Three in every 10 owners of imported cars live in a rental home, suggesting that they are mostly younger, more mobile people.

In a seminar held by the Korea Institute of Public Finance last week, Yoon Hyung-ho of the Seoul Institute said a survey of vehicle ownership of 5,600 households nationwide shows that 26.6 percent of imported car owners do not own but rent their homes.

That contrasts with only 20.3 percent who drive domestic models. The survey modifies the common belief that imported cars are only owned by the rich.

More people in their 30s and more highly educated people drive imported cars. A mere 11.3 percent of 30-somethings own domestic models, compared to 18.8 percent in the same age group who drive imports.

Among those who own Korean cars, some 41.3 percent are college graduates, but among owners of foreign cars a whopping 62.5 percent have a university education.

Some 37.9 percent of business owners and 21.9 percent of professionals own imported cars, compared to only 18.2 percent and 9 percent with Korean cars.