[Graphic News] Seoul named world’s best student city for second year

Seoul has been named the world’s best city for students for the second consecutive year in the “QS Best Student Cities 2027” ranking released by Quacquarelli Symonds, a British higher education consultancy. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul scored a perfect 100, followed by Tokyo and London. Melbourne, Munich and Sydney tied for fifth, followed by Paris, Berlin, Vienna and Zurich. Seoul first claimed the top spot last year and has now retained the title for two consecutive ye

2026-08-31 08:00:00:00

[Graphic News] S. Korea emerges as major coffee exporter

South Korea is emerging as a major coffee exporter despite relying entirely on imported beans, with growth driven by an expanding domestic market and an advanced roasting industry. The country’s coffee industry grew 35.6 percent from 2.75 trillion won ($1.9 billion) in 2018 to 3.74 trillion won in 2024, averaging 5.2 percent annual growth. The number of coffee shops surged 61.6 percent to 107,055 over the same period. Coffee-related exports reached $229.6 million in 2024, up 4.6 percent from a y

2026-08-26 08:00:00:00

[Graphic News] Korean adults fall short on healthy eating

South Korean adults scored an average of 58.6 out of 100 on the Healthy Eating Index in 2022-2024, with little change from 58.9 in 2019-2021, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The index measures how closely adults aged 19 and older follow recommended dietary guidelines. The 100-point score is based on their intake across 14 dietary categories, including vegetables, fresh fruit, sodium, saturated fat and carbohydrates, with higher scores indicating healthier eating hab

2026-08-24 08:00:00:00

[Graphic News] Foreign tourists explore Seoul’s markets, hiking trails

Foreign tourists in Seoul are increasingly visiting traditional markets and hiking trails beyond the city’s well-known attractions, a report showed. Dongdaemun Design Plaza recorded the largest year-on-year increase in foreign visitors at 12.1 percent in 2025, followed by Achasan at 11.8 percent, according to a report by the Seoul AI Foundation, a city-run research institute. Other locations also saw notable increases, with the Hongdae area and Naksan Park both recording a 10.5 percent year-on-y

2026-08-20 08:00:00:00

[Graphic News] Number of registered pets tops 3.6m in 2025: data

The number of dogs, cats and other pets registered in South Korea rose by more than 5 percent on-year last year, data showed. The figure reached 3.67 million in 2025, up 5.3 percent from a year earlier, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Newly registered animals declined 4.9 percent to some 247,000 over the cited period. In South Korea, dog owners are required to register their pets with the authorities, while cat registration remains optional, as

2026-08-18 08:00:00:00

[Graphic News] Theater ticket revenue hits record high

South Korea’s theater ticket revenue more than doubled in the first half of this year from a year earlier, driven by the popularity of high-priced, large-scale productions based on global intellectual properties. According to the Korean Performing Arts Box Office Information System, theater ticket revenue reached 75.9 billion won ($51.2 million) from January to June, the highest since records began in 2014 and more than double the 37 billion won recorded a year earlier. The surge was driven larg

2026-08-13 08:00:00:00

[Graphic News] Heat wave reshapes summer mobility

A study shows that temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius are reshaping summer mobility in South Korea, driving people away from outdoor destinations and toward air-conditioned indoor facilities. TMAP Mobility analyzed destination search data from late July to early August, compared with the same period last year. Searches in the shopping category rose 5.2 percent, led by hypermarkets, up 26.2 percent, and department stores, up 4.5 percent. Searches for indoor cultural venues also surged, wit

2026-08-12 08:00:00:00

[Graphic News] S. Korea’s fruit exports hit record high in H1: customs agency

South Korea’s fruit exports reached a record high in the first half of 2026, customs data showed, driven by global demand for premium products and improved shipping. Fruit exports during the January-June period reached $95.72 million, up 19.7 percent from a year earlier, according to the Korea Customs Service. The figure for all of 2025 stood at a record $240 million. The agency attributed the robust performance to South Korea’s strategy of offering premium products tailored to different markets

2026-08-06 08:00:00:00

[Graphic News] KBO attendance, seat occupancy hit record highs

The Korea Baseball Organization continues to draw record crowds, with the leaguewide average stadium occupancy rate reaching 86.7 percent through July 25, up from 82.2 percent last season. Average attendance rose to 17,996 fans per game from 17,101. At the current pace, total attendance is projected to reach around 12.96 million all combined, putting the league on track for a third consecutive season with more than 10 million spectators and within reach of 13 million for the first time. The Hanw

2026-08-04 08:00:07:00

[Graphic News] Eco-friendly cars account for half of new car registrations in H1

Eco-friendly vehicles accounted for half of new car registrations in South Korea in the first half of this year, driven by a sharp increase in electric vehicle sales, an auto market tracker said. It marked the first time eco-friendly vehicles accounted for more than half of new car registrations in the January-June period, according to the CarIsYou Data Research Center, which cited government data. In the first six months of the year, registrations of eco-friendly vehicles — including battery el

2026-08-03 08:00:00:00