South Korean Depopulation Zones See Slight Rise in 'Living Population' Driven by Festivals

Areas in South Korea experiencing population decline have reported a modest increase in their 'living population' during the first quarter of the year. The average monthly living population in these regions reached 23.81 million, marking a 3.4% rise compared to the same period last year, according to data from the National Data Agency.

The concept of 'living population' is a composite measure that includes individuals officially registered as residents and those who stay in the area for at least three hours a day for more than one day within a month. This broader definition aims to capture a more dynamic picture of a region's actual population.

Officials attribute this uptick primarily to an increase in temporary visitors. The Lunar New Year holiday period and various local festivals are cited as key factors that drew more people to these regions, boosting the 'staying population' component of the living population metric. This suggests that tourism and seasonal events play a significant role in temporarily revitalizing these areas.