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[Graphic News] Seoul ranks as world’s 2nd most competitive city in AI

Seoul has been ranked the world’s second most competitive city in artificial intelligence, according to the “2025 Global AI Cities Index” by Counterpoint Research. The city scored 82 points, just behind Singapore’s 84. The report credits South Korean firms like SK Telecom and Naver for driving innovation in AI services, especially in health care and education. Other top-ranked cities include Singapore (No. 1), Beijing (No. 3) and Dubai (No. 4). The ranking evaluated 5,000 global initiatives, com
Aug. 26, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Over 80% plan to use consumer coupons on food

More than 80 percent of recipients plan to use government-issued “consumption coupons for livelihood recovery” to purchase food. The Rural Development Administration conducted an online survey of 1,000 consumers in Greater Seoul — including Incheon and Gyeonggi Province — from July 24 to 25, releasing the results on Aug. 11. It aimed to assess usage intentions and the expected policy impact of the coupons. According to the results, 83.5 percent of respondents planned to use the coupons to buy fo
Aug. 25, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Gen Z drives surge in value-based consumption

Value-based consumption — making purchasing decisions that reflect personal beliefs and social values — is emerging as a powerful trend among Generation Z consumers. A recent study shows that 6 in 10 Gen Z consumers are willing to pay more for products from companies that are socially responsible and meet environmental, social and governance standards. This signals a growing expectation that brands align with consumers’ ethical, environmental and social values. Surveys reveal that Gen Z actively
Aug. 21, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Four-person households drop below 3m

The number of four-person households in South Korea, traditionally seen as the standard family unit of a couple with two children, has fallen below 3 million for the first time in over nine years, underscoring the country’s persistently low birth rate. According to data from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, there were 2.99 million four-person households as of the end of June, down from over 4 million in early 2016. The figure has steadily declined each year, falling from 3.94 million in
Aug. 20, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Walking steps up as Seoulites’ favorite physical activity

According to a 2022 survey by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, walking is the most popular physical activity among Seoul residents, with 48.7 percent participation, followed by hiking, badminton and yoga. Public sports facilities are the most commonly used, with 39.7 percent of residents utilizing them. On average, residents spend about 666,000 won annually on facility use, in addition to expenses for equipment, clothing and club activities. With ample time and money, residents of the capital
Aug. 19, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Workers aged 50 and over outnumber 20s at major firms

Leading companies in South Korea have fewer employees in their 20s than those aged 50 or older on their payrolls, industry data showed, partly reflecting reduced hiring of young workers amid an economic slowdown. According to data from corporate tracker Leaders Index, the share of 20-something employees at the 124 top companies by sales was recorded at 19.8 percent as of the end of 2024, down 1.2 percentage points from a year earlier. In contrast, the proportion of workers aged 50 or older reach
Aug. 18, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Children choose life satisfaction for best birthplace

Children aged 10 to 18 say they would prefer to be born in countries with high life satisfaction, according to a global survey by Save the Children. Of 1,000 children surveyed worldwide, 39.6 percent chose life satisfaction as the top factor. This was followed by safety (low accident and crime rates) at 38.6 percent and no discrimination at 21.9 percent. Other factors included financial rewards for success (16.8 percent) and high cultural development (6.9 percent). Among 1,000 adults surveyed, t
Aug. 14, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Russia overtakes Germany in beer output

Russia has overtaken Germany as Europe’s top beer producer for the first time in 12 years, brewing 9.1 billion liters in 2024 compared to Germany’s 8.4 billion, according to the German business daily Handelsblatt. The shift is largely attributed to Russia’s reduced trade with other European nations following the start of the Ukraine war, which spurred a boost in domestic production. Globally, China led with 34 billion liters, followed by the US (18 billion), Brazil (14.7 billion) and Mexico (14.
Aug. 13, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Koreans subscribe to over 2 OTT platforms on average; Netflix leads

South Koreans in their 20s to 50s subscribe to an average of 2.34 over-the-top video streaming platforms, according to a recent survey by the Korea Press Foundation, based on an online poll of 1,000 domestic users. Among respondents, 30.1 percent reported using a single OTT service, while 30.5 percent subscribed to two. Those using three platforms made up 22.9 percent. When asked why they subscribe to multiple services, 70 percent cited access to original content as the primary reason. Other top
Aug. 12, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Male parental leave at record 36%

In the first half of 2025, the number of parental leave takers in Korea increased by 37.4 percent, reaching 95,064. Male participation saw a particularly sharp rise of 54.2 percent, with men now accounting for a record-high 36.4 percent of all users of parental leave. The proportion of male leave takers has steadily grown from 13.4 percent in 2017. After a brief decline in 2023, the rate rebounded to 31.6 percent in 2024 and climbed further in 2025. The highest male participation was seen among
Aug. 11, 2025 - 08:00:00
Market
[Graphic News] Middle Eastern tourists spend most in Korea

A recent tourism report reveals that among foreign visitors to Korea last year, tourists from the Middle East spent the most, while Japanese tourists spent the least. According to KB Financial Group’s Management Research Institute, foreign tourist spending accounted for 10.5 percent of domestic consumption last year, slightly down from 14.8 percent the previous year but still well above the pre-pandemic level of 3.4 percent. The average per capita spending by foreign tourists was $1,372 (1.9 mil
Aug. 7, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Incheon National University ranks 9th in innovation

South Korea’s Incheon National University has been ranked 9th in the 2025 World University Rankings for Innovation. Incheon excelled in several categories, placing 3rd in student mobility and openness, 4th in culture and values and 8th in funding for sustainability. This year’s rankings considered a record 4,866 innovation programs submitted by 1,253 universities in 87 countries. The top three spots were awarded to Minerva University (US), Arizona State University (US) and Ecole 42 (France). Amo
Aug. 6, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] East coast tops vacation picks for Koreans

The east coast of Korea remains the most popular domestic vacation destination, according to a recent survey by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. In a poll of 9,560 respondents, 24.9 percent said they plan to visit the east coast during their summer break, a slight decline from 25.1 percent the previous year. Overall, 46.5 percent of those surveyed intend to take a vacation this summer, with the busiest travel period expected to have between July 26 and Aug. 1. Of those who wer
Aug. 5, 2025 - 08:00:00
World Business
[Graphic News] Samsung maintains top spot in global smartphone market: data

Samsung Electronics maintained its lead in the global smartphone market in the second quarter, supported by sales of its competitively priced Galaxy A models, industry data showed. According to the data from market tracker Canalys, Samsung accounted for 19 percent of the global smartphone market in terms of shipments. IPhone maker Apple ranked second with 16 percent, followed by China’s Xiaomi at 15 percent. Samsung was the only smartphone-maker to post on-year growth, at 3 percent, while Apple
Aug. 4, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Stay safe near water this summer

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has warned that drowning deaths peak during the start of the summer vacation season. Between 2020 and 2024, 112 people died in water-related accidents — 31 of them in late July alone. The most dangerous locations were rivers and mountain streams, followed by beaches and coastal areas. The leading cause of drowning was failure to follow safety precautions, particularly not wearing life jackets, which accounted for 37 percent of deaths. Other major factors i
July 31, 2025 - 08:00:00