The idea surfaced on July 2 at the first expanded senior officials' meeting of Jeju's new administration, which took office July 1 under Governor Wi Seong-gon.
Asked how the island could lift tourist spending, Administrative Vice Governor Park Cheon-su pointed to the rental-car rules that keep Chinese visitors off the road, Munhwa Ilbo reported.
"A large portion of independent foreign travelers are Chinese, but they cannot use rental cars at the moment," Park said, in remarks quoted by The Korea Times. "If necessary, we could consider providing several hours of driving training in a short period so they can drive, as part of easing regulations."
The meeting was streamed live for the first time, and the remark spread within hours, Yonhap News reported.
Residents online asked who would be liable in a crash, and whether an island already strained by heavy traffic could absorb foreign drivers unfamiliar with Korean roads.
