Seoul (AsiaNews) About 50,000 people flocked to the biannual Korea Student and Emigration Fair in southern Seoul over the weekend. The event's success is an indicator that, for whatever reason, many South Koreans want to leave the country.
Unlike previous years though, the number of people who visited stands representing South-East Asian countries increased. Four out of 10 countries that took part in the event were in fact from that region, namely Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.
Many factors are driving South Koreans abroad, ranging from the high cost of living for students and the elderly, better job opportunities and wages and the cost of education for the young.
"Southeast Asia has emerged as a new overseas emigration destination, mainly due to cheap living costs," said Kang Ji-sun, a staff member of Korea Trade Fairs, the organiser of the emigration event. "More and more retired people want to head for South-East Asia as the money they have saved is not enough to support them in their old age in Korea."
The number of agencies involved in real estate investment also increased this year. They now can present investment opportunities in condominiums or resorts in places like Thailand following the government's change in policy in May allowing overseas real estate purchases.
And a growing number of students planning to take English courses are choosing places like Malaysia instead of the traditional destinations such as the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand because of lower costs.