Overseas card spending by South Koreans hit $3.3 billion in January-March, the highest figure recorded for the first quarter, government data showed Sunday.

According to the Bank of Korea, overseas spending – using credit cards, debit cards and direct payment cards -- in the first three months this year rose 2.7 percent year-on-year from $3.2 billion a year earlier.

The number of Koreans who traveled overseas jumped 18.3 percent to 5.56 million in the first quarter from a year earlier, according to data by the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute.

The BOK attributed the increased travelers to the winter break and the long Lunar New Year’s holiday this year.