Visitor numbers to Gwangalli Beach in Suyeong District declined slightly in the first half of 2025, while nearby areas such as Millak-dong saw a noticeable rebound in foot traffic, according to data released by Suyeong-gu.
From January to May, the floating population in the Gwangalli Beach area, covering Gwangnam-ro and Gwangalli Beach-ro, averaged 2.71 million people per month, marking a 5% decrease compared to 2.85 million during the same period last year.
Officials attribute the decline to a combination of unfavorable weather and political events.
The national mourning period for the Muan Jeju Air disaster, the aftermath of the December 3 martial law controversy, impeachment-related rallies, and major forest fires in March are all believed to have contributed to decreased public activity and tourism sentiment.
February temperatures were around 5°C lower than last year, and heavy rain affected attendance at the annual Gwangalli Eobang Festival in May.
In contrast, the broader Gwangalli area, including Namcheon-dong, Gwangalli, and Minrak-dong, recorded an average monthly floating population of 3.65 million, a 4% increase from the 3.5 million recorded last year.
In May alone, over 4.35 million people visited the area, surpassing pre-drinking-ban levels at Millak Waterside Park.
The district attributed this growth to various factors, including the return of large-scale cultural events such as Millak Luce Festa and Millak The Market, extended cherry blossom blooming in Namcheon-dong, and the opening of new cultural spaces and unique cafés in the Millak area.
