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Market
[Graphic News] Imports of frozen fruit hit new record in 2023 on higher fresh produce prices

South Korea’s imports of frozen fruit products hit a new record in 2023, data showed Sunday, amid the growing burden on consumers to purchase fresh goods due to lingering inflation. The country’s imports of frozen fruit products came to 64,000 metric tons in 2023, up 6 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Korea Rural Economic Institute. In 2023, prices of agricultural, livestock and fishery products climbed 3.1 percent on-year. Of major items, the prices of apples a
March 7, 2024 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Biden ranks 14th-best US president, while Trump ranks last

In a survey of Americans as to how to evaluate the former US presidents’ achievements, Joe Biden placed 14th, and Donald Trump was 45th - rock bottom. The survey “Presidential Greatness Project” was conducted by the University of Houston and Coastal Carolina University, and asked around 200 experts working on presidential politics for their preferences. In a scale of zero to 100, Biden received 62.66 points, while Trump scored 10.92 and placed lowest, below 44th-ranked single-term ex-President J
March 6, 2024 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] Global military spending hits $2.2tr

Global defense spending rose 9 percent to reach a record $2.2 trillion amid multiple wars and ensuing uncertainties in 2023, a British military think tank said. The International Institute of Strategic Studies forecast that such budgets would increase further, considering the continued Russia-Ukraine war into a third year and international uncertainties surrounding the Middle East after the Gaza offensives. More than half of defense spending was made by NATO members, with US expenditure at $905.
March 5, 2024 - 08:00:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] S. Korea has fourth-most Starbucks stores in 2023

South Korea held the fourth-largest number of Starbucks stores around the globe as of last year, data showed, driven by solid demand from local consumers. South Korea held 1,893 Starbucks stores as of 2023, up 116 from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the US coffee giant. The figure falls just behind Japan’s count at 1,901, despite the Asian neighbor having a population twice the size of South Korea’s. The Seattle-based coffee giant introduced its first store in Seoul in 1999 in
March 4, 2024 - 08:00:00
Social affairs
[Graphic News] Koreans had more leisure time last year

　Koreans are surveyed to have had more leisure time and spent more money on leisure activities on average in 2018 than previous years. 　On average, people had 3.3 hours of free time per weekday and 5.3 hours per weekend, the Culture Ministry said, citing the outcome of its 2018 survey on national leisure activities of 10,498 people aged over 15 in 17 cities across the nation via one-on-one interviews. 　The figures were increases from 3.1 hours and 5 hours in 2016, respectively, according to the
Jan. 31, 2019 - 17:16:00
Industry
[Graphic News] Planes operated by S. Korea LCCs hit 140 in 2018

　The combined number of passenger planes operated by South Korea’s six low-cost carriers extended to 140 airplanes last year, challenging the 167 airplanes owned by the national flag carrier Korean Air Lines, the government said. 　The six LCCs -- Jeju Air, Jin Air, Air Busan, Air Seoul, Eastar Jet and T’way Air -- have aggressively expanded their fleet to meet growing travel demand on short-haul routes to Asian cities. 　The budget carriers and two full-service carriers -- Korean Air and Asiana A
Jan. 30, 2019 - 17:46:00
Social affairs
[Graphic News] No. of Japanese visitors to S. Korea jumps more than 28% in 2018

　The number of Japanese visitors to South Korea increased at the fastest rate in nine years in 2018. 　According to data from Statistics Korea, the number of Japanese visitors to the country spiked 28.1 percent on-year to more than 2.92 million in 2018. The rate of increase was the highest since 2009, when the figure rose 28.7 percent from the previous year. 　On the other hand, the rise in the number of South Korean visitors to Japan slowed from a year earlier, according to data from the Japanese
Jan. 29, 2019 - 18:21:00
WorldNews
[Graphic News] "Living Coral" is 2019 color of the year

　Following 2018’s dramatic Ultra Violet, Pantone’s Color of the Year 2019 is Living Coral. 　Pantone Color Institute describes the color that “Living Coral is a bright pink-orange hue with a soft, golden undertone, making it a more livable shade of coral than we’ve seen in the past.” 　Pantone announces a new color of the year every December, based on its trend-forecasting research.
Jan. 28, 2019 - 17:57:00
Defense
[Graphic News] S. Korea 3rd-largest importer of US weapons

　South Korea bought US weapons worth a total of $6.73 billion from 2008 to 2017, becoming the third-largest importer of arms produced by its ally, according to an annual analysis of the defense market. 　According to the 2018 Global Defense Market Yearbook by the state-run Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, Saudi Arabia topped the list of importers of US weapons, followed by Australia, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. 　In the decade starting 2008, Saudi Arabia imported $10.63 bil
Jan. 27, 2019 - 18:02:00
Social affairs
[Graphic News] More than 8 in 10 foreigners have positive image of Korea

　According to an online survey of 8,000 people in 16 countries, including South Korea, 80.3 percent of foreign respondents positively rated the nation’s image. 　Notably, 34.6 percent expressed a “very positive” impression of the nation, the survey showed. It was jointly conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the affiliated Korea Culture and Information Service. 　Forty percent of foreign respondents said Korea’s most representative image was in Korean cuisine, 22.8 percent i
Jan. 24, 2019 - 16:33:00
World Business
[Graphic News] London retains tech startup crown

　London is Europe’s most attractive city for technology startups, despite a sharp slowdown last year, a study showed. 　With Brexit looming, the mayor’s promotional agency, London & Partners, said 1.8 billion pounds ($2.3 billion) had been invested in fledgling tech businesses in 2018. 　That represented a near 30 percent slump compared with 2017 and was the first slowdown in six years, L&P said in a statement. 　But London’s 2018 total was still double that of Berlin, which stood in second place,
Jan. 23, 2019 - 18:11:00
Social affairs
[Graphic News] Eating out declined in 2018: survey

　South Koreans dined out less frequently in 2018 compared with 2017, according to a recent survey. 　The survey involved 3,014 people aged 20-69, and revealed that Koreans dined out an average of 20.8 times per month last year. The comparable figure a year earlier was 21.8. 　They made an average of 13.7 visits to restaurants per month, with delivered or takeout meals accounting for the remainder. 　Average spending on eating out stood at 292,689 won ($260.40) per month, about 11,000 won lower than
Jan. 22, 2019 - 18:09:00
Social affairs
[Graphic News] Poll shows 8 in 10 exposed to secondhand smoke from neighbors

　As many as 8 in 10 South Koreans have experienced exposure to secondhand smoke from neighbors, but most refrained from complaining, a poll showed. 　The survey of 1,542 residents of Gyeonggi Province -- the nation’s most populous province, which surrounds Seoul -- found that 1,197 respondents, or 78 percent, had been subjected to harm as a result of smoking by their neighbors. 　The poll was conducted by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government from Dec. 21-27 last year on its online site. 　Seventy-fou
Jan. 21, 2019 - 18:13:00
Defense
[Graphic News] S. Korea to increase defense spending

　South Korea will increase defense spending by an average of 7.5 percent each year over the next five years, the Defense Ministry said. 　The ministry announced its defense blueprint for the 2019-2023 period, when it intends to spend 270.7 trillion won ($241 billion) -- 94.1 trillion won on improving defense capabilities and the rest on managing troops, equipment and facilities. 　Under the plan, the ministry seeks to increase the country’s defense budget, which stands at 46.7 trillion won this y
Jan. 20, 2019 - 18:05:00
Social affairs
[Graphic News] Number of abandoned pets increases in S. Korea

　The number of abandoned animals continued to increase in South Korea, amid the growing number of households raising pets, government data shows. 　The number of abandoned animals stood at 102,593 in 2017, gradually rising from 81,147 in 2014. The number of households raising pets also increased from 4.57 million in 2015 to 5.39 million in 2017, according to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. 　On average, 281 pets were abandoned every day in 2017. 　In the wake of
Jan. 17, 2019 - 16:35:00