[Anchor]

It is time for our "Friendly Economy" segment with reporter Han Jiyeon. Han, today, on August 18, you are talking about same-day travel products, right?

[Reporter]

Travel agencies have been consecutively launching same-day tour packages priced anywhere from the 10,000-won range to the 40,000-won range recently.

There are many times when heavy accommodation costs make people hesitate to travel.

Tapping into that gap, travel agencies are intentionally pushing same-day products.

In the case of one travel agency, they introduced a 10,000-won-range same-day tour that bundles three to four local tourist attractions.

There is a reason why these packages are so cheap.

With local government subsidies, they are being sold at prices discounted by up to 50 to 70 percent off regular prices.

This trend is also expanding to overseas travel.

Another travel agency released a same-day package to Tsushima Island by ferry from Busan priced at 49,000 won.

Looking at the itinerary, it does not just stop at Tsushima; travelers sightsee along the coastal scenery, stop by a beach, and even shop at a local mart.

And the schedule brings travelers back to Busan before 6:00 PM on the same day.

With prices rising for everything these days, it might be a good idea to consider these kinds of products when traveling feels burdensome.

[Anchor]

Domestic travel is often done as a day trip in reality, right?

[Reporter]

Looking at domestic travel in the first quarter of this year, total travel increased by 17 percent compared to last year, with same-day travel accounting for a massive 64 percent.

When checking why there are so many day trips, the number one reason cited for cost burdens in this summer's vacation survey was "surges in peak-season accommodation rates."

Saving just on lodging makes a noticeable difference.

Based on last year, overnight trips averaged over 220,000 won per trip, whereas same-day trips were under 70,000 won at 69,000 won.

Overnight trips cost more than three times as much.

Consequently, the most common response to cut costs was "choosing a nearby travel destination."

The increase in travelers to Japan is in the same context.

In the first quarter of this year, domestic visitors to Japan surged by 47 percent compared to the same period in 2019.

This is analyzed as a combination of the weak yen and the ability to take short trips.

[Anchor]

What kind of bank account is this?

[Reporter]

It is an attachment-prevention account that protects the minimum cost of living even if a bank account is frozen due to debt.

It has surpassed 1.3 million subscribers.

The attachment-prevention account is also commonly known as the "Happiness Guardian Account."

It is a system introduced targeting welfare benefit recipients, such as basic livelihood security recipients and pension recipients.

Welfare benefits and pensions are legally protected from attachment, but when deposited into a regular account, they mix with other funds making it impossible for banks to distinguish them, so a dedicated account was created entirely separate.

As of the end of June, subscribers reached 1.3 million, with over 360,000 new subscriptions made just in the first half of this year, which is 2.5 times more than the entirety of last year.

With only about 20,000 terminations, far more people are opening new accounts.

However, because this account could only be used by some welfare benefit recipients, regular office workers and self-employed individuals were left out.

To fill this blind spot, a new "Livelihood Expense Account" was launched on February 1 of this year.

It can be opened by anyone, one per person, at all financial institutions nationwide.

Funds held in this account up to 2.5 million won per month cannot be attached under any circumstances.

Originally, securing livelihood funds often required complicated legal battles.

However, this account requires no cumbersome court procedures.

One thing to keep in mind is that you cannot convert your currently used account into a livelihood expense account.

You must open a brand new one.

If you receive your salary into this newly opened account, creditors cannot touch up to 2.5 million won.

Additionally, wages receive greater protection than before.

The minimum wage threshold exempt from attachment has been raised from 1.85 million won to 2.5 million won per month.

Insurance payouts have similarly seen increased protection limits.

Death benefits rose from 10 million won to 15 million won, and maturity cancellation refunds increased from 1.5 million won to 2.5 million won.