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🇰🇷 South Korea /Disasters & Emergencies

East Coast beaches see nearly 1.9 million fewer visitors amid heatwave

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Visitor numbers to East Coast beaches in Gangwon Province, South Korea, decreased by nearly 1.9 million compared to last year.
  • Yangyang County was the only area to see an increase in visitors, with a 34.5% rise.
  • Extreme heat and rough seas were cited as reasons for the decline, with visitors seeking cooler inland destinations.

South Korea's popular East Coast beaches in Gangwon Province experienced a significant drop in visitors this summer, with nearly 1.9 million fewer people flocking to the shores compared to last year.

The region's 85 beaches across six cities and counties saw a cumulative total of 6,536,881 visitors as of August 18, a stark decrease of 1,883,097, or 22.4%, from the same period in the previous year. Goseong County, located in the northernmost part of the East Coast, recorded the largest decline, with a 63.9% drop in visitors. Gangneung, home to the well-known Gyeongpo Beach, also saw a substantial decrease of 15.8%.

The number of visitors to Goseong County itself has not decreased. The significant dispersion of vacationers to valleys, resorts, and indoor water parks to escape the heat and unfavorable weather conditions has had a major impact.

— Kim Eun-hoExplaining the decline in beach visitors in Goseong County, attributing it to a shift towards other recreational areas due to heat and rough seas.

While the reasons for the decline are attributed to factors like extreme heat and rough seas, which led to increased periods of swimming restrictions, analysis suggests that visitors are increasingly seeking alternative destinations. "The number of visitors to Goseong County itself has not decreased," said Kim Eun-ho, a tourism official at Goseong County Hall. "The significant dispersion of vacationers to valleys, resorts, and indoor water parks to escape the heat and unfavorable weather conditions has had a major impact."

In contrast, Yangyang County stood out with a 34.5% increase in visitors, surpassing 1 million for the first time. This surge is largely attributed to the opening of three large accommodation facilities near Naksan Beach, which allowed visitors to enjoy the sea regardless of weather conditions. Yangyang also implemented initiatives like extending Naksan Beach's operating hours into the night and offering free parking, further boosting its appeal.

The opening of three large accommodation facilities near Naksan Beach has allowed visitors to enjoy the sea regardless of weather conditions.

— Kim Jin-sooHighlighting a key factor behind Yangyang County's increase in visitor numbers, emphasizing the role of new accommodations in mitigating weather impacts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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