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] 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
18 hour ago
[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 - 08:00:00
[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 - 08:00:00
[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 - 08:00:00
[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 - 08:00:00
[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 - 08:00:00
[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 - 08:00:00
[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 - 08:00:00
[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 - 08:00:00
[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 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Son becomes 2nd-highest-paid MLS player
The MLS Players Association revealed that Son Heung-min earns $11.15 million per year with Los Angeles FC, making him the second-highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, behind Lionel Messi of Inter Miami, who earns $20.45 million. Son’s salary, the highest among 2025 summer transfers, reflects his record $26.5 million move from Tottenham Hotspur. Since joining, he has scored 9 goals and provided 3 assists, helping LAFC reach the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Athletic noted that Son’s pay could rise
Nov. 14, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Shin Ramyun tops Korean ramyeon online interest
Nongshim’s instant noodle product Shin Ramyun recorded the highest consumer interest online in the third quarter of 2025, according to market research firm Data&Research, with 145,494 online mentions across news sites, communities and blogs. Analysts attributed the surge in interest to the Netflix animated hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” released in June. Nongshim released a line of products featuring characters from the film. Packaging for Shin Ramyun and the company’s Shrimp Crackers snack showcased
Nov. 13, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] 19 species could vanish with 4.2 C warming
A study by the National Institute of Nakdong River Biological Resources warns that if Korea’s average temperature rises by 4.2 degrees Celsius by 2080, more than two-thirds of endangered freshwater fish species -- 19 out of 28 -- could face extinction. The projection is based on SSP5, the UN IPCC’s high-emission scenario, one of several Shared Socioeconomic Pathways used to model future climate outcomes. SSP5 assumes rapid fossil fuel consumption and unchecked development, potentially tripling g
Nov. 12, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Korea ranks 6th in 2025 world power survey
With the United States at the peak of global power thanks to its unmatched economic and military capabilities, South Korea has been ranked sixth in the 2025 world power survey conducted by US News & World Report. The study was carried out in partnership with BAV Group of the WPP network and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The ranking was determined based on an equally weighted average of five attributes: leadership influence, economic influence, political influence, strong
Nov. 11, 2025 - 08:00:00
[Graphic News] Hyundai Motor 33rd in Time’s 2025 best firms, Nvidia at No. 1
Hyundai Motor has been ranked 33rd on Time magazine’s World’s Best Companies 2025 list, making it the only Korean company in the top 100. Time, in collaboration with German data and business information platform Statista, has compiled the list of the top 1,000 global companies annually since 2023. The 2025 ranking was led by Nvidia, Microsoft and JPMorgan Chase, reflecting the dominance of technology and financial firms. Hyundai Motor climbed an impressive 159 spots from No. 192 last year, drive
Nov. 10, 2025 - 08:00:00