● From Resident Population to Living Population: Overcoming the Limitations of Traditional Population PoliciesaAgainst the backdrop of persistent population decline and the continued dominance of the Seoul Metropolitan Area, the living population has become a key indicator of regional vitality in depopulated areas.
aNotably, the visitor population represents a strategic resource for regional development, as targeted policy interventions can stimulate visitor inflows and directly contribute to local economic revitalization.
● Characteristics of the Visitor Population in Jeonbuk's Depopulated Areas
aThe visitor population constitutes 80.6% of the living population in Jeonbuk’s depopulated areas, slightly below the national average of 81.9%.
aThe visitor population index, defined as the ratio of the visitor population to the registered population, shows significant inter-municipal variation, with high ratios in Muju, Imsil, and Buan and relatively low ratios in Gimje and Jeongeup.
aThe inflow–outflow index (inflow population-to-outflow population ratio) is relatively high in Muju, Buan, and Imsil, indicating a strong capacity to attract external populations, whereas the index remains relatively low in Jeongeup and Gimje.
aAn analysis of visitor inflow origins within and outside Jeonbuk reveals three distinct types:
- Local Catchment Type (Gimje): 93.4% of visitor inflows originate from within Jeonbuk, despite a sizeable visitor population.
- Intra-Provincial Dependent Type (Jeongeup, Jinan, Jangsu, Imsil, and Buan): Between 72% and 86% of visitor inflows originate from within Jeonbuk.
- Broad-Based Inflow Type (Namwon, Muju, Sunchang, and Gochang): Between 35% and 54% of visitor inflows come from outside Jeonbuk.
aThe visitor population is lowest in February across most areas and peaks during autumn and major tourism seasons.
- The seasonal variability index, calculated as [(highest monthly visitor population − lowest monthly visitor population) / lowest monthly visitor population] × 100, is lowest in Gimje (113%), reflecting a relatively stable year-round distribution of visitors. In contrast, Imsil (358%), Sunchang (278%), and Muju (276%) record substantially higher levels, indicating greater seasonal fluctuations in visitor populations.
● Policy Recommendations for Stimulating Visitor Inflows
aAreas with weak visitor population bases (Jeongeup, Namwon, Gimje, and Jangsu): stimulating visitor inflows from both within and outside Jeonbuk
- Cultivating purpose-driven visitor demand in areas such as sports and healthcare, Jirisan wellness, agro-bio and landscape experiences, and leisure and education; implementing stay-based incentive programs; and fostering active relationships with individuals who maintain ongoing ties with the region.
aBroad-based inflow areas (Namwon, Muju, Sunchang, and Gochang): promoting repeat visits and extended stays.
- Establishing stay-oriented hub infrastructure, developing tourism packages in collaboration with the Chungcheong and Gwangju–Jeonnam regions, and strengthening targeted marketing strategies.
aIntra-provincial dependent and local catchment areas (Jeongeup, Gimje, Jinan, Jangsu, Imsil, and Buan): strengthening linkages with the Jeonju Metropolitan Area and nearby hub cities, attracting visitors from outside Jeonbuk
- Revitalizing nighttime and weekend local economic activity through initiatives such as evening concerts by local artists, youth flea markets, and weekend sports events, thereby positioning regional hubs as attractive destinations.
aAreas with high seasonal concentration (Muju, Imsil, Sunchang, etc.): reducing seasonal concentration to achieve a more balanced year-round distribution of the visitor population.
- Organizing off-season festivals and events; creating year-round stay-oriented environments featuring nature-focused outdoor activities and targeted experiential and recreational offerings; and pursuing season-specific marketing strategies.
aAdvancing Local Extinction Response Fund projects through evidence-based data analytics.
- Disaggregating spatial units to the eup, myeon, and dong levels; establishing big-data monitoring systems for major tourist destinations; expanding inter-municipal cooperation networks; and designing policies that comprehensively integrate key factors, including length of stay and visitor expenditure.
