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Culture
[Graphic News] Art auctions rebound in 2025, led by Chagall

According to the Korea Art Price Appraisal Association and Artprice, the domestic art auction market’s transactions last year totaled around 140.5 billion won ($95.3 million), a 25.4 billion won increase from the previous year. Annual transaction values had steadily declined from 329.4 billion won in 2021 but rebounded for the first time in 2025. In total, 18,339 works of art were exhibited at auction, with 9,797 sold, resulting in a 53.42 percent successful bid rate, the highest in three years.
Jan. 22, 2026 - 08:00:04
Baseball
[Graphic News] New York Yankees lead greatest sports teams list

British sports outlet GiveMeSport selected the 15 greatest teams in world sports history, calling the process extremely difficult given the fierce competitiveness of global sport. Soccer accounted for the largest share, with six teams making the list, including AC Milan’s late-1980s European champions, two legendary eras of Real Madrid, Johan Cruyff’s Ajax, Pele’s dominant 1970 Brazil and Barcelona’s 2008–2011 side led by Lionel Messi, which ranked first among soccer teams and second overall. Am
Jan. 21, 2026 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Russia captured less than 1% of Ukraine in 2025

Russia captured less than 1 percent of Ukraine’s total territory over the past year, highlighting the slowing momentum of its military campaign. According to battlefield analysis, Russian forces newly occupied 433,600 hectares, primarily in the Donetsk region, accounting for just 0.72 percent of the country’s overall territory. Despite sustained offensives, Moscow has struggled to translate heavy fighting into significant territorial gains. Analysts point to mounting Russian casualties, equipmen
Jan. 20, 2026 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Just 1 in 6 Americans back Trump’s Greenland bid: poll

Just 17 percent of Americans approve of President Donald Trump’s efforts to acquire Greenland, and substantial majorities of Democrats and Republicans oppose using military force to annex the island, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found. The two-day poll, which concluded on Jan. 13, showed widespread concerns over Trump’s threats to NATO ally Denmark over Greenland, which has been a Danish territory for centuries. Trump has said Greenland is vital to US security and that Washington must own it to prevent
Jan. 19, 2026 - 08:00:00
K-pop
[Graphic News] Blackpink’s Rose tops ‘world’s most beautiful faces’ list

Blackpink member Rose has claimed the top spot on TC Candler’s “100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2025.” The US-based film site announced the annual list through its official YouTube channel, which highlights female celebrities worldwide based on global fan votes. Several K-pop stars also ranked high on the list. Karina of Aespa ranked 8th and Jisoo of Blackpink was 11th. Nana, who previously placed 1st two years in a row in 2014 and 2015, was 18th. Other notable entries included Twice’s Tzuyu (20th),
Jan. 15, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Seoul dining prices rise 3-5% in 2025

The average prices of eight popular dining-out menu items in Seoul increased by roughly 3-5 percent in 2025 compared with the same period a year earlier, adding to the cost-of-living burden for consumers. Gimbap saw the steepest rise, with the average price of a single roll jumping 5.7 percent, from 3,500 won in November 2024 to 3,700 won in November 2025, dimming its image as a cheap and convenient meal option. A bowl of kalguksu rose 4.9 percent, from 9,385 won to 9,846 won, while a kimchi jji
Jan. 14, 2026 - 08:00:00
Soccer
[Graphic News] K League hits record gate revenue

The K League continued its surge in popularity for a third consecutive year, setting new records for both total gate receipts and average revenue per spectator in the 2025 season. The Korea Professional Football League announced that combined gate revenue from K League 1 and K League 2 reached 46.09 billion won ($31.4 million), the highest since official records began in 2013 and an 8.3 percent increase from 2024. Gate receipts have risen sharply over the past three years, from 34.4 billion won
Jan. 13, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Parents prioritize children’s health over academics: survey

Parents place greater importance on health than academic achievement for infants and young children, according to a survey of 1,500 parents conducted by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education. The most valued early childhood trait was “being healthy,” cited by 33.1 percent of respondents, followed by “being socially harmonious” at 26.1 percent. Other traits parents hoped their children would develop included creativity (17.5 percent), independence (15.1 percent) and emotional sensitivit
Jan. 12, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Shrimp Crackers top Korea snack sales

Nongshim’s Shrimp Crackers, known in Korean as “Saewookkang,” emerged as South Korea’s top-selling snack in the first half of 2025. According to the Food Industry Statistics system, sales of Shrimp Crackers reached 57.8 billion won, holding the top spot in snack sales for the second consecutive year. Sales dipped 1 percent from the same period in 2024 but still led all snack categories. Industry officials credited the product’s staying power to Nongshim’s collaborative marketing, including a lim
Jan. 8, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] KakaoTalk gifting service used nearly 200m times

KakaoTalk’s gifting service was used nearly 200 million times in 2025, the company said. Data showed approximately 189 million gifts were sent as of Dec. 17, translating to an average of 540,000 gifts per day. The service offers 640,000 types of gifts from some 8,700 brands. The most popular item was a Starbucks gift certificate, followed by certificates from leading food delivery app Baemin, discount retailer E-mart and beauty chain Olive Young. The gifting service was most heavily used on Nov.
Jan. 7, 2026 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Seoul named world’s 6th most competitive city

Seoul ranked sixth in the global major city competitiveness index, according to the 2025 Comprehensive City Power Ranking released by Japan’s Mori Memorial Foundation. The South Korean capital placed sixth among 48 cities surveyed. Seoul had slipped from sixth in 2017 to eighth in 2020, but has since rebounded, reclaiming the sixth position as of 2024. The institute assesses city competitiveness across six categories: economy, research and development, culture and interaction, livability, enviro
Jan. 5, 2026 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Year of the Fire Horse

The year 2026 marks the Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse (Byeong-o year). In Chinese astrology, each year is represented by one of 12 animals and one of the Five Elements (wood, fire, earth, metal or water). In 2026, the horse is paired with fire, creating the powerful Fire Horse combination, which last occurred in 1966. Fire is traditionally associated with the color red, so 2026 is often called the “Year of the Red Horse.” This combination blends the vitality and energy of the horse with the i
Jan. 1, 2026 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Jensen Huang and Michelle Kang make people of the year list

The Financial Times has unveiled its 25 People of the Year for 2025, which includes Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Korean-born American businessperson Michele Kang. Huang is leading the AI boom, with Nvidia dominating the GPU market. Its superchips, like the H100 and GH200, are shaping AI development, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman noted Huang’s long-term preparation for AI leadership. Michele Kang (Kang Yong-mi), a Korean-American entrepreneur, owns the US Women’s Football League’s Washington Spirit, E
Dec. 30, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Top overseas travel destinations for Koreans in 2025

Despite high exchange rates, demand for overseas travel among Korean travelers continues to rebound rapidly. According to the Korea Tourism Organization and Incheon International Airport Corporation, from January to October this year, Koreans logged 24,335,383 trips abroad, with 349,919 international flights operated — both up 3.2 percent from a year earlier. Digital travel platform Agoda also reported that interest in overseas travel among Koreans increased 15 percent year-on-year based on its
Dec. 29, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] 18 stunning New Year sunrise spots in Korea

The year 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, according to the Chinese zodiac. It is interpreted as a year of strong energy, new hope, vitality, forward momentum and fresh beginnings. Interest in welcoming the New Year in a special way is particularly high, as 2026 marks the first “true” Year of the Fire Horse in 60 years, since 1966. To help people decide where to greet the first sunrise of the New Year, 18 of the most beautiful sunrise spots in South Korea are recommended.
Dec. 26, 2025 - 08:00:00