Graphic News In series
Key issues and figures from Korean and abroad visualised.
Graphic News In series
Key issues and figures from Korean and abroad visualised.
[Graphic News] Spain tops Korean travel satisfaction
Spain has claimed the top spot in overseas travel satisfaction among Korean travelers for the first time, overtaking Switzerland, which had held the position for the past four years. Southern European countries performed strongly, while Central and Western European destinations such as Switzerland saw a decline. Meanwhile, Eastern European countries like the Czech Republic and Croatia are emerging as new favorites. According to the travel research institute ConsumerInsight, based on a survey con
Nov. 20, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Trust in Seoul’s tap water ‘Arisu’ rises
A recent report by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, based on a survey of 1,000 adults, shows growing confidence in Seoul’s tap water, Arisu. Seventy-five percent of respondents now drink tap water, up 5.4 percentage points from last year. Direct household use reached 56.3 percent, while indirect use for coffee, tea and cooking exceeded 63 percent. Over half (53.1 percent) reported drinking tap water outside the home, especially in parks (27.5 percent) and walking/exercise areas (20.3 percent).
Nov. 19, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Bicycle use grows but accidents fall
Bicycle-related accidents and deaths infrastructure in South Korea is expanding rapidly, while related accidents and deaths are slightly down, government data shows. The Interior Ministry reported that the total length of bicycle lanes reached 27,754 kilometers in 2024, up 882 km from the previous year and 13.4 percent from 2020. Public bicycle provision also rose 6.2 percent to 69,572 units, with usage climbing 2.3 percent year-on-year and 68.4 percent since 2020. Seoul accounted for the larges
Nov. 18, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] October hits temperature record in Korea
This October, South Korea experienced unseasonably warm temperatures and frequent rainfall. The nationwide average temperature reached 16.6 degrees Celsius, 2.3 C above normal, the highest in 53 years. Early and mid-October were dominated by warm, humid air from the North Pacific High, pushing averages to 20.1 C and 18.2 C, with daytime highs exceeding 30 C in Boryeong and Wando. Goheung and Seogwipo recorded their latest tropical night on Oct. 13. Late October brought colder air from continenta
Nov. 17, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Son becomes 2nd-highest-paid MLS player
The MLS Players Association revealed that Son Heung-min earns $11.15 million per year with Los Angeles FC, making him the second-highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, behind Lionel Messi of Inter Miami, who earns $20.45 million. Son’s salary, the highest among 2025 summer transfers, reflects his record $26.5 million move from Tottenham Hotspur. Since joining, he has scored 9 goals and provided 3 assists, helping LAFC reach the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Athletic noted that Son’s pay could rise
Nov. 14, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Shin Ramyun tops Korean ramyeon online interest
Nongshim’s instant noodle product Shin Ramyun recorded the highest consumer interest online in the third quarter of 2025, according to market research firm Data&Research, with 145,494 online mentions across news sites, communities and blogs. Analysts attributed the surge in interest to the Netflix animated hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” released in June. Nongshim released a line of products featuring characters from the film. Packaging for Shin Ramyun and the company’s Shrimp Crackers snack showcased
Nov. 13, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] 19 species could vanish with 4.2 C warming
A study by the National Institute of Nakdong River Biological Resources warns that if Korea’s average temperature rises by 4.2 degrees Celsius by 2080, more than two-thirds of endangered freshwater fish species -- 19 out of 28 -- could face extinction. The projection is based on SSP5, the UN IPCC’s high-emission scenario, one of several Shared Socioeconomic Pathways used to model future climate outcomes. SSP5 assumes rapid fossil fuel consumption and unchecked development, potentially tripling g
Nov. 12, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Korea ranks 6th in 2025 world power survey
With the United States at the peak of global power thanks to its unmatched economic and military capabilities, South Korea has been ranked sixth in the 2025 world power survey conducted by US News & World Report. The study was carried out in partnership with BAV Group of the WPP network and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The ranking was determined based on an equally weighted average of five attributes: leadership influence, economic influence, political influence, strong
Nov. 11, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Hyundai Motor 33rd in Time’s 2025 best firms, Nvidia at No. 1
Hyundai Motor has been ranked 33rd on Time magazine’s World’s Best Companies 2025 list, making it the only Korean company in the top 100. Time, in collaboration with German data and business information platform Statista, has compiled the list of the top 1,000 global companies annually since 2023. The 2025 ranking was led by Nvidia, Microsoft and JPMorgan Chase, reflecting the dominance of technology and financial firms. Hyundai Motor climbed an impressive 159 spots from No. 192 last year, drive
Nov. 10, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Hwang Sun-woo sets Asian record in 200-meter freestyle
South Korean swimmer Hwang Sun-woo has officially broken into the 1:43 range in the men’s 200-meter freestyle, achieving a historic milestone for Korean swimming. At the 106th National Sports Festival in Busan, Hwang touched the wall at 1:43.92, becoming only the seventh competitor in history to swim under 1:44 in the event. The exclusive list includes Paul Biedermann (Germany), Michael Phelps (US), David Popovici (Romania), Yannick Agnel (France), Luke Hobson (USA) and Danila Izotov (Russia) —
Nov. 6, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Bakery prices surge, but finances crumble
Over the past three years, the prices of popular baked goods like bagels and the infamous “salt bread” have soared, but many bakeries are seeing losses worsen. According to Korea Credit Data’s Bakery Market Trend Report, an analysis of 37,000 stores showed that bagel prices have jumped 44 percent since 2022. Sandwiches and salt bread - a salted butter roll like a croissant - followed with increases of 32 percent and 30 percent, respectively. Salt bread, now the top-selling item with a 15.7 perce
Nov. 5, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Palaces top Seoul’s autumn travel hot spots
Seoul residents and tourists are turning to the city’s royal palaces as their favorite autumn destinations, while outdoor spots like Seoul Forest, Cheonggyecheon and Namsan also remain popular for enjoying the vibrant fall scenery. According to an analysis by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and LG Uplus, which examined October social media mentions, mobile usage and consumption data through the “Seoul Tourism Data” platform, palaces emerged as Seoul’s most iconic autumn attractions. Gyeongbokg
Nov. 4, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] South Korea tops Asia’s list for food lovers
South Korea has been named the best Asian destination for culinary experiences, according to a survey by travel platform Agoda. The survey of 4,000 travelers found that 64 percent of those planning a trip to Korea cited food as their main reason for visiting, followed by Taiwan (62 percent), Thailand (55 percent), Japan (52 percent ) and Malaysia (49 percent ). Agoda said the global popularity of Korean dramas and films has raised interest in Korean cuisine. Jeju Island’s fresh seafood and black
Nov. 3, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Phu Quoc named Asia’s most beautiful island, No. 3 worldwide
Phu Quoc, one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations, has been named the most beautiful island in Asia and the third most beautiful in the world by Conde Nast Traveler. The American travel magazine’s readers ranked Phu Quoc first in Asia with a score of 95.51 out of 100, up 0.15 points from 2024, surpassing Bali for the first time. Malaysia’s Langkawi and Thailand’s Koh Samui placed second and third, respectively. Bali, last year’s winner, fell to sixth place after Boracay and Palawan in
Oct. 27, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Korea’s average wedding cost tops W21m
The average cost of a wedding in Korea has surpassed 21 million won ($14,700), according to a survey by the Korea Consumer Agency, which analyzed 504 wedding service providers across 14 regions. The national average in August was 21.6 million won, up from 20.74 million in June. Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, and Songpa-gu had the highest average at 35.09 million won, followed by other Seoul areas (25.88 million) and Gyeonggi Province (18.62 million). The Gyeongsang provinces reported the lowest cost at
Oct. 23, 2025 - 08:00:00