KORAIL’s ‘Travel Month’ train travel, visitors to areas with declining population surge 31 times

Daejeon = Yonhap News) Reporter Jeong Yun-deok = Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) announced on the 14th that as a result of the 'Travel Month' train travel discount event from April 16 to May 31, the number of train travelers in 42 depopulated areas across the country increased 31-fold.

About 51,000 people used a product that refunded the full fare to certified travelers who visited areas with declining populations, which is 31.5 times the number of 1,618 people in the same period last year.

The place with the most travelers was Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do (5,773 people).

It was followed by Iksan, Jeollabuk-do (4,151 people), Samcheok, Gangwon-do (4,130 people), Namwon, Jeollabuk-do (3,378 people), and Yeongwol, Gangwon-do (2,644 people).

About 79,000 people also saw the 50% discount on theme trains. This is a 92% increase from last year.

Many theme train users visited Buncheon Station in Gyeongbuk (4,912 people), Cheoram Station in Gangwon (4,711 people), Suncheon Station in Jeollanam-do (4,574 people), Gunsan Station in Jeollabuk-do (4,440 people), and Jeonju Station (4,302 people).

It is estimated that the train travel products used by a total of 134,000 people during the event period had a production inducement effect of 37.7 billion won.

Lee Min-seong, head of KORAIL's customer marketing division, said, "The number of visitors to areas with declining populations has continued beyond expectations, and rail travel has played a significant role as a catalyst for regional economic development. We will continue to develop various travel products and take the lead in revitalizing local tourism."