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K-pop
[Graphic News] BTS to brighten Gwanghwamun with comeback concert

BTS is set to hold an outdoor concert on March 21 to celebrate the release of its fifth album “Arirang,” transforming Gwanghwamun Square into festival grounds. The event, “BTS the Comeback Live — Arirang,” will take place at Yukjo Yard, north of Gwanghwamun Square. The seven members will enter through the gates of Geunjeongmun, Heungnyemun and Gwanghwamun, passing the royal viewing platform Woldae, with the procession and concert streamed live to viewers in 190 territories via Netflix. The perfo
March 19, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Majority of Korean companies plan to hire AI talent

Nearly 70 percent of South Korean companies plan to recruit artificial intelligence personnel this year, but many are struggling to find candidates who can contribute immediately, according to a recent survey by developer growth platform Grepp. About 68.5 percent of respondents said they intend to hire AI staff, citing AI-driven upgrades to existing businesses (38 percent) and development of new revenue models (36.4 percent) as primary motivations. Companies are seeking both technical specialist
March 18, 2026 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Portugal tops retirement living rankings

Portugal ranks as the best country in the world for retirement, according to the France-based retirement information website Retraite Sans Frontieres. The country scored high for its low cost of living, favorable climate and environment, tax benefits and retirement visas. Spain and Greece followed in second and third place, with Thailand, Mauritius, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Vietnam and Indonesia rounding out the top 10. The rankings are drawing attention amid a growing trend of retirees, parti
March 17, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Wildfires surge again amid dry conditions

The number of wildfires in South Korea rose in February, raising alarms among authorities and experts. According to the National Fire Data System, 134 wildfires were recorded by February, a roughly 30 percent increase from the 103 incidents reported during the same period last year. After falling from a peak of 782 cases in 2022 to 268 in 2024, the number of wildfires climbed again to 408 in 2025. The number of wildfire days has also increased over the past two decades, rising from an annual ave
March 16, 2026 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] South Korea takes pride in its people: survey

A global survey of 30,000 people across 25 countries by the Pew Research Center found that sources of national pride vary widely, reflecting cultural values and political systems. In South Korea, respondents most often cited “diligent and sincere people with strong national character” as their greatest source of pride, highlighting national character and social cohesion. Similar sentiments were expressed in Japan, the United Kingdom and Spain, where “the people” ranked highest. In contrast, Amer
March 12, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Air traffic tops 1 million flights for first time

South Korea’s annual air traffic surpassed 1 million flights for the first time last year, government data showed. The total number of flights reached 1,013,930 in 2025, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The country averaged 2,778 flights per day, up 6.8 percent from a year earlier. The annual figure exceeded the previous high of 842,041 recorded in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. The growth was driven by a rebound in international travel. International flights
March 11, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] S. Korea shuts 153 schools over five years

A total of 153 schools were consolidated or closed across South Korea between 2021 and 2025 as the nation’s school-age population continues to shrink, according to data from the Ministry of Education obtained by Rep. Park Sung-hoon of the People Power Party. Of the schools closed, 120 were elementary schools, 24 were middle schools and nine were high schools. The closures come as the number of students nationwide fell from 5,323,075 in 2021 to 5,015,310 last year, a drop of nearly 310,000. By re
March 10, 2026 - 08:00:00
Film
[Graphic News] Korean films with over 10m admissions

“The King’s Warden” crossed the 10 million admissions mark Sunday, recording a cumulative audience of 11.17 million, a notable achievement as movie theaters continue to struggle to attract audiences amid fierce competition from streaming platforms. The Korean historical film achieved the milestone in just over a month after its Feb. 4 premiere, making it the first film - domestic or foreign - in two years to surpass that threshold. The last films to do so were Jang Jae-hyun’s supernatural thrill
March 9, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] 3 in 10 households in S. Korea have pets, mostly dogs

Nearly 3 out of 10 households in South Korea have pets, mostly dogs, government data showed. A Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs survey showed that 29.2 percent of households kept pets in 2025. Of those households, 80.5 percent raised dogs, 14.4 percent raised cats and 4.1 percent raised fish. Pet owners spent an average of 121,000 won per month on their pets. The survey marked South Korea's first nationally approved statistical survey on pet ownership. In a separate survey on anim
March 6, 2026 - 08:00:00
Baseball
[Graphic News] South Korea aims for WBC victory

South Korea heads into the World Baseball Classic running from Thursday to March 17 with its 30-man roster now set, as announced by the Korea Baseball Organization. The roster includes seven overseas-based players, headlined by San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo and Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Kim Hye-seong, along with MLB and Korean American big leaguers. National team manager Ryu Ji-yun will lead the squad. Right-hander Go Woo-suk, playing in the minors under the Detroit Tigers, al
March 5, 2026 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz

The steady flow of Gulf oil to Europe, the US and Asia through the narrow Strait of Hormuz has created the world’s largest oil transit chokepoint. After decades, the US and Israel launched a major attack on Iran, and Tehran’s ability to disrupt the strait has rattled markets and choked trade. Oil prices have already spiked and are expected to remain high as conflict threatens supplies. More than 20 million barrels of crude, condensate and fuels passed through the strait daily last year. OPEC mem
March 4, 2026 - 08:00:00
K-pop
[Graphic News] 9 in 10 BTS fans motivated to study Korean

More than 9 in 10 overseas BTS fans have studied Korean, with their love for the group cited as the main motivation, a recent survey shows. The Multicultural Convergence Research Institute surveyed fans from 69 countries and found that 93.4 percent had learned Korean, mostly at the beginner level. Only 7.8 percent attended in-person classes, with most using apps and online videos. Over half had studied for less than a year, with 54 percent aiming for TOPIK 4 level proficiency, which is high inte
Feb. 27, 2026 - 08:00:01
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Tea market expands on demand from young consumers

South Korea’s long-standing corporate drinking culture is rapidly giving way to a more mindful “tea culture” among younger consumers, industry data shows. According to local community platform Karrot, the number of tea-related gatherings and participants surged 200 percent as of January 2026 from a year earlier. The trend is largely driven by people in their 20s and 30s, with searches for “tea ceremony” and “tea utensils” on the platform spiking over the same period. The shift in lifestyle is mi
Feb. 26, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Templestay sees record high participation last year

The Templestay program saw a record 349,219 participants in 2025, including 293,704 Koreans and 55,515 from abroad, marking a 5.1 percent increase from 2024, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the country’s largest Buddhist sect, has reported. Including repeat visits, total attendance reached 625,304. Launched in 2002 during the Korea-Japan World Cup to promote traditional culture, the Templestay program allows participants to experience daily life at Buddhist temples. Foreign participation, wh
Feb. 25, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Per capita rice consumption falls to record low

Per capita rice consumption in South Korea fell more than 3 percent last year, reaching a record low of 53.9 kilograms, according to the 2025 Grain Consumption Survey released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The figure dropped 1.9 kilograms from a year earlier and is roughly half the level recorded in 1995. Rice consumption has been declining for four decades, reflecting long-term changes in dietary habits. Total per capita grain consumption, including wheat and other grains, also fell t
Feb. 24, 2026 - 08:00:00