As the tropical nights continue day after day, members of the 2030 generation are gathering at Hangang Park and Haeundae to enjoy the summer nights. More and more people are flocking to these places in the evening to escape the intense sunlight, forming a group known as "night vacationers."
Citizens visiting Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul are cooling off by playing in the water amid the tropical night heat. Photo by Kang Jinhyung
On August 5, the KB Kookmin Card AI Data Business Group analyzed payment customer data from July and August 2023 to 2024 at convenience stores in Seoul's Hangang Park and in the main commercial areas of Haeundae Beach in Busan, covering 12 key business types (including restaurants, coffee and beverage shops, bars, etc.). The analysis found that the busiest hours at both locations were between 6 p.m. and midnight.
During this period, 25% of Hangang Park visitors came between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., making this the most popular time slot, followed by 21% who visited between 9 p.m. and midnight. This means that nearly half of all daily visitors concentrated their visits at night. Similarly, at Haeundae Beach, 45% of visitors came between 6 p.m. and midnight.
Among those visiting both locations during these peak hours, the vast majority were in their 20s and 30s. In July and August last year, 40% of nighttime visitors to Hangang Park were in their 20s, with those in their 30s accounting for 23%. At Haeundae Beach, 36% of visitors were in their 20s, followed by 22% in their 30s and 21% in their 40s.
Among those who visited Hangang Park on summer nights two years ago, 19% returned the following summer. This means that one out of every five visitors made a repeat visit. During the same period, 13% of Haeundae Beach visitors returned for two consecutive years.
Visitors to Haeundae Beach included not only residents of Busan but also a significant number of people from other regions such as Seoul and the greater metropolitan area. In the evening, only 32% of Haeundae commercial district visitors were Busan residents, while the rest came from Gyeonggi Province (18%), Seoul (16%), South Gyeongsang Province (7%), and Daegu (5%). It appears that people from all over the country visit Haeundae Beach during the summer vacation season.
A representative from the KB Kookmin Card AI Data Business Group analyzed, "It seems that young people who are sensitive to trends are visiting Hangang Park in large numbers due to cultural and leisure programs such as nighttime running events and the Hangang Festival, as well as summer vacation content that uses the Hangang as a backdrop."
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