Damyang-gun's Resident Population Ranks First Among Population Decline Areas in Jeonnam

424,000 in Q3 Last Year... 8.3 Times the Registered Population
All Age Groups Represented, Reaffirming Status as the Top Inland Tourism Destination

Tourists visiting Juknokwon. Provided by Damyang County

Damyang County, South Jeolla Province, announced on the 31st that the average living population for the third quarter of 2024 was officially tallied at 424,087, which is 8.3 times greater than the county's registered resident population.

According to the county, the National Statistical Office and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 27th the results of the calculation of the living population for the third and fourth quarters of 2024 for all 89 population-declining areas.

The living population includes not only the resident population but also those who stay in the area and contribute to its actual vitality. This figure combines the "staying population," which refers to people who stay in the area for more than three hours a day for at least one day a month for purposes such as commuting, studying, or tourism, and the "registered population," which includes those with resident registration, foreigner registration, or domestic residence reports.

Analysis of the living population calculation results for the third and fourth quarters of last year showed that Damyang County ranked first among the 16 cities and counties in South Jeolla Province with declining populations, with a staying population averaging 8.3 times the registered population.

This marks the second consecutive quarter in which Damyang has ranked first. The average living population for the third quarter was calculated as 424,087, combining 44,842 registered residents, 1,038 registered foreigners, and 378,207 staying population.

According to Damyang County, a notable feature of the staying population is its even distribution across all age groups, from under 20 to over 70, rather than being concentrated in a particular age bracket. This reconfirms the county's appeal as the "number one inland tourism destination" for all generations.

Population Living in the Third and Fourth Quarters of 2024 Graph. Provided by Damyang County

Additionally, it was analyzed that an average of 85.8% of the staying population are residents whose staying area and registered area are different, indicating a vibrant influx of people and increased regional vitality.

The county expects the living population to grow even further once new facilities open, such as the National Garden Culture Center scheduled for May this year, as well as the expansion of sports facilities like the County Residents Sports Park, Bandabi Sports Center, and Damyang Flood Control Park Golf Course, and the creation of nighttime tourism spaces through the Southern Region Wide-Area Tourism Development Project.

To boost the living population, the county has utilized 26.9 billion won from the Local Extinction Response Fund since 2022 to implement or complete 34 projects, and is also identifying investment projects for next year. In addition, 77 projects with a budget of over 21.1 billion won are being pursued to implement customized population policies for each life stage, including a basic childbirth allowance.

Through the hometown donation program, which achieved the highest fundraising amount nationwide in its inaugural year of 2023, the county is also working to encourage continued donations and visits from related populations in other regions. Efforts include discovering a variety of unique return gifts such as local specialties like Korean beef and cherry tomatoes, as well as Damyang hot spring vouchers and vegetable garden rental rights.

A county official stated, "We will continue to make greater efforts to increase the living population in order to revitalize the region and boost the local economy," adding, "We will focus our administrative capabilities to make Damyang a place where residents are satisfied and choose to settle, and tourists want to revisit and stay."

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