Super Junior voted `top Korean star to travel with` in survey

Korean boy band Super Junior has been named the top "hallyu (Korean Wave)" star to travel with to Korea.

The Korea Tourism Organization announced this Monday after completing a survey on the Korean Wave on foreigners at its Visit Korea website. Throughout the event held between May 11 and May 31, 12,085 participants from 102 countries worldwide logged on to VisitKorea to vote for their favorite Korean travel buddy.

In Europe alone, 2,158 people from 35 countries took part in the survey, reflecting K-pop fever that has recently swept France after Korean talent agency SM Entertainment held concerts in Paris.

Thirty Korean stars were selected through a survey on Facebook and Twitter and major portal sites in a number of languages. The tourist organization asked seven questions including “Which Korean star do you want to travel with,” What sector are you interest in,” and "What experience do you want to have with a Korean star?”

Top-ranked Super Junior received the most votes from China and Southeast Asia, and also gained many votes from European countries including France and Spain. Big Bang claimed the second spot and JYJ the third.

Actor Bae Yong-jun was selected the No. 1 Korean star to travel with in Japan, reflecting the high popularity of Korean dramas in that country.

On “What experience do you want to have with a Korean star,” many voted for visiting Korea’s tourist attractions and the star’s recommended places, while experiencing traditional Korean culture and going to concerts, apparently showing that interest in the Korean Wave has widened to Korean culture and tourist attractions.

Je Sang-won, head of overseas travel team at the tourist organization, said, “The survey has significant meaning in that it was the first of its kind. Based on the results, we will devise various hallyu marketing plans to attract more foreigners to Korea."

jaeyuna@donga.com