[Graphic News] Fortune 500 companies

The number of companies from the U.S., Japan and Germany on the Fortune 500 list has been decreasing while more and more Chinese firms have made the list.Meanwhile 14 Korean companies including Samsung Electronics were included on the 2013 list, showing little change in number over the past five years.

July 25, 2013

[Graphic News] Fertility rate forecast

The total fertility rate is the average number of children that would be born to a woman during her lifetime.

Social AffairsJuly 24, 2013

[Graphic News] Lotto winnings remain unclaimed

According to data released by the Korea Lottery Commission, unclaimed lottery prize money from 2009 to July 15 in 2013 amounted to 178 billion won. The fifth prize of 5,000 won took up about 61 percent of the unclaimed money. Winners have 12 months to claim their winnings. (Unit: billion won)

July 23, 2013

[Graphic News] Hallyu earnings rocket

Thanks to a surge in exports of hallyu-related products, Korean entertainment-related firms including filmmakers, broadcasters and game makers earned about $800 million in royalties from foreign firms and individuals’ use of their intellectual property rights last year. It is an increase of 17.6 percent from the previous year that posted $680 million, according to data from the Bank of Korea.

Social AffairsJuly 22, 2013

[Graphic News] Korea’s contribution to cost of USFK upkeep

South Korea and the United States will hold a second round of talks in Seoul on Wednesday and Thursday to renew a cost-sharing agreement for American troops stationed here.

DefenseJuly 21, 2013

[Graphic News] Summer food and beverage prices

According to Statistics Korea, food and beverage prices surged 1.6 percent in June from a year earlier, outpacing the 1.0 percent increase in overall consumer prices. Officials speculate that the extended heat wave may have contributed to the growth.

July 18, 2013

[Graphic News] Korea’s producer prices continue to fall

According to the Bank of Korea, the producer price index, a barometer of future consumer inflation, edged down 1.4 percent from a year earlier mainly due to a drop in farm and fisheries production. It marked a decline for the ninth consecutive month.

July 17, 2013

[Graphic News] Employees’ declining working hours

According to a recent survey conducted by Job Korea, an online job portal, working hours per day for Korean workers averaged 9 hours and 26 minutes, a decrease of about 40 minutes from the 10 hours and 6 minutes found in a similar poll in 2008.

Social AffairsJuly 16, 2013

[Graphic News] Issuance of bank notes, checks decreases

According to the Bank of Korea, the number of bank notes and checks issued in Korea has decreased since the introduction in 2009 of the 50,000 won note, the country’s highest denomination bill.

July 15, 2013

[Graphic News] South and North Korean economy

According to a report released by the Bank of Korea in Seoul last week, North Korea’s nominal gross national income amounted to 33.5 trillion won ($29.8 billion) last year, which is equivalent of 2.6 percent of South Korea’s 2012 GNI of 1,279.5 trillion won.

July 14, 2013

[Graphic News] U.S., China rise as Koreans’ major property flight destinations

According to the Korea Customs Service, the United States and China have been emerging as major destinations for South Koreans seeking to launder money or stash away their wealth overseas.

July 11, 2013

[Graphic News] Global smartphone shipments

Global shipments of high-end smartphones priced at $300 or above are likely to suffer a slowdown in the coming years, according to a report released by Hi Investment & Securities on Wednesday.

July 10, 2013

[Graphic News] Science and technology budget

South Korea is seeking to sharply increase its investment in science and technology, setting a 92.4 trillion won ($80 billion) budget to finance research and development in new growth sectors by 2017.

PeopleJuly 9, 2013

[Graphic News] Investment Banks cut global growth outlook to 2.9%

The average global economic growth outlook for this year provided by 11 foreign investment banks in June was 2.9 percent, a 0.2 percent decrease from the 3.1 percent previously estimated at the end of last year. Korea’s growth forecast was reduced to 2.7 percent from 3.0 percent. The figure was compiled by Yonhap News based on data from financial institutions.

July 8, 2013

[Graphic News] Students’ top dream companies

According to a survey conducted by Incruit, an online job portal, Samsung Electronics topped the list of companies at which university students would like to work most after graduation. It surveyed 747 university students across the nation.

July 7, 2013

[Graphic News] Child abuse increases

Child abuse cases increased by 7.9 percent on-year in 2012, with more than 80 percent committed by parents at home, according to a survey by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Social AffairsJuly 4, 2013

[Graphic News] Cross-border migrating

The number of people moving to and from Korea totaled 1.28 million last year, a 4.4 percent increase from a year earlier, according to Statistics Korea. But net migration, the difference between the numbers of immigrants and emigrants, fell to just 7,000 people.

July 3, 2013

[Graphic News] Korea’s trade balance in H1

Korea’s exports dropped for the first time in four months in June, indicating that the nation still faces external economic uncertainty amid the global slowdown. (Source: The Trade Ministry)

July 2, 2013

[Graphic News] Young people’s share of working population shrinks

Statistics Korea said Monday that the proportion of younger people in Korea’s total working population has dropped sharply over the past three decades, raising concerns that the decline could undermine the country’s overall growth potential. (Source: Statistics Korea)

July 1, 2013

[Graphic News] Brand value in Korea

According to Brandstock, a brand consultancy in Korea, Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy smartphone series topped the list for brand power for the second half of this year. Also noteworthy was mobile messenger Kakao Talk jumping to 15th, from 28th in the first half of the year.

IndustryJune 30, 2013