Graphic News In series
Key issues and figures from Korean and abroad visualised.

Graphic News In series
Key issues and figures from Korean and abroad visualised.
[Graphic News] Samsung back on top of global smartphone market in Q1
Samsung Electronics has reclaimed its position as the world’s leading smartphone vendor, surpassing Apple in the first quarter of this year. According to market research firms Counterpoint Research, IDC and Canalys, Samsung ranked first in market share, selling 61 million smartphones and holding a 20 percent share during the period. This growth in shipments was driven by the success of the Galaxy S25 series and the early launch of the new Galaxy A series. Apple, which sold 58 million smartphones
4 hour ago[Graphic News] Historical overview of papal elections: Conclave
The election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, marks a historic turning point in the Catholic Church and reflects broader changes in global Catholicism. The conclave took two days and four rounds of voting to elect Pope Leo XIV - well within the usual time frame of two to four days. His swift election underscores the growing influence of voices beyond Europe in shaping the future of the church. Traditionally dominated by Europeans, especially Italians, the College of Cardinals is now not
May 12, 2025 - 08:00:00[Graphic News] Seoul faces growing concerns over aging sewer pipes and sinkholes
Recent reports from the Seoul Metropolitan Government reveal that nearly half of Seoul’s sewer pipelines are over 30 years old, with more than 30 percent of them exceeding 50 years, raising significant safety concerns. Aging sewer pipes are considered one of the main contributors to ground subsidence, commonly known as sinkholes. As water leaks through cracks in these pipes, it washes away surrounding soil, creating underground voids that can cause roads to collapse. In districts such as Jongno,
May 8, 2025 - 08:00:02[Graphic News] How conclave will elect next pope
Following the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church is set to elect a new pope through a centuries-old tradition marked by solemnity and secrecy. The College of Cardinals has convened in Rome for general congregations to assess the church’s needs. With the “sede vacante” (“the seat being vacant”) period underway, the papal office is officially empty. Cardinals under 80 will enter the conclave on May 7 in the Sistine Chapel. Bound by strict secrecy, they will cast handwritten ballots in repe
May 7, 2025 - 08:00:00[Graphic News] Trump ranks lowest in Q1 approval among modern presidents
US president Donald Trump is closing out the first quarter of his second term with an average 45 percent job approval rating, according to a new Gallup report. The report notes that while this marks an improvement from the 41 percent average he received during the first quarter of his initial term, it remains significantly lower than that of all other US presidents elected since World War II. Gallup reports that the average first-quarter job approval rating for presidents from 1952 through 2020
May 1, 2025 - 08:00:00[Graphic News] Global EV sales surge 36.9% as Chinese automakers take lead
Global electric vehicle sales saw a sharp rise in early 2025, with registrations jumping 36.9 percent year-over-year in January and February to a total of 2.51 million units, according to energy market research firm SNE Research. The surge underscores the growing dominance of Chinese automakers, which continue to benefit from strong government support and a thriving domestic market. Leading the global market was China’s BYD, which sold 540,000 units, an 80.3 percent increase from the same period
April 30, 2025 - 08:00:00[Graphic News] South Korean passport falls to 39th in global ranking
South Korea’s passport ranking has steadily declined over the past six years, dropping to 39th place in the “2025 Passport Index” published by global consulting firm Nomad Capitalist. This marks a seven-spot fall from its 32nd-place position last year. The Passport Index evaluates countries based on five key criteria: visa-free travel, taxation, global perception, the ability to hold dual citizenship and personal freedom. Korea received relatively low scores in areas such as its taxation system,
April 29, 2025 - 08:00:00[Graphic News] Six golf legends who achieved ‘Career Grand Slam’
In golf, a “Career Grand Slam” refers to winning all four of the sport’s major championships - The Masters, US Open, The Open Championship (British Open) and PGA Championship - at least once over the course of a career. It’s one of golf’s rarest and most prestigious accomplishments, demonstrating a player’s mastery across varying courses, conditions and styles of play. As of 2025, only six male golfers have achieved this feat: Gene Sarazen (1935), Ben Hogan (1953), Gary Player (1965), Jack Nickl
April 28, 2025 - 08:00:00[Graphic News] S. Korea becomes top cosmetics exporter to US, surpassing France
South Korea became the leading cosmetics exporter to the United States last year, overtaking France for the first time as global demand for Korean beauty products continues to grow. Citing data from the US International Trade Commission, Bloomberg reported that South Korea’s cosmetics exports to the US reached $1.701 billion in 2024, surpassing France’s $1.263 billion. Canada ranked third with $1.022 billion in exports, followed by Italy, China, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Japan. During the s
April 24, 2025 - 08:00:00[Graphic News] Korea leads global hair loss treatment market
A recent survey reveals that South Korean companies account for one out of every two global hair loss treatment cosmetic products. According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office, Korea has dominated international patent filings for hair loss treatment cosmetics over the past 22 years, from 2002 to 2023. Korean companies have submitted 576 patent applications, representing 42.9 percent of the total 1,344 patents filed worldwide, securing the top position. Japan follows at No. 2 with 272 pat
April 22, 2025 - 08:00:00[Graphic News] Infertility treatments exceed 200,000 cases in 2022
A report from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service has revealed a 36.7 percent increase in infertility treatment cases over the past three years, with a total of 200,007 procedures performed in 2022. In vitro fertilization accounted for 83.4 percent of these treatments, and artificial insemination made up 16.6 percent. While IVF procedures have risen, IUI treatments have seen a decline. The study highlighted that IVF treatments were most common among women aged 35-39, whereas IUI w
April 21, 2025 - 08:00:00[Graphic News] World’s most disappointing tourist attractions
A recent study has revealed that the top five most disappointing tourist attractions are all located in Europe. Radical Storage, a global luggage-storage platform, analyzed 95,932 visitor reviews across 200 popular tourist attractions worldwide to identify which ones were most likely to be disappointing. At the top of the list is the United Kingdom’s Alton Towers, the largest theme park in the country. Nearly half (49.4 percent) of the reviews for the park mentioned negative experiences, includi
April 17, 2025 - 08:00:00[Graphic News] American opinions on Trump’s deportation policies
Public reaction to former President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation policies remains deeply divided, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. Roughly 32 percent of US adults believe all undocumented immigrants should be deported, while 16 percent oppose any deportations. The majority – about 51 percent – support deporting some individuals, particularly those convicted of violent crimes. Among this group, an overwhelming 97 percent favor deporting individuals with violent criminal
April 15, 2025 - 08:00:00[Graphic News] Over 160 dead or missing due to maritime accidents in 2024: data
More than 160 people died or went missing in maritime accidents in South Korea last year, government data showed. In 2024, 3,255 maritime accidents occurred in the country, up 5.3 percent from 2023, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. In the accidents, a total of 164 people were killed or went missing, up 74.5 percent from the corresponding tally for 2023. In detail, there were 706 major accidents, such as collision, capsizing and sinking, with collisions betw
April 14, 2025 - 08:00:00[Graphic News] Age at which Koreans start to use makeup causes concerns
As the age at which South Koreans begin using makeup continues to fall, concerns about makeup’s impact on health are growing. According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, which surveyed 9,274 elementary school students, 4,678 secondary school students and a total of 13,952 makeup users, 11 percent (1,025) of elementary school students and 25.6 percent (1,196) of secondary school students reported using makeup. The most common age to begin using makeup was between fift
April 10, 2025 - 08:00:00