Over 1,200 South Koreans are behind bars in foreign countries as of the end of June this year, with the largest number of people imprisoned in Japan, government data showed Monday.



According to the official data, a total of 1,259 South Korean nationals were incarcerated in 42 different countries as of June 30. It was slightly smaller than 1,336 people reported a year earlier.



The figure also includes those detained while awaiting trial from offenses they have committed.



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Japan topped the list with 470 people being imprisoned, followed by China and the United States where 320 and 263 South Korean citizens were serving time. Those incarcerated in the three countries accounted for over 80 percent of the total.



Drug-related crimes were the single biggest reason for people being locked up with 315 people in prison for this offense alone.



Murder and fraud came next with 177 and 156 people imprisoned for these crimes, respectively, the data showed. (Yonhap)