31 million local exits and entries

The Korea Customs Service said yesterday that in 2006 Koreans and foreigners entered or left Korea more than 31 million times, the first time that number was over 30 million.
In 2003, the most recent year cited by the customs agency, there were just under 21 million travelers.
The agency attributed the rise to a growing number of travelers and students hoping to take advantage of the strong won, and also to increased business trips by those seeking investment opportunities overseas.
The customs officials also noted that they inspected about 600,000 pieces of carry-on luggage in 2006, down 19 percent from 2003.
Officials seized nearly 284,000 of those pieces for various reasons, including exceeding duty limits. The number of seized items represented a 48-percent jump from 2003.
The types of goods seized also showed a drastic change from 2003. Back then, whiskey accounted for almost half of all seized items, and fashion items combined accounted for less than whiskey.
But last year, purses alone made up 40 percent of seized items at customs, followed by clothes and watches combined for 36 percent. In contrast, whiskey dropped to 17 percent.
Golf clubs also grew less popular among incoming travelers because of the end of a tax break for golfing in 2004.

By Yoo Jee-ho Staff Writer [jeeho@joongang.co.kr]