Tourist numbers surge 57 percent year on year, raising expectations for early achievement of the 10 million visitor target by 2030.
Goheung-gun recorded 8.88 million tourists by the end of 2025, firmly establishing itself as a key tourism hub along Korea’s southern coast. This marks a 57 percent increase from the previous year, far exceeding the average annual growth rate of 10 percent, and reflects the combined impact of rising nationwide travel demand and strengthened local tourism competitiveness.
By region, the northern area accounted for the largest share of visits at 35 percent, followed by the Palyeongsan area at 28 percent, the Nokdonghang and Geogeum area at 23 percent, the Goheung Bay area at 9 percent, and the Narodo area at 5 percent. Among major attractions, Palyeong Bridge recorded 1.38 million visitors, followed by Goheung Bay with 430,000 and Nokdonghang Port with 400,000, indicating balanced interest across coastal and port tourism resources.
In terms of facility growth rates, the Buncheong Ceramics Museum posted the highest increase at 193 percent compared to the previous year. Nokdonghang Port followed with a 122 percent increase, Sorokdo Island with 103 percent, Geogeum Bridge with 61 percent, Palyeong Bridge with 49 percent, and Ssukseom Island with 36 percent. Udo Island, where visitor counting began in August last year, also recorded 37,534 visitors over five months, highlighting the growing potential of lesser-known island destinations.
The rapid growth of tourism in Goheung is attributed to multiple factors, including rocket launch viewing programs, local festivals such as the Yuja and Aerospace Festival, expanded ferry services to Ssukseom Island, the spread of coastal scenery from Palyeong and Geogeum Bridges through social media, year-round drone shows, rising recognition as an ideal destination for marine healing tourism, increased national media exposure, and the growth of stay-based travel.
To maintain this momentum, Goheung-gun plans to strengthen content strategies focused on extended stays, including space science train programs, KTX-linked tourism packages, products linked to the Yeosu World Island Expo, the resumption of city tour services, overseas tourism marketing, expanded tourism incentives, and refunding admission fees at major attractions through local gift certificates.
An official from the Goheung-gun Tourism Policy Division said that the foundation has been laid to achieve the goal of attracting 10 million tourists by 2030 ahead of schedule, adding that Goheung-gun will continue its leap forward as a leading southern coastal tourism city by strengthening promotion through influencers and social media and by focusing on policies that encourage longer stays.
Source: Goheung-gun Office
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