A government report shows that the number of Internet users in South Korea surpassed 30 million last year, or 70 percent of the country's population.

The Ministry of Information and Communications said in its report that nearly 32 million South Koreans were recorded as Internet surfers last year, a 4.7 percent jump year-on-year.

The report also says the average Korean had two e-mail accounts while some 42 percent used instant message services.

By age group, youngsters from six to 19 years old posted the highest Internet usage rate at 96 percent, followed by people in their 20s at 95 percent, and thirty-somethings at 88 percent.

By purpose of Internet use, teenagers cited 'study,' people in their 20s and 30s, 'shopping, reservations and banking' while those in the 40s to 50s surfed the worldwide net for 'news and current affairs.'