Jeju Beach Visitors Halved This Year... "Sharp Drop"

Long Monsoon and COVID Impact: 1.02 Million People at 11 Locations

Jeju Hamdeok Beach.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Chang-won] The number of visitors to beaches in Jeju Island has sharply declined to about half of last year's level.

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced on the 31st that a total of 1.02 million people visited 11 beaches operated within the province this year.

This year's number of visitors to Jeju beaches decreased by 870,000 (46%) compared to 1.89 million last year. The beaches include 7 locations in Jeju City (Geumnung, Hyeopjae, Gwakji, Iho Taeu, Samyang, Hamdeok, Gimnyeong) and 4 locations in Seogwipo City (Hwasun Geummorae, Jungmun Saekdal, Pyoseon, Sinyang Seopji), totaling 11 beaches.

Jeju Province attributes the decline in beach visitors mainly to the unprecedented long rainy season, early opening and closing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the suspension of nighttime openings, resulting in a shorter operating period. This year's beach operation period was 53 days from July 1 to August 22, 18 days shorter than last year's 71 days.

Jeju Province plans to deploy and operate beach safety guards until September 13, anticipating safety accidents even after the beaches close.

Meanwhile, Jeju Province has achieved zero fatalities at beaches for seven consecutive years up to this year, and as a result of focusing administrative efforts on COVID-19 prevention and containment, there were no infection cases at beaches within the province.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.