The number of South Korean nationals who left their home country for the purpose of permanent residence in foreign nations fell to a record low last year, government data showed Friday.

A total of 538 people applied for emigration in 2012, compared with 753 a year ago, according to the data by the foreign ministry.

South Korean emigrants have been on a steady decline since 1977 due mainly to the country's economic development. The number of South Koreans departing to live in foreign nations peaked in 1976, when the figure stood at 46,533, the report showed.

In 2010, South Korea saw the number of its emigrants fall below 1,000 for the first time. (Yonhap News)