Do you have any plans to travel abroad? International travel holds a strong, intrinsic power that thrills one at the mere thought of exploring other countries. Experiencing rich cultures, trying exotic foods, and even simply roaming the streets feel exciting and new in foreign countries. Perhaps that is why Korean are in love with overseas travel. According to Statistics Korea, the number of international travelers peaked at 28.71 million in 2019. Considering Korea’s total population of around 51 million, it is shocking that more than half the people have traveled to another country. The number of travelers dropped dramatically in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, but the number is recovering rapidly. In 2022, 6.55 million people traveled to other countries, and the Bookook Securities Research Center expects 20.1 million overseas travelers this year.  
  Then, what countries do people travel to a lot? Before COVID-19, the top 10 popular places to travel were Japan, China, Vietnam, the United States, the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Guam, and Macau. However, in 2022, countries that deployed traveling restrictions got pushed out of the ranking, and countries like Mongolia, Germany, and Turkey entered the top 10. Interestingly, Japan is still the most popular country for international traveling. KPR Insight Tree’s big data analysis on overseas travel shows Japan was the most popular destination. Japan was mentioned 51,965 times in the fourth quarter of 2022, but it increased to 87,175 times in the first quarter of this year. The reasons for its popularity are geographical proximity and relatively cheaper traveling expenses than other countries.   
  It is important to note that people are also indirectly experiencing foreign countries through content on video platforms. Many YouTubers such as Pani Bottle and Kwaktube gained popularity through their videos on traveling to distant countries that Koreans usually do not visit. Their videos received millions of views during the pandemic, when people could not travel freely, and subscribers increased profoundly. Yet, even after the pandemic, the popularity of traveling content is still not at its height. Now, broadcast networks and other over-the-top (OTT) platforms are also making travel-related content.   
  Unfortunately, domestic travel is not very popular in contrast to international travel. People are not traveling inside the country because of unappealing tourist attractions and the high costs of the sights. Even the famous tourist attractions look similar and have limited activities to experience. In addition, tourist spots charge unnecessarily high prices for accommodation and food. Consequently, people would rather travel to foreign countries with more new things to experience and with acceptable charges. In addressing this problem, the government is introducing many different measures to activate domestic tourism. For example, the government is trying to use 3,300 islands in the country as a resource for tourism.
  Still, the rise in international travel signifies that people are wanting new experiences and some fun. They are no longer content with simply staying within their own country. Instead, they seek to broaden their horizons and immerse themselves in diverse cultures. This trend exemplifies the dynamic spirit of the Korean people and the remarkable transformation they have undergone in the last few decades.