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Culture
[Graphic News] 6 out of 10 Koreans prefer in-person cultural events

Sixty percent of surveyed Koreans prefer attending movies or cultural events in person, and they spend an average of 187,000 won ($127) per month on leisure activities, according to a recent survey. The study, conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, surveyed Korean nationals’ attendance at cultural and arts events. It found that 63 percent of respondents engage in these activities in nonvirtual formats. The rate of in-person attendance at cultural events has steadily increased
22 hour ago
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Higher pay tops Korean workers’ 2025 wishlist

Higher wages are the top priority for Korean employees in the new year, according to a report by Embrain Public. The survey, which polled 1,000 salaried employees over the age of 19, was commissioned by Workplace Gapjil 119, a group of labor experts and lawyers focused on protecting employees’ rights and eliminating workplace abuse. The report reveals that 77.7 percent of respondents prioritized higher pay, followed by 25.8 percent who desired less intense work or reduced work hours. Additionall
Jan. 14, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Seoul 6th in global city competitiveness in Japanese ranking

South Korea’s capital city, Seoul, has ranked sixth on the Global Power City Index, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The annual ranking, compiled by Japan’s Mori Memorial Foundation, evaluates 48 major global cities based on six categories: Economy, research and development, cultural interaction, livability, environment and accessibility. The evaluation uses 26 criteria and 70 indicators to determine each city’s overall competitiveness. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon had initially aimed t
Jan. 13, 2025 - 08:00:02
Soccer
[Graphic News] Son, named among top left wingers, extends his stay

Son Heung-min has been recognized as one of the world’s top left wingers and will continue his journey with Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League for another year. Soccer media outlet Score90 released its rankings of the top five players worldwide for each position on Jan. 1, placing Son fifth in his primary position as a left winger. He ranked behind Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid) in the top spot, followed in order by Raphinha (FC Barcelona), Luis Diaz (Liverpool) and Nico Williams (At
Jan. 9, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Number of singles over 40 jumps sixfold in 2 decades

The proportion of unmarried individuals in their 40s grew 6.7 times for men and 5.7 times for women in 2020 compared to 20 years earlier, a government report showed, underscoring the trend of marrying later or not at all, which some blame for South Korea’s ultralow birth rate. The growing trend is attributed to people marrying later and a rise in lifelong singlehood, according to the annual social report by Statistics Korea. The report offers insights into the status of Korean society and key tr
Jan. 8, 2025 - 10:33:26
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Average approval ratings of recent US presidents

The passing of former US President Jimmy Carter on Dec. 29, at the age of 100, has sparked reflection on his legacy in diplomacy and humanitarian work. While widely celebrated for his efforts after leaving office, Carter’s presidency faced significant challenges, earning him an average approval rating of 45.5 percent. This ranks the second-lowest among post-World War II presidents, just above Harry Truman’s 45.4 percent. Donald Trump recorded the lowest first-term average at 41.1 percent. In sta
Jan. 7, 2025 - 08:00:01
Health
[Graphic News] Number of influenza patients surge 136%

The number of influenza patients is rapidly increasing, particularly among adolescents, marking the largest outbreak since 2016. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the influenza-like illness, or ILI, rate — a measure of suspected flu patients among 1,000 outpatients at 300 sample monitoring medical institutions nationwide — surged to 73.9 between Dec. 22 and 28 last year. The figure reflects a dramatic 136 percent rise from the previous week’s rate of 31.3 per 1,000 pe
Jan. 6, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Year of the Blue Snake

The year 2025 is recognized as the Year of the Blue Snake in the Chinese zodiac. Each year, one of the 12 zodiac animals is paired with an element from the Chinese Five Elements theory (wood, fire, earth, metal and water). For 2025, the associated element is wood, which is traditionally linked to the color blue. This connection is why 2025 is referred to as the Year of the Blue Snake.
Jan. 2, 2025 - 08:00:03
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Generational divide at impeachment rallies stronger among women

On Dec. 14 at 4 p.m., during the vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol, women from different age groups made the most prominent presence at rallies in Yeouido and Gwanghwamun, according to living population statistics analyzed by Yonhap News Agency. The Seoul Metropolitan Government's living population statistics, developed in collaboration with KT, utilize public big data and telecommunications data to estimate the number of people in specific areas of Seoul at particul
Dec. 27, 2024 - 17:30:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Idiom of the year

The four-character idiom “Doryangbalho”, meaning "the rampant abuse of power and influence," was chosen as the idiom of the year. College professors highlighted their concerns, criticizing the misuse of authority for personal gain instead of serving the public good. According to a nationwide survey conducted by The Kyosu Sinmun from Nov. 25 to Dec. 2 among 1,086 professors, “Doryangbalho” received 41.4 percent of the votes (450), reflecting both past and curre
Dec. 19, 2024 - 08:01:18
Politics
[Graphic News] Gap between main opposition, ruling parties reaches record high

The results of a public opinion poll show that the gap in support between the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party has reached its highest level since the inauguration of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration in May 2022. According to a survey conducted by Realmeter over two days on Dec. 12-13 with 1,001 voters aged 18 and older nationwide, support ratings were as follows: Democratic Party of Korea at 52.4 percent, People Power Party at 25.7 percent, Rebuilding Korea Party at 8 perc
Dec. 18, 2024 - 08:01:17
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] 9 in 10 small merchants impacted by martial law crisis

A recent survey found that nearly 9 out of 10 small merchants in South Korea saw a decrease in their sales following the martial law crisis initiated by President Yoon Suk Yeol. The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises released the results of an online survey conducted over three days starting Dec. 10. The survey sampled 1,630 mom-and-pop merchants across the nation in the food, lodging, retail and personal service industries. According to the findings, 88.4 percent of respondents said their
Dec. 17, 2024 - 08:01:17
Politics
[Graphic News] Lee Jae-myung leads suitability for the next president

As President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law raises the possibility of an early presidential election, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has emerged as the leading candidate for the presidency. A survey conducted by Media Research and commissioned by the news agency Newspim polled 1,007 men and women aged 18 and older nationwide using an automatic response system (ARS) on Sunday. Respondents were asked, “Among the following individuals, who do you t
Dec. 11, 2024 - 08:01:13
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] 60% of job seekers in S. Korea ‘passive’: survey

A recent survey by the Federation of Korean Industries reveals that six out of ten job seekers in South Korea are classified as “passive job seekers” with low expectations for employment. The 2024 University Student Employment Perception Survey, conducted among 2,938 students and graduates from four-year universities nationwide, found that 1,235 respondents were preparing for employment. Of these, 60.5 percent were categorized as passive job seekers. Passive job-seeking behavior wa
Dec. 4, 2024 - 08:01:09
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Korea’s 5G infrastructure ranked best in world

South Korea’s digital infrastructure is regarded as the world’s best, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT, citing findings from the OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2024. In the report, South Korea ranked first among 29 countries, including non-OECD members such as China and the European Union, in “5G base station deployment.” The country recorded 593 5G base stations per 100,000 inhabitants, significantly surpassing Lithuania (328) and Finland (251). The OECD aver
Dec. 3, 2024 - 08:01:08