A group of senior executives of U.S. information technology firms are flocking to Seoul to seek business opportunities in the country amid the continuing downturn in the U.S. market.

President Meg Whitman of eBay flew into Seoul on March 27 to discuss business strategy for the Internet firm Auction and deliver a speech at Ewha Womans University.

Intel Vice President Paul Otellini also visited the country Wednesday to get briefed on the business situations of Intel Korea and the domestic market conditions.

Vice President Mery McDowell, who is in charge of the PC server division of the U.S. PC maker Compaq, will visit Seoul Monday.

Compaq's Senior Vice President Peter Blackmore will also come to Seoul Wednesday and Chairman Michael Ruettgers of EMC will visit Seoul on May 24.

Industry sources say that the recent visits to Seoul by top U.S. IT businessmen represents the heightened stature of the country in the international IT market.