Gurye's visitor numbers surge 15.8 times registered population amid Sansevieria tourism boom

Gurye county in South Korea's South Jeolla Province experienced a surge in visitors during the first quarter, with its "staying population" reaching 15.8 times its registered population. This significant influx is attributed to the popularity of Sansevieria (wild ginger) tourism during the spring.

Across 89 designated depopulation areas in South Korea, regions with seasonal tourist attractions saw a substantial increase in visitors during January to March. In January, Muju in North Jeolla Province, known for the Deogyusan ski resort, had a staying population 15.1 times its registered residents. Pyeongchang in Gangwon Province, famous for its winter festivals and ski resorts, recorded 12.8 times its registered population in February.

The "staying population" metric, calculated by adding temporary visitors (for tourism, commuting, business trips, or transit) to the registered resident population, highlights the impact of tourism on these areas. While Gurye, Muju, and Pyeongchang saw high ratios of temporary visitors, Busan's Dong-gu district recorded the largest absolute number of staying residents for three consecutive months. This is due to its role as a major transportation hub with Busan Station and the international ferry terminal, attracting tourists, commuters, and transit passengers.

Despite being designated as a depopulation area due to a declining registered population, Dong-gu's high number of temporary visitors reflects its unique urban characteristic as a "city that stays" rather than "lives." The overall "living population" in depopulation areas reached 22.26 million in January, peaking at 25.82 million in February before settling at 23.37 million in March. The February peak was influenced by the Lunar New Year holiday shifting from January to February this year.