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[Graphic News] Hwang Sun-woo sets Asian record in 200-meter freestyle

South Korean swimmer Hwang Sun-woo has officially broken into the 1:43 range in the men’s 200-meter freestyle, achieving a historic milestone for Korean swimming. At the 106th National Sports Festival in Busan, Hwang touched the wall at 1:43.92, becoming only the seventh competitor in history to swim under 1:44 in the event. The exclusive list includes Paul Biedermann (Germany), Michael Phelps (US), David Popovici (Romania), Yannick Agnel (France), Luke Hobson (USA) and Danila Izotov (Russia) —
Nov. 6, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Bakery prices surge, but finances crumble

Over the past three years, the prices of popular baked goods like bagels and the infamous “salt bread” have soared, but many bakeries are seeing losses worsen. According to Korea Credit Data’s Bakery Market Trend Report, an analysis of 37,000 stores showed that bagel prices have jumped 44 percent since 2022. Sandwiches and salt bread - a salted butter roll like a croissant - followed with increases of 32 percent and 30 percent, respectively. Salt bread, now the top-selling item with a 15.7 perce
Nov. 5, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Palaces top Seoul’s autumn travel hot spots

Seoul residents and tourists are turning to the city’s royal palaces as their favorite autumn destinations, while outdoor spots like Seoul Forest, Cheonggyecheon and Namsan also remain popular for enjoying the vibrant fall scenery. According to an analysis by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and LG Uplus, which examined October social media mentions, mobile usage and consumption data through the “Seoul Tourism Data” platform, palaces emerged as Seoul’s most iconic autumn attractions. Gyeongbokg
Nov. 4, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] South Korea tops Asia’s list for food lovers

South Korea has been named the best Asian destination for culinary experiences, according to a survey by travel platform Agoda. The survey of 4,000 travelers found that 64 percent of those planning a trip to Korea cited food as their main reason for visiting, followed by Taiwan (62 percent), Thailand (55 percent), Japan (52 percent ) and Malaysia (49 percent ). Agoda said the global popularity of Korean dramas and films has raised interest in Korean cuisine. Jeju Island’s fresh seafood and black
Nov. 3, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Phu Quoc named Asia’s most beautiful island, No. 3 worldwide

Phu Quoc, one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations, has been named the most beautiful island in Asia and the third most beautiful in the world by Conde Nast Traveler. The American travel magazine’s readers ranked Phu Quoc first in Asia with a score of 95.51 out of 100, up 0.15 points from 2024, surpassing Bali for the first time. Malaysia’s Langkawi and Thailand’s Koh Samui placed second and third, respectively. Bali, last year’s winner, fell to sixth place after Boracay and Palawan in
Oct. 27, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Korea’s average wedding cost tops W21m

The average cost of a wedding in Korea has surpassed 21 million won ($14,700), according to a survey by the Korea Consumer Agency, which analyzed 504 wedding service providers across 14 regions. The national average in August was 21.6 million won, up from 20.74 million in June. Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, and Songpa-gu had the highest average at 35.09 million won, followed by other Seoul areas (25.88 million) and Gyeonggi Province (18.62 million). The Gyeongsang provinces reported the lowest cost at
Oct. 23, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] KakaoTalk tops social media use in Korea; TikTok Lite leads in time spent

KakaoTalk, the mobile messenger operated by Kakao Corp., was the most used social media platform in South Korea in August, according to data from market research firm Wiseapp Retail Goods. KakaoTalk recorded 48.19 million monthly active users, making it the most popular social media app among Koreans. Instagram ranked second with 27.41 million users, followed by Band (17.08 million), Naver Cafe (9.3 million) and TikTok (8.32 million). When measured by average usage time per user, TikTok Lite led
Oct. 22, 2025 - 08:00:00
World Business
[Graphic News] Huawei leads global wearables market, Apple slips to 3rd

Apple lagged behind Chinese companies Xiaomi and Huawei in the global wearable market in the second quater, according to industry data from IDC. Huawei increased its shipments from 8.9 million to 9.9 million units, while Xiaomi saw a sharper rise from 5.9 million to 9.5 million, marking growth of 61 percent. Apple shipped 7.4 million Apple Watches during the quarter, up 28.8 percent from 5.7 million a year earlier. In terms of market share, Huawei led with 20.2 percent, followed by Xiaomi at 19.
Oct. 21, 2025 - 08:00:00
Baseball
[Graphic News] S. Korea stays at 4th in WBSC rankings

South Korea remains in fourth place in the latest World Baseball Softball Confederation world rankings, holding steady with 4,169 points, unchanged since August, after climbing from sixth place in late 2023. The WBSC rankings are based on performances in international competitions over a rolling four-year period, with more recent tournaments carrying greater weight. Major events include the World Baseball Classic, Premier12, age-group World Cups and continental championships. Japan continues to
Oct. 16, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] S. Koreans read average 5.4 books in 2024

A recent survey revealed that South Korean adults read an average of 5.4 printed books in 2024, along with 1.4 e-books, 35.7 chapters of web novels and 42.8 episodes of webtoons. Around 80.4 percent of respondents read at least 1 printed book, making it the most commonly read format, followed by webtoons, e-books and magazines or webzines. The study was conducted by the Korea Publishing and Reading Policy Research Institute, surveying 1,000 individuals aged 19 and older. Reading was broadly defi
Oct. 15, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Mobile payments make up nearly 54% of total card spending in H1

Card spending via mobile devices rose more than 6 percent in the first half from a year earlier, with mobile payments accounting for well over half of total card usage, central bank data showed. The daily average spending on credit and debit cards by individuals and businesses stood at 3.51 trillion won ($2.55 billion) during the January-June period, up 3.7 percent from the same period last year, according to the data from the Bank of Korea. Excluding cash cards, payments made through channels o
Oct. 14, 2025 - 08:00:00
Baseball
[Graphic News] Dodgers surpass 4m fans in historic season

The Los Angeles Dodgers have drawn over 4 million fans in a single season for the first time in franchise history. Their final regular-season home game against the San Francisco Giants brought 46,601 fans to Dodger Stadium, pushing the 2025 season total to 4,012,470. The reigning World Series champions led Major League Baseball in average attendance, drawing 49,537 fans per game. The Dodgers become the fifth MLB franchise to surpass 4 million fans in a single season, joining the Blue Jays, Rocki
Oct. 2, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Asphyxiation leading cause of camping accidents over past 5 Years

According to data from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, there were 56 camping-related accidents nationwide between 2020 and June 2025, resulting in 39 deaths and 67 injuries. The leading cause of the accidents was asphyxiation, accounting for 23 cases (41 percent) followed by fires, gas explosions, vehicle accidents, natural disasters and water accidents. Safety inspections revealed widespread non-compliance with regulations. Between 2023 and 2024, 43-49 percent of summer campsites a
Oct. 1, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Japan, Jeju top Chuseok travel picks for Koreans

Travel interest is surging ahead of the Chuseok holiday, when millions of Koreans will have the chance to take 10 consecutive days off work using just one day of annual leave. According to digital travel platform Agoda, searches for domestic and international trips during Chuseok have risen by 29 percent and 19 percent, respectively, compared to last year. Based on lodging data from May to August for Korean users, three of the top five international destinations are in Japan. Tokyo ranked No. 1,
Sept. 30, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Bangkok tops Gen Z city list

According to a recent survey by British travel magazine Time Out, Thailand’s capital Bangkok is the top-ranking city for Generation Z to live in. The survey polled 18,500 residents under 30 years old, evaluating cities on food, nightlife, affordability, culture and happiness. Bangkok topped the list largely due to its high happiness rating, with 84 percent of respondents reporting satisfaction with life there and 71 percent praising its affordability. Australia’s cultural capital, Melbourne, ran
Sept. 29, 2025 - 08:00:00