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Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Number of coffee shops shrinks in Q1

The numbers of coffee shops, eateries and convenience stores in South Korea are on the wane amid a prolonged economic slowdown and sluggish domestic demand, data shows. According to data compiled by the National Tax Service, 95,337 coffeehouses were in service in the first quarter, down by 743 from the same period a year prior. In 2018, there were just 45,203 such cafes, before the figure jumped to 53,102 in 2019, 62,916 in 2020, 72,847 in 2021, 85,609 in 2022 and 93,913 in 2023. Fast food chain
June 9, 2025 - 08:00:00
Politics
[Graphic News] Half of Koreans favor return to Cheong Wa Dae

Nearly half of the public selected Cheong Wa Dae (the former Blue House) as their top choice for the presidential office that the next administration should use. Support for the Government Complex Sejong and the current Yongsan presidential office both fell in the 20 percent range. According to a Media Tomato poll published in May, when asked, “Where do you think the next government should establish the presidential office?” 47.3 percent of respondents chose Cheong Wa Dae. This was followed by 2
June 4, 2025 - 08:00:00
Politics
[Graphic News] Voters reveal priorities in choosing president

Over one-third of all voters cited “capability and experience” as the most important factor when choosing a candidate to vote for in the presidential election, according to a recent survey. This was followed by “policies and pledges” at 27.8 percent, “morality” at 25.3 percent, “party affiliation” at 5.6 percent and “electability” at 4.7 percent. The survey was commissioned by the Local Korea Press Association and conducted by polling agency Ace Research. It was carried out nationwide from May 2
June 3, 2025 - 08:00:00
Politics
[Graphic News] Early-voting turnout hits second-highest level ever

More than 15 million voters have cast ballots in early voting for the presidential election, according to the National Election Commission on Friday, with attention now turning to how the near-record turnout might affect Election Day voting on Tuesday. The final early-voting turnout was 34.74 percent, the second-highest figure since nationwide early voting was introduced in 2014, according to the NEC. This year's turnout is down 2.19 percentage points from the all-time high of 36.93 percent, rec
June 2, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Most new hires quit due to job mismatch

The most frequently cited reason for new hires leaving is a mismatch between job roles and employee expectations (58.9 percent), followed by low pay and an incompatible company culture, a survey has found. The survey was conducted by HR tech firm Incruit and based on responses from 446 human resources professionals. Over 80 percent of respondents said early resignations hurt morale and operations, citing wasted resources, heavier workloads, weaker team cohesion and rising turnover. The survey, f
May 29, 2025 - 08:00:00
Social Affairs
[Graphic News] Number of bank branches falls for 6th straight year

The number of bank branches fell for the sixth year running in 2024 amid the popularity of mobile and online banking services, data showed. South Korean banks ran 5,792 branches at home and abroad combined as of end-December, down 57 from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Bank of Korea. Banks have opted to shut down branches as part of cost-cutting measures as more customers prefer mobile and internet banking. The pace of branch closures appears to be accelerating this year.
May 28, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] S. Korea places 20th in UN quality of life ranking

South Korea ranked 20th out of 193 countries in the United Nations Development Program’s Human Development Index, which evaluates the quality of life in each country. According to the UNDP’s 2025 Human Development Report, South Korea achieved an HDI score of 0.937 for 2023, up from 0.928 the previous year. Despite the increase, the country slipped one spot in the global ranking, from 19th to 20th. Iceland topped the list, followed by Norway, Switzerland and Denmark. Among neighboring countries,
May 27, 2025 - 08:00:00
Industry
[Graphic News] S. Korea’s venture investment soars 34% in Q1

South Korea’s investment in startups jumped 34 percent from a year earlier in the first quarter, government data showed. A total of 2.62 trillion won ($1.88 billion) was invested in promising venture firms and startups during the January-March period, up from 1.96 trillion won a year earlier, according to the data from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. It was the second-highest amount ever recorded for a first quarter, following 3.92 trillion won in 2022, when local startup investment surged am
May 26, 2025 - 08:00:04
WorldNews
[Graphic News] South Korea has fewest children among major nations

A recent study has revealed that South Korea has the lowest proportion of children among countries with populations exceeding 40 million. According to research based on the Japanese government’s analysis of a United Nations population report, children aged 14 and under account for just 10.6 percent of South Korea’s total population as of July 1. This is the lowest figure among 37 countries with more than 40 million people. South Korea has held the bottom spot on the list since 2020, overtaking J
May 22, 2025 - 08:00:00
Golf
[Graphic News] S. Korean golfers regain momentum on LPGA Tour

Ryu Hae-ran recently captured a wire-to-wire victory at the inaugural Black Desert Championship, finishing with a bogey-free final round of 8-under 64 that included six birdies and an eagle. She posted a total score of 26-under 262 to secure the title. This marks the third LPGA Tour win of the year by a South Korean golfer. While Korean players have faced challenges on the LPGA Tour in recent years, standout performers such as Ryu Hae-ran, Amy Yang, Kim Hyo-joo and Kim A-lim continue to deliver
May 21, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Countries with most Eurovision wins

Austria triumphed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, with JJ’s captivating performance of “Wasted Love.” This opera-pop fusion won over both juries and audiences, earning 436 points and narrowly edging out Israel’s Yuval Raphael, whose song “New Day Will Rise” garnered 357 points. This marks Austria’s third Eurovision victory, following previous wins in 1966 and 2014. Historically, Ireland and Sweden share the record for the most Eurovision titles, each with seven wins. I
May 20, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Incheon airport ranks 3rd in international passenger traffic last year

South Korea’s Incheon International Airport ranked third in international passenger traffic last year, its highest ranking since opening in 2001, the airport’s operator said. The country’s main airport, located about 45 kilometers west of Seoul in Incheon, previously ranked seventh in 2023 and fifth in both 2018 and 2019, the Incheon International Airport Corp. said in a press release. In 2024, a total of 70.67 million passengers used international routes via Incheon Airport, up 26.7 percent fro
May 19, 2025 - 08:00:00
More sports
[Graphic News] Jordan, Woods dominate all-time sports earnings

According to Sportico’s list of the 50 highest-paid athletes of all time, Michael Jordan leads with $4.15 billion in career earnings, fueled largely by his long-standing partnership with Nike and the sale of his stake in the Charlotte Hornets. Tiger Woods ranks second with $2.79 billion, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo ($2.23 billion), LeBron James ($1.88 billion) and Lionel Messi ($1.85 billion), rounding out the top five. Golf legends Arnold Palmer ($1.82 billion) and Jack Nicklaus ($1.75 billio
May 15, 2025 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Working from home in Korea weakest among major countries

South Korean workers spend the least amount of time working from home compared to other major countries, according to a new study. Stanford University surveyed 16,000 university graduates across 40 countries to determine the average number of days worked from home between late 2024 and early 2025. The results were shared with The Economist, the UK-based business weekly. According to the report, college-educated Canadians lead the world in remote work, averaging 1.9 days per week from home. They
May 14, 2025 - 08:00:00
World Business
[Graphic News] Samsung back on top of global smartphone market in Q1

Samsung Electronics has reclaimed its position as the world’s leading smartphone vendor, surpassing Apple in the first quarter of this year. According to market research firms Counterpoint Research, IDC and Canalys, Samsung ranked first in market share, selling 61 million smartphones and holding a 20 percent share during the period. This growth in shipments was driven by the success of the Galaxy S25 series and the early launch of the new Galaxy A series. Apple, which sold 58 million smartphones
May 13, 2025 - 08:00:00