By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter

The number of Korean men marrying foreign nationals has tripled over the past five years, the Ministry of Gender Equality said Monday, with eight in 100 getting hitched to foreign women last year.

The number of immigrant women increased to about 130,000 this year from 111,834 in 2007 and 86,052 in 2006.

By country, China formed the largest group of foreign wives with some 52,000, including ethnic Korean Chinese. Vietnam came next with 20,942, followed by the Philippines with 7,601, Japan with 5,949 and Taiwan with 2,043.

The ministry plans to expand programs to provide Korean males with information for interracial marriages from November. The ministry will run the programs in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and regional government offices. Those who seek to marry foreigners can get information on related laws and other preparatory documentation.

kswho@koreatimes.co.kr