Even as Population Declines, People Flock to Boryeong... Living Population Reaches 1.46 Million, 2nd in South Chungcheong Province

Daecheon Beach and Spring Tourism Boom
Sharp Increase in Resident Population
Per Capita Visitor Spending Surpasses 120,000 Won

Boryeong City Hall Exterior View

Boryeong City in South Chungcheong Province ranked second among population-declining areas in the province in the first quarter of this year, emerging as a "city that attracts people even as its registered population decreases."

Additionally, the living population, which is five times larger than the registered population, is driving the local economy, with both consumption and tourism thriving, particularly around Daecheon Beach.

According to Boryeong City, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the National Data Agency on October 13, analysis of the "First Quarter 2025 Living Population in Population-Declining Areas" showed that Boryeong's living population in the first quarter totaled 1,466,000.

Of this, the registered population was 292,000, while the resident (non-registered) population was 1,174,000-about five times the registered population. Boryeong ranked eighth nationwide and second in South Chungcheong Province among areas with declining populations.

By month, 517,914 people visited Boryeong in January, 419,014 in February, and 529,184 in March. Notably, March saw a sharp increase in visitors as the spring tourism season began.

Daecheon Beach, Boryeong's most famous tourist destination, maintained its position as the second most visited site in South Chungcheong Province throughout the first quarter. The resident population reached 322,000 in February (10th nationwide) and 432,000 in March (6th nationwide), ranking among the top in the country.

The average credit card spending per visitor was 123,700 won, demonstrating that the increase in the living population has contributed to revitalizing the local economy.

The proportion of card spending by the resident population was 29.1% in January, 26.6% in February, and 30% in March. This indicates that spending by external visitors is having a tangible impact on local business revenues.

Foreign visitors stayed longer than domestic visitors, and long-term residents (those staying more than 21 days per month) showed high spending in education, healthcare, and accommodation sectors.

Based on these trends, the city plans to strengthen its "long-term stay tourism policy."

The city has enacted the "Living Population Expansion Support Ordinance" to attract more living population and is pursuing mid- to long-term plans with the goal of reaching 10 million annual visitors.

Mayor Kim Dongil stated, "The increase in the living population is not just a statistic but an indicator of local economic vitality," adding, "We will transform Boryeong into a city where people stay all year round by linking new tourism infrastructure such as SBS Media Park and Healing Theme Park with Daecheon Beach."

Meanwhile, Boryeong recorded an annual living population of 7.52 million last year, ranking fourth nationwide among population-declining areas.