Chinese Woman Becomes 8 Millionth Visitor to Korea

The annual number of foreign visitors to Korea has surpassed 8 million for the first time.

Chinese tourist Sun Renzhou was greeted as the 8 millionth visitor when she arrived at Incheon International Airport from Shanghai on an Asiana Airlines flight on Monday.

As she is an assistant manager in charge of business with Korea at a German chemical products company in China, she visits a few times a year, Sun said. She cited the trendy fashions, food, and friendly people as Korea's top attractions.

Sun was awarded a round-trip plane ticket from Incheon to Shanghai, a certificate for a free stay at the Hotel Shilla in Seoul, and a digital camera.

The annual number of foreign visitors has been on rise, reaching 5 million in 2000, 6.02 million in 2005, and 7.81 million last year. The Korea Tourism Organization estimates the figure will hit 8.7 million this year.