Korea plans to invest 410 billion won ($306.4 million) next year to develop five major tourism regions centered on regional airports, seeking to draw more international tourists to venture beyond the Seoul metropolitan area. Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il said Wednesday that the government aims to attract a combined 5 million international arrivals by 2029 to the five regions, selected last month around airports in Busan, Daegu, Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province, Yangyang in Gangwon Province and Muan in South Jeolla Province. The government hopes to turn these airports into gateways for travel beyond the capital and boost regional economies. Lee outlined the plan at a task force meeting on developing the service sector. Korea has welcomed a record 15.05 million international tourists as of Aug. 31 this year, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. More are beginning to enter through regional gateways; arrivals via regional airports and seaports accounted for 27.8 percent of the total, marking the highest share. To build on that trend, the government will use 410 bi