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Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Births out of wedlock hit record high in 2024

The proportion of births outside of marriage in South Korea reached an all-time high last year, data showed, indicating a possible shift in accepted norms. A total of 13,800 babies were born out of wedlock in 2024, accounting for a record 5.8 percent of all births in the country, according to Statistics Korea. The ratio had stayed at around 2 percent from 2014 to 2017 but steadily rose to 2.2 percent in 2018, 3.9 percent in 2022 and further to 4.7 percent in 2023. In related surveys, the share o
Sept. 15, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ drives foreign visitors’ spending on Korean culture

With “KPop Demon Hunters” becoming a global sensation, more foreign tourists in South Korea are spending on cultural experiences, a new study reveals. Shinhan Card’s Big Data Research Center analyzed credit card usage by tourists from Taiwan, the US, Japan and China in the first seven months of 2024 and 2025. The comparison shows a sharp rise in spending on Korean lifestyle experiences, K-beauty services and medical tourism. Shinhan attributes this to the growing desire among foreigners to exper
Sept. 11, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Jeju-Seoul tops world’s busiest air routes in 2024

Among the world’s busiest airport pairs, the route linking South Korea’s southern Jeju Island and its capital Seoul, via Gimpo International Airport, was the most popular globally last year, used by 13.2 million passengers, according to the International Air Transport Association. Following closely behind, the second busiest route was between Japan’s Sapporo and Tokyo Haneda airports, while the third busiest route was also in Japan, between Fukuoka and Tokyo Haneda. IATA reports that the Asia-Pa
Sept. 10, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Cases of lithium-ion battery fires increase

The National Fire Agency has introduced preventive measures to address the growing number of lithium-ion battery fires. Reported cases have been rising steadily, with 49 incidents in May, 51 in June and 67 in July. Notable recent examples include an Aug. 17 apartment fire in Seoul, suspected to have been caused by an electric scooter battery, which resulted in two deaths, one serious injury and 15 minor injuries. On Aug. 19, another apartment fire in Gyeonggi Province was sparked by a charging c
Sept. 9, 2025 - 08:00:00
More sports
[Graphic News] Son Heung-min named top sports brand star

In August 2025, soccer star Son Heung-min topped the Korean Sports Star Brand Reputation Index, reflecting his strong influence and popularity following his headline-grabbing transfer to Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC, according to the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute. Keyword analysis linked to Son highlighted terms such as “LAFC,” “uniform” and “MLS,” while related words such as “transfer,” “assist” and “victory” contributed to his strong public image. His positive sentiment
Sept. 8, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Daughter preference triples in S. Korea

South Korea has experienced a nearly threefold increase in the preference for daughters over the past 30 years. A recent survey by Gallup International, which covered 44 countries and 44,783 adults regarding their child gender preference, found that 65 percent of all respondents said the gender of their child does not matter, while 16 percent preferred sons and 15 percent preferred daughters. In South Korea, 56 percent of respondents said gender does not matter, slightly below the global average
Sept. 3, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Popular summer food prices on the rise

In Seoul, prices for popular summer dishes like naengmyeon and samgyetang continued to rise last month, reflecting ongoing food inflation. According to data from the Korea Consumer Agency, the average price of a bowl of naengmyeon, a cold noodle dish served in icy broth, increased by 154 won to 12,423 won, while samgyetang, a hot chicken soup made with a whole chicken stuffed with rice and ginseng, rose by 269 won to 17,923 won. Naengmyeon prices have climbed steadily from 10,000 won in April 20
Sept. 2, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] 8 in 10 office workers plagued by ‘office villain’

Eight in 10 office workers say there is an “office villain” who disrupts work at their office, according to a recent survey. A survey of 651 office workers conducted by recruitment platform Incruit revealed that office villains exist at all levels within organizations. Asked about the positions of office villains, with multiple answers allowed, respondents cited supervisors (50.3 percent), colleagues and junior staff (39.4 percent), executives (27.2 percent) and CEOs or company presidents (19.8
Sept. 1, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Average S. Korean CEO age falls below 60

The average age of chief executive officers at South Korea’s major companies has dropped below 60 for the first time, industry data showed, amid a generational shift in the business circle. According to data from corporate tracker Leaders Index, the average age of top officials at the nation’s 500 largest companies by sales came to 59.8 this year, down from 61.1 in 2023 and 60.3 in 2024. The decline comes as several companies have changed their top leadership. Meanwhile, only 12 of the CEOs in m
Aug. 28, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Seoul ranks as world’s 2nd most competitive city in AI

Seoul has been ranked the world’s second most competitive city in artificial intelligence, according to the “2025 Global AI Cities Index” by Counterpoint Research. The city scored 82 points, just behind Singapore’s 84. The report credits South Korean firms like SK Telecom and Naver for driving innovation in AI services, especially in health care and education. Other top-ranked cities include Singapore (No. 1), Beijing (No. 3) and Dubai (No. 4). The ranking evaluated 5,000 global initiatives, com
Aug. 26, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Over 80% plan to use consumer coupons on food

More than 80 percent of recipients plan to use government-issued “consumption coupons for livelihood recovery” to purchase food. The Rural Development Administration conducted an online survey of 1,000 consumers in Greater Seoul — including Incheon and Gyeonggi Province — from July 24 to 25, releasing the results on Aug. 11. It aimed to assess usage intentions and the expected policy impact of the coupons. According to the results, 83.5 percent of respondents planned to use the coupons to buy fo
Aug. 25, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Gen Z drives surge in value-based consumption

Value-based consumption — making purchasing decisions that reflect personal beliefs and social values — is emerging as a powerful trend among Generation Z consumers. A recent study shows that 6 in 10 Gen Z consumers are willing to pay more for products from companies that are socially responsible and meet environmental, social and governance standards. This signals a growing expectation that brands align with consumers’ ethical, environmental and social values. Surveys reveal that Gen Z actively
Aug. 21, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Four-person households drop below 3m

The number of four-person households in South Korea, traditionally seen as the standard family unit of a couple with two children, has fallen below 3 million for the first time in over nine years, underscoring the country’s persistently low birth rate. According to data from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, there were 2.99 million four-person households as of the end of June, down from over 4 million in early 2016. The figure has steadily declined each year, falling from 3.94 million in
Aug. 20, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Walking steps up as Seoulites’ favorite physical activity

According to a 2022 survey by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, walking is the most popular physical activity among Seoul residents, with 48.7 percent participation, followed by hiking, badminton and yoga. Public sports facilities are the most commonly used, with 39.7 percent of residents utilizing them. On average, residents spend about 666,000 won annually on facility use, in addition to expenses for equipment, clothing and club activities. With ample time and money, residents of the capital
Aug. 19, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Workers aged 50 and over outnumber 20s at major firms

Leading companies in South Korea have fewer employees in their 20s than those aged 50 or older on their payrolls, industry data showed, partly reflecting reduced hiring of young workers amid an economic slowdown. According to data from corporate tracker Leaders Index, the share of 20-something employees at the 124 top companies by sales was recorded at 19.8 percent as of the end of 2024, down 1.2 percentage points from a year earlier. In contrast, the proportion of workers aged 50 or older reach
Aug. 18, 2025 - 08:00:00