In line with the increasing number of students and backpackers going abroad for education or sightseeing, the number of such travelers reported missing is also on the ascent. The Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry said Friday it had received 109 reports of missing Koreans overseas in 2000 and more than 100 such reports lats last year. Short-term travelers, such as students on foreign language courses and backpackers, accounted for 70-80 percent of those reported missing. Ministry officials said...most of the reports came from Britain, France, Italy, Thailand and the Philippines. A Seoul-based company specializing in backpacker travel said applications to go overseas on such low-budget trips increased from 60 in 2000, to 150 last year, and the figure is expected to increase to 200 this year. The firm advised those preparing for a short-term overseas trip to obtain sufficient information about the customs, accommodations, communication and transportation of the country they intend to visit prior to departure.