[Graphic News] The toll of the Israel-Hamas war in numbers

The latest Israel-Hamas war has quickly become the deadliest and most destructive of the five wars fought between the sides since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 from the Palestinian Authority. Fighting erupted Oct. 7 when Hamas carried out a bloody attack in southern Israel. Since then, Israel has relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes that have wrought unprecedented destruction, flattening entire neighborhoods. Here’s a look in numbers at the toll of the Israe

World NewsNov. 1, 2023

[Graphic News] S. Korea’s malaria cases reach highest level in 12 years

The number of malaria cases has been rising sharply in South Korea this year, reaching the highest level in 12 years, health authorities said. A total of 719 cases of the mosquito-borne disease were confirmed from January to the second week of October, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. It is the first time that the annual malaria cases have topped the 700 level in a single year since 2011, when the country reported 826 patients. Out of the total cases for this year, 6

Social AffairsOct. 31, 2023

[Graphic News] Luxury goods imports from China to N. Korea increased over past 3 years: data

North Korea’s imports of luxury goods from China reached $28.5 million last year, despite pandemic border control and international sanctions, data from China’s customs office showed. Except for a temporary dip during the pandemic in 2021, the aggregate value of luxury goods imported from China to North Korea showed an upward trend, having risen from $22.8 million in 2020 to $40.6 million as of July 2023, according to the data from the General Administration of Customs of the People&

North KoreaOct. 31, 2023

[Graphic News] Gaza running out of water

　The World Health Organization has repeated its warnings of the dire situation in the Gaza Strip, pointing to a particularly precarious water shortage, as the densely populated Palestinian territory has been under siege. 　The WHO estimates that there are only 3 liters of water per person per day left, whereas the minimum requirement per person is 15 liters, for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene. 　Hardly anyone has taken a proper shower or bath there in recent weeks, he said. With about 1

World NewsOct. 27, 2023

[Graphic News] Senior citizens make up 18.4% of population

People aged 65 and older took up 18.4 percent of South Korea’s population this year, reflecting the rapidly aging demographic of Asia’s No. 4 economy, data showed. The number of older adults stood at 9.5 million out of the country’s 51.5 million population this year, according to the data from Statistics Korea. South Korea is set to become a “superaged society” in 2025, in which the age group takes up 20 percent of the population. The number is expected to continue

Social AffairsOct. 26, 2023

[Graphic News] Cancer, heart disease among major causes of death in 2022

Cancer and heart diseases were among the major causes of death for South Koreans in 2022, data showed, with the total number of deaths hitting a new record. Last year, the total number of deaths reported in the country came to 372,939, up 17.4 percent from a year earlier, according to Statistics Korea. It was the highest figure since the agency began compiling such data in 1983. The agency said 727.6 deaths were reported per 100,000 South Koreans last year. Cancer was the major cause of death, t

Social AffairsOct. 25, 2023

[Graphic News] Over 2,200 aging applicants for reunions of separated families died this year: data

More than 2,200 South Koreans died in the first eight months of this year without having a chance to reunite with their family members in North Korea after being separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, government data showed. A total of 2,226 people passed away in the January-August period among around 133,700 applicants who had registered with the government for family reunion events, according to the data from the Unification Ministry. The number of surviving people came to 40,408 as of end-Augus

North KoreaOct. 24, 2023

[Graphic News] Daily card spending up 8.4% in H1 amid post-pandemic recovery

Daily card spending in South Korea rose 8.4 percent in the first half from a year earlier on the back of the post-pandemic economic recovery, central bank data showed. Card holders spent an average 3.3 trillion won ($2.47 billion) per day in the January-June period, compared with 3 trillion won the previous year, according to data from the Bank of Korea. Credit card spending rose 8.8 percent on-year to a daily average of 2.56 trillion won, led by use on e-commerce platforms. Credit card use for

ConsumerOct. 23, 2023

[Graphic News] Dried seaweed exports up 16% this year: data

South Korea’s exports of the dried seaweed gim grew 16 percent on-year during the first eight months of 2023 on solid overseas demand in line with the popularity of Korean food and culture, the Oceans Ministry said. Outbound shipments of gim came to $540.68 million in the January-August period, up from $466.1 million from a year earlier, according to data from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. In terms of volume, the country sold 24,862 tons of gim products during the cited period, up

MarketOct. 20, 2023

[Graphic News] Global survey shows two-thirds of population favors solar power

More than two-thirds of the world’s population favors solar energy, five times more than public support for fossil fuels, a global poll has found. The survey, conducted by Glocalities in collaboration with advocacy groups Global Citizen and The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, was based on interviews with more than 21,000 people in 21 countries between January and June. The countries included Australia, Brazil, China, India, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey

World NewsOct. 19, 2023

[Graphic News] 54% of Koreans oppose allowing pets at national cemeteries: poll

More than half of South Koreans were opposed to allowing people to bring their pets to national cemeteries despite the country’s growing number of dog and cat owners, a poll showed. In the poll of 1,005 adults aged 19-69, 54 percent said they were against allowing pets at national cemeteries, while 32.9 percent said they are for such visits if the pets are in carriers. Only 12.8 percent said they approve of allowing pets at national cemeteries in the poll commissioned by the Veterans Minis

Social AffairsOct. 18, 2023

[Graphic News] Smartphone shipments in S. Korean market fell 13.2% in Q2

Smartphone shipments within the domestic market declined over 13 percent on-year in the second quarter, recent data showed, as demand remained sluggish due to the economic downturn with high interest rates and inflation. The total number of smartphones shipped came to approximately 2.8 million units for the April-June period, down 13.2 percent from a year ago, as “demand for smartphones continued to slow down amid economic uncertainties,” the Korea branch of International Data Corpor

IndustryOct. 17, 2023

[Graphic News] Heat-related deaths quadruple on-year in 2023

The number of heat-related deaths nearly quadrupled on-year in 2023 as South Korea was struck by heat wave conditions, the disease control agency said. A total of 32 people were presumed to have died of heat-related illnesses this year as of Sept. 29, versus 9 last year, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. This year’s figure is the highest since 2018, when the country reported 48 heat-related deaths. South Korea began compiling such data in 2011. The country was g

Social AffairsOct. 10, 2023

[Graphic News] Ratio of women execs at major firms more than doubles over 5 years

The share of female executives at South Korea’s major firms has more than doubled over the past five years, a corporate tracker said. A total of 265 firms belonging to the country’s top 30 business groups had a combined 726 women executives as of end-March, accounting for 6.9 percent of their total 10,561 C-suite positions, according to the Leaders Index. The proportion was up 3.7 percentage points from five years earlier, with the number rising by 455. The companies cover the conglo

Social AffairsOct. 6, 2023

[Graphic News] Police carried out over 7,000 protection measures for stalking victims last year

Police carried out a total of 7,091 protection measures for victims of stalking last year, National Police Agency data showed. This equals to an average of 19.4 protection measures per day, according to the report submitted to Rep. Jeon Bong-min of the People Power Party. The number of protection measures carried out for stalking victims has been on the rise. A total of 1,428 protection measures were carried out in 2021, while the figure reached 3,754 in the first half of this year alone, the re

Social AffairsOct. 5, 2023

[Graphic News] Over half of Koreans want continuous strengthening of alliance with US: poll

More than half of South Koreans are of the opinion that the nation’s alliance with the United States should continue to be strengthened, a poll showed. In the poll of 1,238 people aged 18 and older conducted by Gallup Korea from Sept. 4-8, 91.6 percent said the bilateral alliance is important and the majority, 53.7 percent, responded that it should be continuously strengthened. Another 24.9 percent said the alliance should be continuously maintained, whereas only 18.1 percent said it shoul

Social AffairsOct. 4, 2023

[Graphic News] 8 out of 10 expats ‘satisfied’ with life in S. Korea

Eight out of 10 expats in South Korea said they were “satisfied” with their life here, but around 20 percent of foreigners here experienced discrimination, a survey showed. Around 40.8 percent of the respondents said they were “extremely satisfied” with their life in South Korea, while another batch of 39.6 percent replied they were “a little satisfied,” according to the survey carried out by Statistics Korea. The survey was carried out on 25,000 expats last y

Social AffairsSept. 28, 2023

[Graphic News] S. Korea’s overseas construction orders rise 20%

Korean construction companies’ overseas orders increased 20 percent in the January to August period from a year earlier to exceed $20 billion, industry data showed. Local builders obtained $21.9 billion in overseas orders between January and August, up from $18.3 billion over the same period last year, according to the International Contractors Association of Korea. It marks the first time that the builders have received overseas projects worth over $20 billion in the first eight months of

IndustrySept. 27, 2023

[Graphic News] Imports of Japanese seafood dip for 5th month in Aug.

South Korean imports of Japanese seafood fell for the fifth consecutive month in August on concerns over Japan’s release of treated radioactive water, government data showed. Seoul imported $7.81 million worth of fishery products from the neighboring country last month, down 34.8 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. August posted the largest on-year decline this year, and last month’s import value was the smallest monthly figure in two ye

MarketSept. 26, 2023

[Graphic News] Death toll from industrial disasters falls nearly 10% during H1

The number of deaths caused by serious industrial accidents at workplaces in the first half of the year dropped nearly 10 percent from a year ago, a government report said. A total of 289 workers died from January to June, marking a drop of 9.1 percent, or 29 people, from 318 on-duty deaths of workers in the previous year, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The number of industrial accident cases also declined 5.6 percent, or 17 cases, compared to a year ago, recording 284 cases

Social AffairsSept. 25, 2023