Ten Taiwanese tourists sustained minor injuries in a traffic crash while traveling in South Korea on Wednesday, the Tourism Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in separate statements yesterday.
The five-day tour was arranged by Taipei-based SET Tour (東南旅行社).
The Seoul-based Yonhap news agency yesterday reported that the crash occurred when the tour bus was driving in Geoje City and collided with a small car entering its lane from the opposite direction.
Photo: Bloomberg
The driver of the car was killed at the scene, while some of the Taiwanese on the bus sustained minor injuries, the report said.
The Tourism Administration said that 10 Taiwanese tourists received medical treatment at a local hospital for minor injuries, adding that the travel agency ensured that each member of the group had travel and medical insurance before they left.
The bus was carrying 21 people — 19 Taiwanese, one South Korean driver and one South Korean tour guide — said Eric Chen (陳俊吉), deputy director-general of the ministry’s East Asia and Pacific Affairs, citing information from its office in Busan.
Law enforcement officers in Geoje were still investigating the causes of the crash, the ministry said, adding that the tour group continued its trip in Busan yesterday.
“We would keep in close contact with the tourists and local police department, and offer assistance if necessary,” Chen said.
Last year, 954,693 Taiwanese visited the East Asian nation, Tourism Administration data showed.
It was the third-most popular travel destination for Taiwanese last year, behind Japan and China, the data showed.
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