By Bae Keun-min
Staff Reporter


The annual number of passengers on ferries between Pusan and Japanese cities is forecast to pass the 1-million mark this year for the first time since the port city opened its international passenger terminal in 1978.




The accomplishment is attributable to the rise in the number of holidays with the implementation of the five-day workweek and ``Hallyu.’’ Hallyu, or Korean Wave, is a term for the booming popularity of South Korean movies, TV soap operas and music, mostly in Asian nations.
The Pusan Port Authority said Tuesday the number of ferry passengers amounted to 926,975 in the first 11 months of the year, forecasting the figure will hit the 1-million mark within this month.

The comparable figure stood at 290,000 in 1998; 410,000 in 1999; 530,000 in 2000; 570,000 in 2001 and 730,000 in 2002.

The number of passengers already passed last year’s total of 811,165 in October this year, raising curiosity about whether or not the landmark will be achieved.

``For the past few years, the number of passengers using the Pusan-Japan ferries grew by some 17 percent per year on average,’’ a port official said. ``But the passengers have increased by around 25 percent so far this year, compared to the corresponding period last year. Growth is expected to continue next year by a jump of about 20 percent.’’

She said factors such as the launch of bullet train services, more holidays due to the five-day workweek and Hallyu have together helped to draw the steep rising curve in 2004.

``Winter Sonata,’’ a Korean soap opera, has created sensational popularity in Asia. A rising number of Japanese travelers, especially housewives, have visited South Korea to visit some of the locations where the drama was filmed after the drama was aired by Japan’s national broadcaster, NHK.

Currently, the Pusan Port International Passenger Terminal operates 14 ships for routes to six Japanese ports _ Fukuoka, Shimonoseki, Hiroshima, Osaka, Tsushima and Kokura _ although the Pusan-Kokura route is temporarily suspended.

As for the Pusan-Fukuoka route, a one-way ticket costs 85,000 won by ship while one-way airfare costs around 170,000 won, the official said. Travel time by ferry takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes while the flight takes less than one hour.

In August only, 130,000 passengers traveled the six sea routes, hitting an all-time monthly high.

In response to the rising number of ferry passengers, the port plans to invest 2.5 billion won to renew outdated facilities in the terminal, she added.

The port will work out a port renovation plan by February and kick off construction in April to complete the project by October, she said.

kenbae@koreatimes.co.kr