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[Graphic News] Over 2,200 school sports teams disbanded in 14 years

More than 2,200 elementary, middle and high school sports teams have been disbanded across South Korea over the past 14 years, reducing the number of teams from 6,061 in 2010 to just 3,800 by 2024. The sharp decline is mainly due to shrinking student populations and growing challenges in managing school teams, including administrative burdens and issues related to misconduct. Some sports have been hit especially hard. For instance, there are only four high school ice hockey teams remaining natio
July 30, 2025 - 08:00:00
Market
[Graphic News] Korean beverages going global

South Korea’s beverage exports hit a record high in the first half of 2025, fueled by growing global interest in unique Korean drinks. Total exports reached $409.81 million, up 3.9 percent from the same period last year and nearly 27 percent more than in 2021. Non-fruit/vegetable drinks made up 94 percent of the total. China was the top importer, purchasing $116.1 million worth of Korean beverages, followed by the US, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Russia. Lotte Chilsung’s Milkis, a creamy carbona
July 29, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Korean business closures surpass 1m for first time

The number of business closures in South Korea exceeded 1 million in 2024 for the first time since records began in 1995. According to data released by the National Tax Service, a total of 1,008,282 individual and corporate businesses shut down last year, an increase of 21,795 from 2023. The business closure rate also inched up to 9.04 percent, slightly higher than 9.02 percent in the previous year, marking the highest rate since 2020 (9.38 percent). Closures were most concentrated in the retail
July 28, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] ‘Parasite’ tops NYT’s 100 best movies of 21st century

Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s 2019 film “Parasite” has been named the best movie of the 21st century by The New York Times. The top 100 list was compiled based on votes from 500 directors, actors and film fans. The Times praised “Parasite” as “delightful yet twisted, unsettling and shocking,” noting that it “tells the story of the haves and have-nots and offers a fierce critique of neo-liberalism.” Two other Korean films also made the list: “Oldboy” (2005) by Park Chan-wook ranked 43rd, while B
July 24, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Lunch costs surge in Seoul’s business districts

A recent analysis by NHN Payco of around 9 million mobile meal voucher transactions in early 2025 shows that the average lunch cost in Korea has climbed to 9,500 won ($6.90) per person — a 58 percent increase from 6,000 won in 2017. In Seoul’s major business hubs like Samseong-dong, Gangnam and Yeouido, costs are notably higher, with Samseong-dong reaching an average of 15,000 won. More employees are using meal vouchers outside of company cafeterias, opting instead for convenience stores like CU
July 23, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Incheon climbs to 3rd in global passenger traffic

South Korea’s Incheon International Airport was the world’s third-busiest airport last year in terms of international passenger traffic, according to the Airports Council International annual report. The report analyzed data from over 2,800 airports across more than 185 countries. Incheon handled 70,669,246 international passengers, behind Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (92,331,506) and London Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom (79,194,330). This marks a significant
July 22, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Korea slips to 27th in global competitiveness

The Finance Ministry announced that South Korea’s global competitiveness ranking fell seven places to 27th in the world, according to the 2025 report by the International Institute for Management Development, or IMD, a Switzerland-based business school. The report, which surveyed 69 countries, marks Korea’s steepest decline since IMD began assessing its competitiveness in 1997. In 2024, South Korea reached a record high of 20th place but has now slipped back to 27th — the same position it held i
July 21, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Korea ranks 31st in global work-life balance index

South Korea has ranked 31st out of 60 wealthy nations in the Global Life-Work Balance Index 2025, published by global HR platform Remote. The index evaluates countries across categories such as annual leave, sick pay, maternity leave, minimum wage and healthcare systems. Korea’s ranking marks a five-spot improvement from the previous year. Notable gains were seen in minimum wage, average weekly working hours - which fell to 37.9 from 38.58 - and LGBTQ+ inclusivity, which rose by 6 points. Howeve
July 15, 2025 - 08:00:00
Golf
[Graphic News] World’s highest-earning golfers

Over the past year, golf’s top 10 earners collectively brought in an astonishing $612 million. Scottie Scheffler led all players in on-course earnings with $67 million and added approximately $30 million from off-course ventures, totaling $97 million. However, Jon Rahm retained the title of highest-paid golfer, raking in $102 million, thanks largely to his $50 million LIV Golf contract and $42 million in tournament winnings. Rory McIlroy followed with $84 million, boosted by his Masters victory.
July 10, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Korean vacation trends this summer

A recent survey on summer vacation trends found that mid-August is the most popular travel period, with a 3-night, 4-day trip being the preferred duration. Conducted among 1,000 Korean adults planning vacations in 2025, the PMI survey reveals key spending patterns and consumer sentiment. The most common expected vacation budget per person ranged from 200,000 to 400,000 won, followed by budgets between 400,000 and 600,000 won. A significant portion of respondents, primarily those in their 30s and
July 9, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Deadly US floods over past 25 years

Flooding has claimed over 125 lives per year in the US, with flash floods being the top weather-related killer, according to the National Weather Service. Here's a brief look at some of the deadliest incidents since 2000:
July 8, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Seoul ranks 8th among global startup hubs

Seoul has been ranked 8th in a global survey of the best places to start a business in a report by the US-based startup research organization Startup Genome. The 2025 report analyzed the startup environments of 300 cities worldwide, and Seoul remained in the top 10 for the second consecutive year, moving up from 9th in 2024. The city first entered the top 10 in 2022 but dropped to 12th in 2023 due to challenges such as weak investment flows, high inflation and rising interest rates. Topping the
July 7, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Americano becomes most popular drink for Korean adults

Unsweetened coffee, especially the Americano, has become the most consumed beverage among Korean adults aged 20 and over, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The survey classifies beverages as sweetened or unsweetened based on the presence of added sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Koreans older than one year consumed an average of 274.6 grams of beverages daily as of 2023, a rise of more than 20 percent from 223.5 grams in 2019. Men averaged 300 grams per day, while w
July 3, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Seoulites’ cultural participation rebounds

A survey of 10,024 Seoul citizens aged 15 and older shows a steady rise in cultural spending and participation in theaters, galleries and concerts since 2022, according to data released by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture. Average annual cultural spending increased from 168,000 won in 2022 to 214,000 won in 2024. Likewise, the average number of cultural event attendances rose from 4.6 to 7.2 times per person per year. Offline cultural participation rates reached 76.1 percent in 2024, su
July 2, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Islam is world's fastest-growing religion

Muslims were the fastest-growing religious group over the past decade and are now the second-largest in the world after Christians, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center. An analysis of 2,700 censuses and surveys conducted between 2010 and 2020 revealed that the global Muslim population increased by nearly 350 million, more than all other religious groups combined. By 2020, the number of Muslims surpassed 2 billion, accounting for 25.6 percent of the global population. Although Chr
July 1, 2025 - 08:00:00