[Graphic News] Mobile payment on the rise

The use of mobile payment is on the rise with 25.2 percent of South Koreans having used the service within the past six months, the Bank of Korea said.The survey on 2,500 adults conducted between June and July showed that the number of mobile payment users surged by 9.4 percentage points from the same period last year.Mobile payment refers to paying for merchandise at stores or online using one’s mobile phone or other mobile devices.By age, 41.8 percent of those in their 30s said they used mobil

Dec. 26, 2016

[Graphic News] Credit cards used for half of transactions: BOK

The Bank of Korea said the most used payment method in 2016 has been the credit card, used for 54.8 percent of payments, followed by debit cards, account transfers and cash.A survey of 2,500 adults by the Bank of Korea showed that credit cards were the most used payment method of 2015, accounting for 50.6 percent of financial transactions, compared to 34.2 percent a year earlier.South Koreans used credit cards for transactions most often at gas stations, discount stores and department stores.In

World NewsDec. 25, 2016

[Graphic News] At least 57 journalists killed worldwide in 2016

At least 57 journalists have been killed around the world in 2016 while doing their job, Reporters Without Borders said on Monday.The press freedom group said 19 were killed in Syria alone, followed by 10 in Afghanistan, nine in Mexico and five in Iraq.Although it was fewer than the 67 killed in 2015, the group put the decrease down to “the fact that many journalists have fled countries that became too dangerous, especially Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan and Burundi.”Nine bloggers and ei

World NewsDec. 22, 2016

[Graphic News] Flu rapidly spreading among students

The rate of students contracting the influenza virus has reached an all-time high, health authorities said Tuesday. The Education Ministry is instructing schools to consider starting winter vacation earlier than scheduled in an effort to stop the spread of the contagious virus, which is not deadly. The number of flu patients at elementary, middle and high schools per 1,000 students was 152.2 from Dec. 11 to Saturday, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is the

World NewsDec. 21, 2016

[Graphic News] A day in Seoul in numbers

 

World NewsDec. 20, 2016

[Graphic News] Younger Koreans prefer Facebook

A survey by Nielsen Koreanclick showed that the preferred social networking services among South Koreans differed by their age, with the younger smartphone users favoring Facebook and Instagram, and older generation remaining loyal to KakaoStory and Band.Nielsen said community-based services appear to have appealed to the older generation by having a specific purpose of their communities with closer interaction and credibility among the members.The average time spent on social media apps by age

IndustryDec. 19, 2016

[Graphic News] Most expensive cities for expatriates

Tokyo has regained its top spot among the world’s most expensive cities for expatriates for the first time since 2012, on the rise of the yen. On the other hand, London fell out of the top 100 priciest cities after Brexit crushed the pound.The Japanese capital jumped to first place from 12th last year, while Yokohama and Osaka joined the top 10, ECA International said in a report comparing the global cost of living for expatriates. The three cities all leapfrogged Hong Kong, which dropped to 11t

World NewsDec. 18, 2016

[Graphic News] Trump administration nominees

 

World NewsDec. 15, 2016

[Graphic News] Men on paternity leave only fraction of women on maternity leave

More South Korean men took paternity leave over the past decade, but the number still pales in comparison to women on maternity leave, data showed Tuesday. According to data compiled by Statistics Korea, the number of male employees taking paternity leave was 4,874 in 2015, up from 208 in 2005.In comparison, the number of female workers who took time off to care for their children stood at 82,498 in 2015, up from 10,492 in 2005.The statistics office said reasons why women quit their jobs in 2016

World NewsDec. 14, 2016

[Graphic News] Race for next presidency is on

With President Park Geun-hye being impeached by the parliament and facing a disgraceful early exit from office, the race for the country‘s highest office is already shaping up. The election to choose Park’s successor is set for December 2017, but it can be moved forward by several months, depending on how and when the Constitutional Court rules on the fate of the Park presidency. It can either reinstate the sanctioned leader or finalize her removal. The decision must be made by June 6, 2017, or

PoliticsDec. 13, 2016

[Graphic News] Scandal probe in numbers

South Korea’s prosecution on Sunday wrapped up its two-month investigation into a scandal that led to President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment last week. Park was never investigated or prosecuted, even though she was named an accomplice to crimes allegedly committed by her confidante Choi Soon-sil and their shared inner circle. A special counsel, Park Young-soo, is to receive the baton from the prosecution and continue the high-profile probe. 　

PoliticsDec. 12, 2016

[Graphic News] Apparel & footwear firms ranked on forced labor

KnowTheChain launched a ranking of 20 large apparel and footwear companies on their efforts to eradicate forced labor and human trafficking from their supply chains, finding that only a small group of companies have begun to seriously address exploitation. Most companies have systems in place to monitor and react to forced labor and human trafficking, but few companies have begun addressing systemic causes.The five highest performing companies (Adidas, Gap, H&M, Lululemon and Primark) achieved s

World NewsDec. 11, 2016

[Graphic News] Impeachment vote: Will it pass crucial threshold of 200?

South Korea’s parliament will vote Friday on whether to impeach President Park Geun-hye over a scandal that has plunged the country into turmoil. Park‘s liberal foes control 172 votes, 28 shy of the 200, or two-thirds of the 300-seat National Assembly, required for impeachment. The fate of the embattled president hinges on a group of more than 40 Saenuri Party lawmakers, locally referred to as the “non-Park“ cluster because they are in the grey area between pro- and anti-Park forces. A spokesper

PoliticsDec. 8, 2016

[Graphic News] What Park should do?

PoliticsDec. 7, 2016

[Graphic News] Asia’s digital music market flourishes

Asia’s digital music market is expanding as a growing number of millennials prefer streaming online and downloading, according to a report by McKinsey & Company.By region, Japan topped the rank in digital music market sales at $432 million last year. South Korea recorded the second-largest with $173 in sales. China ranked the third earning $152 million last year, seeing the most aggressive 28.5 percent of market growth annually. India and Thailand followed with $58 million and $30 million, respe

IndustryDec. 6, 2016

[Graphic News] Number of multicultural students increases tenfold in 10 years

The number of multicultural students in South Korea has risen by more than tenfold in the past decade, data showed Sunday.According to data from the Ministry of Education, 99,186 multicultural children are currently studying at elementary, middle and high schools in the country, accounting for 1.68 percent of the overall student population.In 2006, there were 9,389 multicultural students who accounted for 0.12 percent of the total.Of the multicultural students, 24.2 percent had a Vietnamese pare

World NewsDec. 5, 2016

[Graphic News] World population grows, young girls struggle: UN

The world‘s population grew slightly to 7.4 billion in 2016, the UN said, with a substantial youth bulge challenging political and social systems across the planet.The United Nations Population Fund released its 2016 State of the World Population report Thursday in Amman, Jordan. Daniel Baker, regional humanitarian coordinator and head of the fund’s Jordan country office, highlighted the potential fallout -- and gains -- to be had by overcoming the world‘s clear gender inequality in the half of

World NewsDec. 4, 2016

[Graphic News] Record number of migrants arrived in Italy

A record number of migrants reached Italy by boat from North Africa in 2016, according to official data, as pressure on Italy’s shelter and asylum systems grows. Italy has borne the brunt of the arrivals since the implementation in March of an agreement between the European Union and Turkey to curb the flow of migrants sailing for Greece. As of Monday, 171,000 migrants had reached Italy’s shores by boat, the Interior Ministry said, compared to the previous record of 170,100 for all of 2014.

World NewsDec. 1, 2016

[Graphic News] Korean students rank 3rd in math and physics education

Ten- and 14-year-old students in South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan outperformed their counterparts in other countries in mathematics, according to the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2015, which compares the mathematics and science abilities of 10- and 14-year-old students. The East Asian countries also proved strong in science education, but the results were varied.

World NewsNov. 30, 2016

[Graphic News] OECD cuts South Korea’s 2017 growth forecast to 2.6%

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has cut its 2017 growth forecast for the South Korean economy to 2.6 percent from an earlier projection of 3 percent, citing slower government spending next year.In its latest global economic outlook, the OECD said Asia’s fourth-largest economy would slightly recover its growth momentum in 2018 with 3 percent growth. The global economy is expected to attain 3.3 percent growth in 2017 and 3.6 percent growth in 2018.OECD’s 2017 growth proje

Nov. 29, 2016