Two private research firms analyzed social big data across 255 local governments; Gangneung recognized as a multi-faceted tourism destination blending culture, nature and lifestyle
Gangneung has joined Gyeongju and Seogwipo as one of the top three cities in a tourism competitiveness assessment.
The city earned the distinction in the "Korea Tourism City Competitiveness Assessment," a big data-based study conducted by two private research institutions, including Yanolja Research.
According to the social big data analysis released Wednesday, the two institutions collected and analyzed big data generated over the past year from social media, blogs, online reviews and video comments. Gangneung ranked ninth overall — including metropolitan cities such as Seoul and Busan — third among basic local governments and first within Gangwon Province.
The assessment covered 29,336 tourist attractions across 255 administrative districts nationwide, spanning both metropolitan and basic local governments.
In the assessment, Gangneung was recognized as a well-rounded tourism destination combining culture, nature and everyday life. The city's strengths include year-round festivals such as the Gangneung Danoje and the coffee festival, natural attractions along the Jumunjin, Gyeongpo and Jeongdongjin beaches, and locally distinctive lifestyle and experiential offerings such as Jungang and Seongnam markets and the Anmok Coffee Street.
Gangneung had also received the highest rating among 151 basic local governments in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's "2025 Regional Tourism Development Index."
Eom Geum-mun, head of the city's tourism policy division, said the city would use the results to develop additional policies aimed at extending tourists' stays and spreading awareness of attractions throughout the city. "We will continue to strengthen Gangneung's unique tourism competitiveness with the goal of breaking into the world's top 100 tourist cities," he said.
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