Korail sees average 32% ridership gain at festival stations in Yeongwol, Imsil, Samcheok
Promotions linking regional festivals to train travel have driven a significant increase in ridership at railway stations near festival sites across the country compared with last year, the result of tailored marketing campaigns connecting local festivals with rail travel by season and region.
Korail (Korea Railroad Corporation) said Monday that an analysis of ridership at stations near 18 regional festivals held in April and May showed an average increase of 32 percent compared with the same period last year.
The sharpest gain came at Yeongwol Station, where 5,518 passengers arrived during this year's Danjong Cultural Festival — a 161 percent jump from 2,117 the previous year.
Imsil Station in North Jeolla Province drew 1,918 passengers during the N Rose Festival, more than double last year's 890; Samcheok Station in Gangwon Province recorded 5,989 visitors during the Rose Festival, up 78 percent; and Gokseong Station in South Jeolla Province welcomed 31,328 visitors during the World Rose Festival, up 48 percent.
Other festival-linked stations also posted gains: Boseong's Dahyang Tea Festival drew 2,340 passengers, up 34 percent; Busan's Mil Festival recorded 127,206, up 19 percent; Namwon's Chunhyang Festival attracted 27,612, up 9 percent; and Jeongeup's Donghak Peasant Revolution Memorial Festival brought in 11,268, also up 9 percent.
Korail attributed the ridership growth to an intensified online and offline promotional push that began in late April, including placing regional festival leaflets at stations nationwide and distributing QR-code event calendars.
"More and more people are taking the train to regional festivals, and that is breathing new life into both local economies and rail travel," said Lee Min-seong, head of Korail's customer marketing division. "We will continue to develop rail travel content tied to local communities."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
