By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter


More than 10 million South Koreans traveled abroad last year, marking the largest annual number of people making overseas trips.
The Ministry of Justice said Tuesday that the number of Koreans who departed the country in 2004 reached 10.3 million, up 13.5 percent from 9.13 million in 2004.

The number of people going overseas rose from 5.79 million in 2000 to 6.73 million in 2001, and 7.44 million in 2002. It fell slightly to 7.38 million in 2003 due to SARS, but rose again the following year.

``The increased figure is attributable to the expanded five-day workweek, which the nation began to adopt in 2004. Korean won’s rise against the U.S. dollar is another factor that has boosted the people’s demand for overseas trips,’’ a ministry official said.

Among the travelers, the number of people heading overseas for the purpose of a vacation is estimated at more than 5.5 million, according to the ministry.

By country, China was the most popular destination, accounting for 28.7 percent of the total number of South Korean travelers, followed by Japan, with 18.3 percent.

Koreans, however, still shun Southeast Asian countries hit by a giant tsunami at the end of 2004. Thailand, for example, had 12.3 percent less Korean travelers compared to 2004.

In the meantime, the number of foreigners visiting Korea surpassed the 6 million mark last year, up by some 4.5 percent from 2004’s 5.75 million.

``Japanese visitors toped the ranking. The number of visitors from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan has been also rising thanks to the expanding `hallyu,’ the Korean pop culture boom,’’ the officials said.

According to the ministry, 72.3 percent of foreigners coming to Korea were tourists.

Following the increases, the total number of both Korean and foreign travelers who entered or departed the country was 32.6 million.

The sum has tripled during last 15 years from 1990, when it surpassed 10 million for the first time. The ministry expects the total number will reach 50 million within five or six years.

But compared to the rapid increase in the number of Koreans traveling overseas, the rise in the number of foreigners coming to Korea is small.

``The number of foreign visitors to Korea is only about 58 percent of that of Korean travelers abroad. The nation has suffered from a deficit in the tourism balance, and the loss is worried to continue,’’ the official said.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr