Despite ongoing population decline, parts of Gangwon-do (Province) saw a summertime economic surge last August, as vacationers packed beach towns and camping hubs, fueling local businesses.
In August of 2024, summer vacationers flocked to beach towns such as Yangyang and Goseong in Gangwon-do, as well as camping destinations like Pyeongchang and Jeongseon. These visitors significantly boosted local economies, accounting for 66.7% of total card spending in these areas—indicating that two-thirds of local consumption was driven by non-residents.
On Mar. 27, Statistics Korea released its estimates for the resident population in the third quarter of 2024, revealing that in August of the previous year, the resident population of 12 depopulated areas in Gangwon Province reached 5.624 million.
This figure is 11.8 times the registered population of 477,000 local and foreign residents. The resident population includes individuals who stayed in the area for at least three hours on one or more days during the month, encompassing tourists, commuters, and second-home residents.
A Statistics Korea official noted, “As vacationers from the Seoul metropolitan area flocked to easily accessible beaches and campsites in Gangwon-do, the resident population surged, and their contribution to the local economy increased.”
Yangyang-gun (County), bustling with young people enjoying surfing and beach clubs, exemplifies the summer tourism boom. In August of last year, Yangyang’s registered population was 27,578, while the resident population, including tourists, was 791,737—28.2 times higher. Consequently, the total resident population exceeded 800,000.
Nearby Goseong-gun also saw a surge in beachgoers, with the resident population reaching 24.6 times the registered population. Similarly, Gapyeong-gun in Gyeonggi-do, renowned for university student retreats, hosted a resident population 22.4 times its registered population, totaling 1,499,151.
Yangyang, Goseong and Gapyeong were among the most vivid examples of this summer tourism boom, but they weren’t alone.
Across the country, other depopulated areas also saw a sharp rise in visitors during the summer holiday season. The resident population in 89 such regions jumped from approximately 22.74 million in January to 33.61 million in August of last year—a rise of more than 10 million.
During the same period, the registered population in these areas slightly declined from about 4.9 million to 4.89 million, highlighting the significant impact of increased tourist presence.
This growing presence of short-term residents also translated into greater economic weight. In many areas, these visitors contributed as much—or even more—than local residents to the regional economy.
In August, card payments made by this group accounted for 49.7% of total card spending across all depopulated areas nationwide—nearly half the total. In Gangwon-do, the proportion climbed to 66.7%, while in depopulated parts of the greater Seoul area, it reached 56.4%.
However, this broader surge in tourist numbers didn’t necessarily lead to more generous spending on an individual level. In Aug. 2024, the average card spending per tourist and other resident visitor in depopulated areas across the country stood at 111,000 won ($75.67), slightly down from $78.39 in June.
Despite the summer peak season drawing large crowds, visitors didn’t spend significantly more per person. The average spending in July was $80.44, while in September it dropped to $72.95, remaining in a similar range.
Experts say that to increase spending by tourists and other temporary residents, local governments should adopt customized strategies tailored to each region. For instance, in August last year, 29% of the resident population in depopulated areas of Gangwon Province were short-term tourists—those staying for four days or fewer for sightseeing purposes.
In contrast, this group made up just 6.5% in depopulated parts of the greater Seoul area. Meanwhile, commuters—people who live in major cities but travel regularly to depopulated areas for work or study—accounted for only 7.4% of the resident population in Gangwon, compared with 36% in the metropolitan region.
