The number of South Korean students going abroad for a diploma or short-term language studies has grown 32 percent over the past five years.

According to statistics the Education Ministry submitted to the National Assembly, Korean adults who went abroad to study last year totaled 251-thousand, a jump of 61-thousand more than 2006.

Among destinations overseas, the U.S. drew the most students at 30 percent, China followed with 25 percent, and Japan garnered eleven percent.

Over 60 percent traveled overseas to earn a diploma while the rest went abroad for language studies.