South Koreans flock overseas for 'revenge travel'

STORY: Armed with a suitcase in one hand and boarding passes in another, Kim Hoe-jun and his wife are more than ready for their first real holiday in more than two years.

As they take off for Honolulu, they're joining a rush of South Koreans out for so-called 'revenge travel', giving into cravings for travel after lockdowns.

"I love travelling, but I've been very stressed because I couldn't go on a trip and didn't know when I would be able to go abroad again. I've waited a long time for this."

It all began weeks ago when mandatory quarantine was scrapped for fully vaccinated travelers from most countries.

Now there's a scramble to book trips abroad that had been delayed by restrictions.

There was a brief moment last year where it was all lifted, before limits came again in December.

However, unlike last year, people now seem more eager to travel.

Recent polls showed people are less worried about catching the virus, and increasingly see its prevention as out of their hands.

A South Korean shopping channel, CJ ONSTYLE, said that in one hour on Sunday, it got some 2,800 orders for a Spain and Italy trip - amounting to more than $12 million.

That comes just days after a more-than $7 million sale for packages to Hawaii.

"In the case of last year's travel packages, which were made valid for two years, it was like we were selling expectations to customers, like dreams and hopes rather than actual travel package plans. But this time, with the exemption of quarantine for overseas arrivals, it has become possible to travel."

Kim and his wife booked their tickets to Hawaii last minute.

It's where they enjoyed their honeymoon six years ago.

They're eager - both to relive pre-2020 life, and to put the memories of lockdowns behind.

The one thing left to do is board their flight.