International flights to and from South Korea increased significantly from a year earlier in the first half on a growing number of South Koreans going overseas, the government said Friday.

In the first six months of the year, the total number of international flights coming to and from the country totaled 167,237, up 9.64 percent from the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

"International traffic surged greatly from the same period last year, reflecting the growing demand for traveling abroad," it said in a press release.

The total number of international and domestic flights here surged to a new first-half high of 284,730, growing 4.97 percent on-year on the large increase in the number of international flights.

The number of domestic flights only inched up 0.57 percent on-year to 99,699.

The ministry said the country's airline traffic will likely increase again in the second half on growing demands for both passenger and cargo services. (Yonhap News)