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K-pop
[Graphic News] Blackpink’s Rose tops ‘world’s most beautiful faces’ list

Blackpink member Rose has claimed the top spot on TC Candler’s “100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2025.” The US-based film site announced the annual list through its official YouTube channel, which highlights female celebrities worldwide based on global fan votes. Several K-pop stars also ranked high on the list. Karina of Aespa ranked 8th and Jisoo of Blackpink was 11th. Nana, who previously placed 1st two years in a row in 2014 and 2015, was 18th. Other notable entries included Twice’s Tzuyu (20th),
Jan. 15, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Seoul dining prices rise 3-5% in 2025

The average prices of eight popular dining-out menu items in Seoul increased by roughly 3-5 percent in 2025 compared with the same period a year earlier, adding to the cost-of-living burden for consumers. Gimbap saw the steepest rise, with the average price of a single roll jumping 5.7 percent, from 3,500 won in November 2024 to 3,700 won in November 2025, dimming its image as a cheap and convenient meal option. A bowl of kalguksu rose 4.9 percent, from 9,385 won to 9,846 won, while a kimchi jji
Jan. 14, 2026 - 08:00:00
Soccer
[Graphic News] K League hits record gate revenue

The K League continued its surge in popularity for a third consecutive year, setting new records for both total gate receipts and average revenue per spectator in the 2025 season. The Korea Professional Football League announced that combined gate revenue from K League 1 and K League 2 reached 46.09 billion won ($31.4 million), the highest since official records began in 2013 and an 8.3 percent increase from 2024. Gate receipts have risen sharply over the past three years, from 34.4 billion won
Jan. 13, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Parents prioritize children’s health over academics: survey

Parents place greater importance on health than academic achievement for infants and young children, according to a survey of 1,500 parents conducted by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education. The most valued early childhood trait was “being healthy,” cited by 33.1 percent of respondents, followed by “being socially harmonious” at 26.1 percent. Other traits parents hoped their children would develop included creativity (17.5 percent), independence (15.1 percent) and emotional sensitivit
Jan. 12, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Shrimp Crackers top Korea snack sales

Nongshim’s Shrimp Crackers, known in Korean as “Saewookkang,” emerged as South Korea’s top-selling snack in the first half of 2025. According to the Food Industry Statistics system, sales of Shrimp Crackers reached 57.8 billion won, holding the top spot in snack sales for the second consecutive year. Sales dipped 1 percent from the same period in 2024 but still led all snack categories. Industry officials credited the product’s staying power to Nongshim’s collaborative marketing, including a lim
Jan. 8, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] KakaoTalk gifting service used nearly 200m times

KakaoTalk’s gifting service was used nearly 200 million times in 2025, the company said. Data showed approximately 189 million gifts were sent as of Dec. 17, translating to an average of 540,000 gifts per day. The service offers 640,000 types of gifts from some 8,700 brands. The most popular item was a Starbucks gift certificate, followed by certificates from leading food delivery app Baemin, discount retailer E-mart and beauty chain Olive Young. The gifting service was most heavily used on Nov.
Jan. 7, 2026 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Seoul named world’s 6th most competitive city

Seoul ranked sixth in the global major city competitiveness index, according to the 2025 Comprehensive City Power Ranking released by Japan’s Mori Memorial Foundation. The South Korean capital placed sixth among 48 cities surveyed. Seoul had slipped from sixth in 2017 to eighth in 2020, but has since rebounded, reclaiming the sixth position as of 2024. The institute assesses city competitiveness across six categories: economy, research and development, culture and interaction, livability, enviro
Jan. 5, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Year of the Fire Horse

The year 2026 marks the Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse (Byeong-o year). In Chinese astrology, each year is represented by one of 12 animals and one of the Five Elements (wood, fire, earth, metal or water). In 2026, the horse is paired with fire, creating the powerful Fire Horse combination, which last occurred in 1966. Fire is traditionally associated with the color red, so 2026 is often called the “Year of the Red Horse.” This combination blends the vitality and energy of the horse with the i
Jan. 1, 2026 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Jensen Huang and Michelle Kang make people of the year list

The Financial Times has unveiled its 25 People of the Year for 2025, which includes Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Korean-born American businessperson Michele Kang. Huang is leading the AI boom, with Nvidia dominating the GPU market. Its superchips, like the H100 and GH200, are shaping AI development, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman noted Huang’s long-term preparation for AI leadership. Michele Kang (Kang Yong-mi), a Korean-American entrepreneur, owns the US Women’s Football League’s Washington Spirit, E
Dec. 30, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Top overseas travel destinations for Koreans in 2025

Despite high exchange rates, demand for overseas travel among Korean travelers continues to rebound rapidly. According to the Korea Tourism Organization and Incheon International Airport Corporation, from January to October this year, Koreans logged 24,335,383 trips abroad, with 349,919 international flights operated — both up 3.2 percent from a year earlier. Digital travel platform Agoda also reported that interest in overseas travel among Koreans increased 15 percent year-on-year based on its
Dec. 29, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] 18 stunning New Year sunrise spots in Korea

The year 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, according to the Chinese zodiac. It is interpreted as a year of strong energy, new hope, vitality, forward momentum and fresh beginnings. Interest in welcoming the New Year in a special way is particularly high, as 2026 marks the first “true” Year of the Fire Horse in 60 years, since 1966. To help people decide where to greet the first sunrise of the New Year, 18 of the most beautiful sunrise spots in South Korea are recommended.
Dec. 26, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Koreans prefer staying home for year-end: survey

Four out of 10 Korean adults plan to spend the year-end holidays at home and prefer receiving cash or gift cards as presents, according to a survey of 1,000 people conducted by Lotte Members via its in-house research platform, Lime. The survey found that 43.3 percent of respondents had already made year-end plans, up 12.9 percentage points from the previous year. Younger respondents were more likely to have plans, with 54.9 percent of those in their 20s reporting arranged activities, compared wi
Dec. 25, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Seoul ranks 10th in global future-ready cities index

In an inaugural ranking assessing global cities’ readiness for the future, London topped the list, recognized for its financial dynamism, cultural vitality and global reach. Seoul ranked 10th, praised for its focus on people-centric policies and innovation. The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) released the 2025 Cities Future Readiness Index, a global benchmark evaluating 102 cities across 75 countries, including 41 WeGO members. The study was conducted in partnership with the D
Dec. 24, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Teaching remains top career choice for students

Teaching continues to be the most popular career choice among South Korean middle and high school students, despite ongoing incidents challenging teachers’ authority. High school students are increasingly interested in careers as biological scientists and researchers, rising from seventh to third place. A survey of 37,408 students, parents and teachers found that 70.5 percent of students expressed a preferred career. Satisfaction with career-related activities was highest for hands-on experience
Dec. 23, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Solitary deaths increased 7% last year

South Korea recorded nearly 4,000 solitary deaths in 2024, a 7.2 percent increase from 3,661 in 2023, amounting to 1.09 deaths per 100 overall deaths. More than 80 percent of the victims were men, with those in their 50s and 60s accounting for over 60 percent of all cases. Suicide accounted for 13.4 percent of all lonely deaths, but the proportion was higher among people in their 20s and 30s, among whom roughly half of the cases were tied to suicide. Most incidents occurred in houses (48.9 perce
Dec. 22, 2025 - 08:00:00