 and 35 percent, rental cars at 30 percent, and golf clubs at 65 percent.


It will be a long, long time before things are back to normal, leaving Jeju’s many tourist-dependent businesses in deep, deep trouble.

Mike Laidman, KCTV