The popularity of OpenAI's artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT, has surged in South Korea, with the number of monthly users of its mobile app surpassing 1 million for the first time last month. User numbers rose by 30 percent in May, reaching an estimated 1,273,922, compared to 980,318 in April, according to statistics from the mobile big data company IGAWorks released Tuesday. This follows a steady increase from 697,830 in February to 880,364 in March. "The mobile app version i

Technology June 11, 2024

South Korea's level of gender equality improved slightly in 2022, although women's presence in leadership roles and political representation remains low, according to government data released on Friday. The National Gender Equality Index reached 65.7 out of 100 in 2022, marking a 0.2-point increase from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. The index, which gauges the degree of equality between women and men in various areas, has been announced ann

Social Affairs June 7, 2024

Convenience stores in South Korea these days are in a league of their own. Along with everyday essentials and quick bites, they also sell fried chicken, fresh fruit, liquor and some expensive items like smartwatches, tires and even cars. Now, they are selling the sought-after safe-haven asset for investors: gold. Retail industry insiders attribute convenience stores’ rise as a place to buy gold to their accessibility and trustworthiness the nationwide retail franchises have established as

Consumer June 4, 2024

Red beans, rice grains, dried pollack, a pig's head and scissors -- this might seem like a random collection of items. But many Koreans would see the connection between them. They are items used in traditional superstitious practices here, either to protect against bad luck or to invite good fortune. The level to which people adhere to rituals involving these items or believe in the superstitions behind them varies greatly. Often, even those who do maintain such superstitious practices say

Hashtag Korea June 4, 2024

"K-everything: The rise and rise of Korean culture" (The Guardian) "The art market: Korean cool" (Financial Times) "Hallyu: 'Cool Korea' and the art of soft power" (Le Monde Diplomatique) From music and films to food, art and fashion, the world is falling in love with everything South Korean, according to overseas media reports. In their effort to understand this new object of global fascination, media outlets have been paying attention to what they ca

Hashtag Korea June 3, 2024

Over one in 10 households bought at least one lottery ticket during the first quarter of this year, marking the highest first-quarter percentage in the last five years -- over 10 percent -- data showed Thursday. These households spent on average 7,300 won ($5.31) on lotto tickets during the first quarter of 2024, according to data presented by Statistics Korea. The number of households that purchased any type of ticket -- including traditional drawing, scratch-off, one-off jackpot or annuity p

Social Affairs May 30, 2024

If your company were to adapt a four-day workweek, which day would you prefer to be the new day off: Monday or Friday to lengthen your weekend, or Wednesday to split the workweek in half? A recent online survey of South Korea's workers showed that Wednesday was preferred by the largest share of respondents. According to the poll, conducted by local portal site Nate, which is operated by SK Communications, 40 percent of the 11,120 respondents, or 4,528 individuals, chose to take a day off in

Social Affairs May 29, 2024

Korea’s top 30 conglomerates have doubled the number of artificial intelligence specialists in executive management and board of director positions in the space of a year, shows data released Tuesday. According to Leaders Index, a local business analysis and research center, which reviewed first-quarter regulatory filings submitted by 295 companies from the 30 business groups, there are now 187 executive-level managers specializing in AI. This figure marks a significant increase from the f

Companies May 28, 2024

Summer in South Korea this year is expected to be hotter than usual, with similar or more heavy rainfall than the average, the Korea Meteorological Administration said on Thursday. "Amid seeing the frequent occurrences of abnormal weather worldwide, such as heat waves exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in Southeast Asia and floods in the United Arab Emirates, Korea is also forecast to have hotter temperatures (this summer) than in the last 30 years’ average, with the possibility of more rai

Social Affairs May 23, 2024

Three celebrities known for their involvement in the environmental movement -- actor Kim Suk-hoon, writer Lee Seul-a and Ko Kum-sook, co-founder of zero-waste shop Almang Market -- discussed the small changes they have made to combat climate change at the H.eco Forum held at Some Sevit, Seoul, on Wednesday. The annual forum, held under the theme, “The Transition: Blue, Clean and Green,” featured the celebrities sharing their experiences during a special panel session titled, &ldq

Social Affairs May 22, 2024

Nobuo Tanaka, former executive director of the International Energy Agency, emphasized the importance of hydrogen and nuclear energy for both Japan and South Korea to address global energy and climate crises, during his keynote speech at the H.eco Forum held in Seoul on Wednesday. "Japan and Korea, I definitely think, can be winners by using clean hydrogen as well as nuclear power," Tanaka said during his keynote speech at the annual forum organized by Herald Media Group. Tanaka, who c

Social Affairs May 22, 2024

In a move to protect bees and promote a healthier urban environment, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Monday a ban on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides in parks and on roadside trees. While the correlation between neonicotinoid pesticides and bee deaths is still under investigation, the Seoul Metropolitan Government cited the potential risks to the environment for its decision to switch to less harmful alternatives. “We will minimize the use of chemical pesticides and expand e

Social Affairs May 20, 2024

Shim Yeon-sun, 40, was surprised by her mother's behavior during her brother’s formal engagement dinner, where her family met the bride-to-be's family for the first time to discuss wedding plans. "My mother, who presented herself modestly at my 'sanggyeonnye' by saying 'My daughter still has a lot to learn,' seemed like a completely different person that day," she said. Sangyeonnye is a pre-wedding meeting at which the families of the bride and groom

Hashtag Korea May 19, 2024

Park Ji-won, 34, often hears comments like "It's refreshing to see a shih tzu. They seem so rare these days," while walking her 5-year-old dog. The recurring remarks prompted her to ponder a question: "During my elementary school years, shih tzus were everywhere. Where have all the shih tzus gone?" she said. "Even when I encounter them occasionally, they're usually very old." Park's observation reflects a shift in pet preferences in South Korea over

Hashtag Korea May 15, 2024

South Korean food giant Samyang Roundsquare, formerly Samyang Foods Group, surprised a young Texas girl who went viral on TikTok after receiving a multi-pack of Buldak Carbonara Ramen as a birthday gift. Adalynn Sofia's emotional reaction to receiving the spicy noodles garnered nearly 100 million views and 10 million likes on the platform since it was posted in early April. As a gesture of appreciation, Samyang Roundsquare organized a surprise event for the girl at her home. A bright pink v

Consumer May 14, 2024