Want to cancel your Seoul trip due to MERS? Get the lowdown on 3 refund options

▲MERS virus ravages South Korea, severely impacting the tourism market (Photo / Digital Image)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Taipei

South Korea, which should be entering its peak tourist season for travelers from Taiwan, has seen a significant drop in visitors and numerous group tour cancellations due to the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS). For the common travel arrangements used by Taiwanese tourists visiting South Korea — group tours, independent travel, and self-purchased flights — ETtoday News Cloud has compiled key points regarding ticket refunds and cancellations to help travelers stay informed.

Group Tour Passengers:
For travelers on group tours, the key factor in refund policies is the travel alert level issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Bureau of Consular Affairs. When the alert level is gray (Exercise Caution) or yellow (Enhanced Caution – Evaluate Necessity of Travel), most travel agencies follow the “Article 27 of the Standard Form Contract for Overseas Travel.”Travelers are required to compensate the agency for 10% to 100% of the cost, depending on the proportion.Since the compensation ratio is calculated based on the number of days before departure, travelers also need to manage their timing carefully.

However, if before departure there is factual evidence indicating a risk to the life, body, health, or property safety of travelers in one of the destinations of the tour group, then “Article 28-1 of the Standard Form Contract for Overseas Travel” applies. In such cases, travelers may terminate the travel contract, and after deducting necessary expenses, the compensation to the travel agency shall not exceed 5%.

Taking the Thai political coup in early 2014 as an example, when the travel alert for Bangkok and surrounding areas was raised to orange (High Degree of Caution – Avoid Non-Essential Travel), relevant agencies including the Tourism Bureau, travel associations, and quality assurance associations agreed to assist travelers in processing refunds according to Article 28-1.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Bureau of Consular Affairs Travel Alert Levels
Gray: Exercise Caution
Yellow: Enhanced Caution – Evaluate Necessity of Travel
Orange: High Degree of Caution – Avoid Non-Essential Travel
Red: Avoid Non-Essential Travel

Self-Purchased Flights:
Whether traveling with a traditional airline or a low-cost carrier, passengers who purchase their own tickets to South Korea must follow the refund and date change regulations set by the respective airlines, and any associated fees are determined by each airline’s policy.

Flight + Hotel Independent Travel:
Travelers who purchase independent travel packages are essentially booking flights and local accommodation through a travel agency. Therefore, refund procedures will follow the policies of the respective agencies, which may include service fees, hotel penalties, and other charges. However, since flight and accommodation dates for independent travel usually have more flexibility, besides cancellation, travelers can also inquire with the agency about the possibility of changing the departure date and visit South Korea once the alert is lifted.

▲It’s common for Korean hotels to offer “guaranteed check-in” during peak seasons. (Photo / Screenshot from Apple Travel official website)

Additionally, some readers reported incidents where they were asked to pay the full hotel fee even when requesting a refund. According to sources in the Korean tourism industry, hotels in Seoul have high demand and significant price fluctuations, so some hotels establish “guaranteed check-in” policies or increase cancellation penalties during peak travel seasons or exhibition periods. The peak season begins on June 22 this year, so besides carefully reviewing the contract terms when purchasing a travel package, travelers should also understand the check-out regulations when processing refunds to avoid further disputes.

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