Tourists to Ulleung, North Gyeongsang, posted a decline after concerns over high prices and alleged price gouging.

Snow falls at a rate of 1 cm per hour on Ulleungdo and Dokdo in North Gyeongsang Province as a heavy snow warning is in effect on the 1st. The photo is a capture from a real-time live broadcast of Ulleung Port in Ulleung County that afternoon. /Courtesy of News1

On Jan. 7, Ulleung County said 347,086 people visited Ulleung last year, down 37,513 from the previous year.

On an annual basis, Ulleung tourist numbers peaked at 461,375 in 2022 and then fell to 408,204 in 2023 and 384,599 in 2024.

Last year, media reports highlighted that gasoline prices on Ulleung were more than 300 won per liter higher than on the mainland and rental car fees were more than double, making various living costs far higher than on the mainland.

Ulleung County also believes a prolonged suspension of the high-speed passenger ferry linking Ulleung and Pohang due to a breakdown affected the drop in tourists.

※ This article has been translated by AI. Share your feedback here.