{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/south-korea/gyeongju","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T01:09:40.955Z","place":{"city":"Gyeongju","country":"South Korea","countryCode":"KR","lat":35.84278,"lon":129.21167},"safety":{"score":89,"level":"VERY_SAFE","answer":"Yes — very safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":95,"confidence":0.68,"caps":[],"databaseScore":89,"travellerSentiment":{"score":87,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Recent traveler reports describe feeling very safe walking during daylight, with occasional concerns about heat and poorly lit peripheral neighborhoods after dark","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":85,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":95,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":87,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":97,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":81,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":80,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":1,"label":"Exercise Normal Precautions","updated":"Wed, 28 May 2025","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.kor.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-06-01T10:11:25Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-korea"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":1,"label":"Exercise normal security precautions","updated":"2026-06-29T13:31:43.5318909-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/south-korea"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":0.477306316584835,"display":"0.5 / 100k","year":"2023","score":98,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":76.8155059,"display":"77/100","year":"2024","score":77,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":76.19689,"display":"76/100","year":"2024","score":76,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":65.0511972,"display":"65/100","year":"2024","score":65,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":80.2483639,"display":"80/100","year":"2024","score":80,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":70.8498709,"display":"71/100","year":"2024","score":71,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":70.987799,"display":"71/100","year":"2024","score":71,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":54,"display":"US AQI 54 · Moderate","year":null,"score":88,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":40,"display":"July: highs ~40°C · extreme heat","year":null,"score":62,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":2,"display":"2 active alerts · Earthquake (orange)","year":null,"score":81,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":1,"display":"Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions · 2 govts","year":null,"score":97,"source":"US State Dept · Canada"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[{"kind":"Earthquake","severity":"orange","title":"earthquake (Magnitude 6.8M, Depth:10km) in Japan 28/07/2026 07:27 UTC, 1.2 million (in MMI>=VII).","distanceKm":378},{"kind":"Earthquake","severity":"green","title":"earthquake (Magnitude 5.6M, Depth:10km) in Japan 28/07/2026 08:08 UTC, 40 thousand in MMI VI.","distanceKm":408}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Gyeongju is one of South Korea's safest cities for visitors.","summary":"The composite safety index of 89 signals very low violent crime and stable governance, while recent news and local sources confirm minimal risk to travelers, though summer heat and occasional seismic tremors merit attention.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Mugging and armed robbery are exceptionally rare; isolated incidents have been reported near the bus terminal after dark"},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing occurs in crowded areas such as Tumuli Park and during festivals, especially targeting loose bags and backpacks"},"safeAreas":["Bomun Lake","Tumuli Park","Gyeongju National Museum","Bulguksa Temple","Central historic area"],"avoidAreas":["Gyeongju Bus Terminal Area (high scam risk after dark)","Anapji Pond outskirts at night (poor lighting)"],"scams":["overpriced taxi rides near bus terminals","fake charity petitions targeting tourists at major sites"],"zones":[{"name":"Bomun Lake","level":"safe","note":"Popular tourist hub with constant police patrols and well-lit paths, virtually no crime"},{"name":"Hwangnidan-gil","level":"caution","note":"Busy nightlife area; petty scams reported, stay alert after dark"},{"name":"Tumuli Park","level":"safe","note":"Open daytime park, heavily monitored, safe for solo visitors"},{"name":"Gyeongju National Museum","level":"safe","note":"Centrally located, staffed security, low risk"},{"name":"Anapji Pond","level":"caution","note":"Night lighting limited; occasional flooding in summer, watch footing"},{"name":"Mount Hwangaksan","level":"caution","note":"Remote trails; limited cell service, need proper gear and daylight"},{"name":"Bulguksa Temple","level":"safe","note":"Well-maintained site with regular patrols, safe throughout day"},{"name":"Gyeongju Bus Terminal Area","level":"avoid","note":"High transient crowd, documented pickpocket scams targeting arrivals"}]}}