The number of South Koreans wanting to emigrate to other countries has increased. According to statistics compiled by the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry, more than 15 thousand people submitted applications for emigration last year. The number is an increase of almost 21 percent over the previous year.

The most popular destination was Canada at about 9,300 or 61 percent of total applications. Next in line were the United States at 5,200, Australia at four hundred, and New Zealand at about 350.

A ministry official said the reason why Canada has emerged as the most popular destination mainly is because the country opened an independent emigration office in Seoul last October.

But, people applying for emigration to the United States is decreasing in numbers due to strict procedures.

As for reasons for emigration, 54 percent cited employment.

Meanwhile, the number of South Koreans returning home from foreign countries or withdrawing their applications for emigration last year stood at about 4,400. That's about eight percent lower than the preceding year.