The Korea Herald Series

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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
Consumer
[Graphic News] Egg prices to stay high in Korea

Egg prices in Korea have climbed to their highest levels in nearly four years and are expected to remain elevated in the near term. As of last month, the average retail price for a tray of 30 large eggs reached 7,034 won, surpassing 7,000 won for the first time since July 2021. According to a report by the Korea Rural Economic Institute, the farm gate price for 10 large eggs this month is projected to rise by 12.4–18.5 percent year-on-year, reaching between 1,850 and 1,950 won. Compared to the f
June 30, 2025 - 08:00:00
Soccer
[Graphic News] S. Korea secures 11th consecutive World Cup berth

South Korea has reached a remarkable milestone by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the 11th consecutive time. Led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, the national team clinched a 2-0 victory over Iraq in Basra during the ninth match of Group B in the third round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in North and Central America (CONCACAF region). With five wins and four draws, South Korea finished at the top of its group with 19 points, securing direct qualification for t
June 26, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] US troop deployment in Middle East

On Monday, a day before US President Trump announced an Israel-Iran ceasefire, Tehran launched missile attacks toward US military bases in Qatar and Iraq in retaliation for the US attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities. However, Iran notified the US and Qatar of the planned attacks, and Washington and Iranian officials sent messages hoping for lowered hostilities. Iran's retaliatory attacks are being assessed as limited. The map on the right shows current US troop deployments in the Middle
June 25, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Details of US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities

US President Donald Trump directly intervened in the Israel-Iran conflict on Saturday by using American military force to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities. The following provides details on the targets hit and the weapons used.
June 24, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Foreign-owned homes in Korea top 100,000 for 1st time

The number of homes owned by foreign nationals in South Korea exceeded 100,000 for the first time in 2024, with Chinese nationals accounting for more than half of the total, government data showed. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, foreign ownership reached 100,216 housing units as of the end of December 2024, an increase of 5.4 percent from six months earlier. Foreign-owned homes now represent 0.52 percent of all registered housing units in the country. A total of
June 23, 2025 - 08:00:00
Soccer
[Graphic News] Real Madrid becomes world’s most valuable soccer club

Forbes has named Real Madrid the world’s most valuable soccer club, with a valuation of $6.75 billion - a 2 percent increase from 2024. The Spanish giant also became the first soccer club in history to surpass $1 billion in annual revenue, reporting $1.13 billion for the 2023-24 season. Manchester United ranked second at $6.6 billion with $834 million in revenue, followed by Barcelona at $5.65 billion. According to Forbes, the top 30 clubs are now collectively worth more than $72 billion, averag
June 19, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Seoul climbs to No. 15 in global city rankings

Seoul has ranked No. 15 in a global index of 1,000 cities, climbing 26 spots from No. 41 last year. The 2025 Global Cities Index, compiled by Oxford Economics, evaluates cities based on five categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York topped the list, followed by London and Paris in second and third place, respectively, with Tokyo being the only Asian city in the top 10, ranking No. 9. Out of the five categories, Seoul ranked 5th globally — and hig
June 18, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Iceland tops safest countries list; S. Korea ranks No. 46

Some countries now report crime rates so low that police are more likely to rescue cats than respond to violent incidents. While much of the world tightens security in response to growing threats, citizens in these peaceful nations focus on improving health care, education and work-life balance. The Global Peace Index 2024 ranks 163 countries based on 23 indicators, including crime rates, military expenditure, internal conflict and political stability. Iceland tops the list, followed by Ireland
June 17, 2025 - 08:00:00
Market
[Graphic News] Tesla leads imported car sales for first time

Tesla topped South Korea's imported car sales for the first time last month, industry data showed. According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association, 28,189 imported cars were newly registered in May, marking a 16.4 percent increase from the previous year and a 31.1 percent rise from April. KAIDA attributed the sales growth to smoother supply conditions for some brands and the impact of new model launches. Tesla secured the top spot with 6,570 units sold in May, a 57.7 perce
June 16, 2025 - 08:00:00
Soccer
[Graphic News] Korean soccer stars shine in Europe

In the 2025 season, South Korean soccer reached new heights as three national stars — Kim Min-jae, Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min — each lifted major trophies with their European clubs. Kim Min-jae anchored Bayern Munich’s defense en route to winning the 2024–25 Bundesliga, securing his first German league title. In doing so, he became the first Korean player to win top-flight championships in two of Europe’s Big Five leagues, having previously triumphed in Serie A with Napoli. Lee Kang-in enjoye
June 12, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Average book price nears 20,000 won

As the average price of a new book in South Korea approaches 20,000 won ($14.70), readers are increasingly feeling the financial burden, driving up demand for more affordable secondhand books. According to recent data from the Korean Publishers Association, the average price of newly released books in 2023 was 19,526 won, marking a 4.8 percent increase from 18,633 won the previous year. Book prices have been climbing steadily since 2020, when the average new book price stood at 16,420 won. Over
June 11, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Registered drones surge sevenfold in 5 years

The number of registered drones in South Korea has increased sevenfold over the past five years, reflecting their growing role in daily life and industry. As of April, 67,902 drones were registered with authorities -- an increase of nearly 3,000 from 64,863 recorded at the end of last year, according to data from the Korea Transportation Safety Authority and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Drone registrations have risen dramatically in recent years, climbing from 2,226 in 201
June 10, 2025 - 08:00:00