Only one-third of young diabetic Koreans receiving treatment: data

Suspected diabetes cases are surging among young Koreans, but only one-third are receiving treatment. Nearly 1 in 5 Koreans aged 19-39 are showing signs of prediabetic conditions, with the ratio rising to 1 in 3 among men in their 30s. These are some of the key findings of a study conducted by the Korean Diabetes Association, which analyzed blood test data of Koreans who underwent state-offered medical checkups from 2019 to 2022. According to its analysis, 307,965 Koreans aged 19 to 39 had high

Nov. 10, 2024

Raising bookworms or robots? Why private reading academies thrive

How can you cultivate a lifelong love of reading in your child? Reading them a story before bed, sharing stories and regular library visits might come to mind. In Korea, there’s another option that is popular with parents: sending your kids to private reading academies. At a typical one, children read for a designated time, followed by activities such as writing summaries, studying vocabulary and engaging in discussions about the material with the teacher. For older students, the curricu

Nov. 10, 2024

By tree color, Busan still holds on to summer

While the country faces chilly weather on Thursday with the onset of winter based on the lunar calendar, Busan has yet to burst into autumn gold and amber, leaving foliage spots still verdant, the state weather agency said. According to the Busan branch of the Korea Meteorological Administration, as of Wednesday, South Korea's second-largest city has not officially begun its autumn foliage season, nearly a week behind the city’s average, with ginkgo trees typically changing color by

Nov. 7, 2024

Seoul reports positive feedback from plant distribution project

Seoul’s plant-distribution initiative has proven effective in improving the mental health of young Koreans living in social isolation and seclusion, city officials said Tuesday. In a survey of 302 Seoul residents aged 19 to 39 who received free plants such as ivy, dwarf umbrella trees, hoya lisa, and Chinese evergreens as part of the city-run program, 90.9 percent reported that growing the plants at home positively impacted their mental well-being. Participants reported increased self-effi

Nov. 5, 2024

[AtoZ into Korean mind] Ever noticed some Koreans talk to themselves?

An older Korean person at your usual bus stop mumbles something that sounds almost like a question about the weather. To be polite, you respond, only for them to glance at you and dismiss it casually with a shrug, saying, "Oh, I was just talking to myself." A 36-year-old American living in Seoul surnamed Rodriguez recalls encountering this situation upon first arriving here. Near him, an older Korean woman had murmured in Korean, “It's so cold." Assuming she was speakin

Nov. 3, 2024

6 in 10 college seniors, grads not actively job hunting: survey

Over 60 percent of young Korean job candidates are not actively pursuing careers amid intensified negative sentiments surrounding the job market, data showed Tuesday. Some 60.5 percent of 1,235 Korean university seniors and recent graduates — 748 individuals — identified their job-seeking status as passive or dormant, according to a survey conducted this year by The Federation of Korean Industries. This figure combines three groups: 30.9 percent who described their job hunting as per

Oct. 29, 2024

Big data shows Korean workers clock out 19 minutes earlier than 5 years ago

In a potential sign of improving work-life balance in Korea, big data reveals that commuters in five office districts in and around Seoul are leaving the workplace 19 minutes earlier than they did five years ago. KB Kookmin Card, the nation’s second-largest card issuer, released the analysis on Wednesday of card usage data collected from January to August each year between 2019 and 2024. The study tracked subway users in Gangnam, Gwanghwamun, Yeouido and Guro in Seoul, and Pangyo in Gyeo

Oct. 16, 2024

Chinese comprise 90% of foreign investors granted resident visas: data

Nearly 9 in 10 foreign nationals who secured long-term residency in South Korea via financial investments over the past five years are Chinese nationals, according to data. Data from the Ministry of Justice, obtained and released Monday by the Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Jeon Hyun-heui, shows that of 116 foreign investors granted an F-2 residency permit between 2019 and 2023, 89.7 percent, or 104 individuals, were Chinese nationals. Of these Chinese investors, 79.2 percent, or 92, were base

Oct. 14, 2024

Explore Han Kang's Nobel-winning works at outdoor libraries

The works of South Korean Nobel laureate Han Kang are available in 20 languages at Seoul's open-air libraries, city officials said Sunday. The exhibitions, which opened Friday at three locations — Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Plaza and Cheonggyecheon — celebrate the 53-year-old novelist's Nobel Prize win and feature a curated selection of 10 works, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. In addition to her books in the original language, the exhibitions feature transl

Oct. 13, 2024

Han Kang's works fetch premium prices for limited editions

Since Han Kang became the first South Korean novelist to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, her works, especially limited editions, have become valuable premiums on the secondary market. As of Sunday, a hand-signed first edition of Han Kang's 2007 essay collection, "Quietly Sung Songs" was listed for a 700,000 won ($518), on Junggonara, an online secondary market platform. Another user on the same platform posted a purchase request for the first edition of Han Kang's "

Oct. 13, 2024