Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
7 out of 10 Koreans to travel during Chuseok holidays: survey
The departure area of Incheon International Airport bustles with passengers during the peak summer season in Incheon, July 24. Yonhap
By Kim Hyun-bin
By Kim Hyun-bin
Over 70 percent of Koreans are planning to go on a trip during the Chuseok holiday as they will have a six-day extended break, according to a survey, Friday,
This year's Chuseok holiday will run from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, but the government decided to designate Oct. 2 as a temporary holiday, which effectively makes it a bridge to Oct. 3, which is National Foundation Day.
Yeogi Eottae, a local booking platform for lodging, transportation and leisure activities, conducted a survey interviewing 1,000 users of its application from Sept. 1 to 3 and found 71.5 percent of respondents plan to travel during this holiday period. With the designation of the temporary holiday, 93 percent of all respondents said their desire to travel increased.
Among them, 88.3 percent are planning domestic travel, and 11.7 percent are seeking to travel abroad. Despite the recent increase in demand for international travel, the preference for domestic travel is higher during the Chuseok holiday as they have to attend family gatherings, and as international travel is a financial burden during the peak holiday season.
Respondents planning domestic travel considered an average duration of 2.7 days for their trips, which accounts for half of the holiday period. The average travel expenses, including transportation and accommodation, for one person are estimated at 218,000 won ($163.5).
"While international travel has been booming recently, it appears that there will be a higher demand for domestic travel during the Chuseok holiday. It seems that the designation of the temporary public holiday has indeed boosted the desire to travel," said an official of Yeogi Eottae.