[Graphic News] Seoul ranks 5th among world’s richest cities

Seoul has ranked fifth among the world’s richest cities for 2025, according to CEOWorld magazine, with Tokyo topping the list at a gross domestic product of $2.55 trillion, narrowly ahead of the New York metropolitan area at $2.49 trillion, based on a survey of 300 major metropolitans worldwide. Tokyo’s strength comes from decades of technological innovation, automotive engineering and precision manufacturing. The city combines innovation with infrastructure, making its transportation, networks

Dec. 4, 2025

[Graphic News] International marriages on the rise in Korea

The number of international marriages in Korea last year reached its highest level since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Births to parents from such marriages also increased by 1,000 from the previous year, marking the first rise in 12 years. According to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, there were 21,450 marriages last year between a Korean national and a foreign or naturalized spouse, up 5 percent from the year before. However, their share of all marriages declined from 10.6

Dec. 2, 2025

[Graphic News] 1 in 3 South Koreans now obese: study

One in three South Koreans is now classified as obese, up from one in four a decade ago, according to a recent study by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The agency reported that 34.4 percent of Koreans were obese in 2024. The World Health Organization defines obesity in Asians as having a body mass index of 25 or higher. In 2015, 26.3 percent of South Koreans were obese, meaning the rate had risen by 8.1 percentage points over the past decade. By gender, 41.4 percent of men and 2

Dec. 1, 2025

[Graphic News] 4 in 10 Koreans say they are lonely

A new government survey shows that 4 in 10 South Koreans frequently feel lonely. Among people aged 13 and older, 38.2 percent reported experiencing loneliness, with 4.7 percent saying they feel lonely “often” and 33.5 percent saying “sometimes.” Loneliness tended to increase with age, reaching 42.2 percent among those over 60, 41.7 percent among those in their 50s and 52.1 percent among people aged 80 and above. About 3.3 percent, or roughly 1.5 million people, said they feel lonely and have no

Nov. 27, 2025

[Graphic News] Female executive numbers reach new record

The number of female executives at South Korea’s top 100 listed companies reached a record 476 this year, according to a report by headhunting firm UnicoSearch. Among these firms, 79 have at least one female board member, with Samsung Electronics leading at 80 female executives. The figure represents a 2.8 percent increase from 463 in 2024. Though the total number of executives across the top 100 firms fell by 1.3 percent (98 people) year-on-year, the number of female executives still rose by 13

Nov. 26, 2025

[Graphic News] Indian-origin figures rise in US

The election of 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s mayor has added momentum to the rising visibility of Indian-origin figures across the United States. Analysts say his victory highlights a broader trend: As the Indian American population grows, more members of the community are gaining prominence in politics, business and other fields. Indian-origin influence is evident at the national level as well. Former Vice President Kamala Harris is the daughter of India-born cancer researcher

Nov. 25, 2025

[Graphic News] Spain tops Korean travel satisfaction

Spain has claimed the top spot in overseas travel satisfaction among Korean travelers for the first time, overtaking Switzerland, which had held the position for the past four years. Southern European countries performed strongly, while Central and Western European destinations such as Switzerland saw a decline. Meanwhile, Eastern European countries like the Czech Republic and Croatia are emerging as new favorites. According to the travel research institute ConsumerInsight, based on a survey con

Nov. 20, 2025

[Graphic News] Trust in Seoul’s tap water ‘Arisu’ rises

A recent report by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, based on a survey of 1,000 adults, shows growing confidence in Seoul’s tap water, Arisu. Seventy-five percent of respondents now drink tap water, up 5.4 percentage points from last year. Direct household use reached 56.3 percent, while indirect use for coffee, tea and cooking exceeded 63 percent. Over half (53.1 percent) reported drinking tap water outside the home, especially in parks (27.5 percent) and walking/exercise areas (20.3 percent).

Nov. 19, 2025

[Graphic News] Bicycle use grows but accidents fall

Bicycle-related accidents and deaths infrastructure in South Korea is expanding rapidly, while related accidents and deaths are slightly down, government data shows. The Interior Ministry reported that the total length of bicycle lanes reached 27,754 kilometers in 2024, up 882 km from the previous year and 13.4 percent from 2020. Public bicycle provision also rose 6.2 percent to 69,572 units, with usage climbing 2.3 percent year-on-year and 68.4 percent since 2020. Seoul accounted for the larges

Nov. 18, 2025

[Graphic News] October hits temperature record in Korea

This October, South Korea experienced unseasonably warm temperatures and frequent rainfall. The nationwide average temperature reached 16.6 degrees Celsius, 2.3 C above normal, the highest in 53 years. Early and mid-October were dominated by warm, humid air from the North Pacific High, pushing averages to 20.1 C and 18.2 C, with daytime highs exceeding 30 C in Boryeong and Wando. Goheung and Seogwipo recorded their latest tropical night on Oct. 13. Late October brought colder air from continenta

Nov. 17, 2025