[Graphic News] 6 stars for whom Olympics in 2021 may come too late

　With the 2020 Olympics postponed until 2021, there are fears the delay will shatter the gold medal hopes of many aging athletes. 　AFP Sport looks at six evergreen stars for whom a delayed Tokyo Games might be a step too far. 　 1. Roger Federer 　The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who will be 40 in August 2021, won Olympic gold when he partnered Stan Wawrinka to the men’s doubles title at the 2008 Beijing Games. Federer was a quarterfinalist in singles in China and a silver medalist in 2

SportsMarch 29, 2020

[Graphic News] Secondhand smoke kills 880,000 people per year worldwide

　More than 880,000 people worldwide died from exposure to secondhand smoke in 2016, compared with nearly 950,000 in 1990, an analysis published by JAMA Network Open concluded. 　This despite the fact that there were more smokers globally in 2016 - nearly 1 billion, thanks in large part to the increasing popularity of the habit in Asia and Africa - than in 1990, when roughly 850 million people smoked worldwide. 　The figures suggest that one nonsmoker died from exposure to secondhand smoke for

TechnologyMarch 26, 2020

[Graphic News] S. Korea begins coronavirus tests on all arrivals from Europe

　Starting Sunday, all people traveling to South Korea from Europe are required to take COVID-19 tests and undergo a two-week quarantine regardless of symptoms. 　Of the 1,444 people who landed in Korea from Europe on Sunday, 19 tested positive for the virus, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 　As of Tuesday, the KCDC, said, Korea had reported 9,037 cases total, including 171 imported cases. Of the 76 new cases reported Tuesday, 22 of the patients had been inf

Social AffairsMarch 25, 2020

[Graphic News] Number of marriages hits record low in 2019

　The number of South Koreans getting married sank to an all-time low in 2019, government data showed, as young people increasingly delay marriage amid a prolonged economic slowdown. 　The number of couples tying the knot in Asia’s fourth-largest economy reached 239,200 in 2019, down 7.2 percent from the previous year, according to the data from Statistics Korea. 　The figure is the lowest since 1970, when the statistical agency began compiling related data. (Yonhap)

Social AffairsMarch 24, 2020

[Graphic News] S. Korea’s exports of masks up 2,200% in Feb.

　South Korea’s exports of protective masks surged nearly 23-fold in February from a year earlier amid the global outbreak of the new coronavirus, data showed, although the volume is likely to plummet this month in line with the export ban. 　Outbound shipments of textile articles, which include masks, came to $157 million in February, up from $6.85 million a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Korea International Trade Association. It also more than doubled from $70 mil

BusinessMarch 23, 2020

[Graphic News] No. of foreign residents in Korea falls below 2.5 million

　The number of foreigners staying in South Korea fell nearly 4 percent in January this year, after topping a landmark 2.5 million the previous month, government data showed. 　According to data released by the Ministry of Justice, 2,426,433 foreigners were residing in the country as of the first month of 2020, marking a decline of 3.9 percent from 2,524,656 last December. 　The ministry also said the number of Korean nationals leaving the country in January increased 7.4 percent on-month to

Social AffairsMarch 22, 2020

[Graphic News] Korean adults read fewer books

　South Korean adults spent less time reading books last year, in contrast to children, a survey said. 　According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s latest survey on the reading habits of  Koreans, adults read an annual average of 7.5 books in 2019, marking a decline of 1.9 books from 9.4 books read in 2017. 　On the other hand, elementary, middle and high school students read an average of 40.7 books annually, up 6.4 books from 34.3 books recorded two years ago, the

Social AffairsMarch 19, 2020

[Graphic News] COVID-19 most seriously affects older people

　The World Health Organization called for countries to test suspected cases of COVID-19, as the rest of the world registered more infections and deaths in the pandemic than China. 　The worst affected countries in terms of fatalities are mainland China, with more than 3,200 deaths, Italy with more than 2,000 deaths, over 853 in Iran and above 300 in Spain. 　The death rate is highest among more elderly groups and poses a higher risk to people with preexisting health conditions, such as diabe

Social AffairsMarch 18, 2020

[Graphic News] Korea's traffic deaths dip 11% in 2019

　The number of traffic fatalities in South Korea fell 11.4 percent last year from a year earlier, data showed. 　A total of 3,349 people died from car accidents in 2019, down from 3,781 tallied a year earlier, according to data compiled by the Land and Transport Ministry and the National Police Agency. 　The annual number of traffic deaths in the country has fallen steadily every year since 2015. (Yonhap)

Social AffairsMarch 17, 2020

[Graphic News] Samsung retains top spot in S. American smartphone market: data

　Samsung Electronics retained its dominant position in the South American smartphone market last year, data showed. 　Samsung accounted for 38 percent of the South American smartphone market in 2019, up 1.4 percentage points from a year earlier, according to market researcher Counterpoint Research. 　Motorola was the runner-up with a 15.5 percent market share, up 2.7 percentage points from a year ago, while Huawei Technologies came in third place and LG Electronics and Apple were fourth and

World BusinessMarch 16, 2020

[Graphic News] 40% of S. Korean firms support work from home amid coronavirus scare

　Four out of 10 companies in South Korea are willing to allow their employees to work from home on hopes of containing the coronavirus outbreak, a poll showed. 　The South Korean government has urged local communities to take part in social distancing, a series of tactics designed to keep people from gathering in large crowds, including working from home and avoiding in-person meetings. 　A survey released by the online job portal Saramin showed about 40.5 percent of the 1,089 local firms sa

Social AffairsMarch 15, 2020

[Graphic News] Huge locust outbreak in East Africa

　The worst locust outbreak that parts of East Africa have seen in 70 years has reached South Sudan, a country where roughly half the population already faces hunger after years of civil war, officials announced. Around 2,000 locusts were spotted inside the country. 　According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the locusts have been seen in Eastern Equatoria state near the borders with Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. All have been affected by the changing climate in the region. 　Swarms

World NewsMarch 12, 2020

[Graphic News] Korea's electronic financial transactions grow in 2019

　The amount of daily financial transactions using credit cards and electronic means continued to grow last year while the use of checks and promissory notes continued to dwindle, central bank data showed. 　The value of daily financial transactions using non-cash payment methods, including remittance services, came to 81.4 trillion won ($68.7 billion) in 2019, up 1 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from the Bank of Korea. 　The daily use of cards, including debit cards, amoun

BusinessMarch 11, 2020

[Graphic News] COVID-19 confirmed cases in South Korea

COVID-19 confirmed cases in S. Korea (As of March 9) 　 Total confirmed cases: 7,382 Death: 53 Released: 166 Total inspections: 189,236 Under inspection: 17,458 Negative: 171,778

Social AffairsMarch 9, 2020

[Graphic News] 74% of women face discrimination: survey

　The overwhelming majority of working women in South Korea say they have experienced some form of gender discrimination, including sexual harassment and wage discrimination, according to a local survey. 　The Korean Women Workers Association said the survey of 404 women that took place from Jan. 16 to Feb. 25 indicates most respondents, - 74 percent - experience some form of discrimination. 　Respondents said they are victims of a gender wage gap, 54.5 percent said they have been unable to b

Social AffairsMarch 8, 2020

[Graphic News] Poll finds improved foreign sentiment toward Korean cultural content

　Foreign sentiment toward South Korean cultural content marked an overall improvement last year on the strength of the continued popularity of the Korean Wave, according to a poll released by a government agency. 　The survey of 8,000 people in 17 countries who had experienced Korean cultural content, conducted by the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, showed that foreigners’ favorability toward Korean TV dramas rose to 76 percent in 2019, compared to 73.4 percent f

EntertainmentMarch 5, 2020

[Graphic News] Samsung’s Q4 smartphone share rises in Europe: data

　Samsung Electronics’ share in European smartphone market advanced slightly in the fourth quarter last year, benefiting from rival Huawei Technologies’ struggle with a US trade ban, data showed. 　The South Korean tech giant had a 27 percent market share, up 2 percentage points from a year earlier, according to market researcher Counterpoint Research. 　The world’s largest smartphone maker apparently enlarged its presence after Huawei was barred from installing Google ser

BusinessMarch 4, 2020

[Graphic News] Feb. movie admissions plummet to 16-year low

　The number of moviegoers in South Korea last month dropped to its lowest level for the month of February in 16 years, as people stayed home over growing fears of the novel coronavirus. 　According to the Korean Film Council, just over 7.34 million people went to the movies in February, the lowest for the month since 3.11 million watched films in February 2004. 　In February 2019, almost 22.3 million tickets were sold across the nation. (Yonhap)

Social AffairsMarch 3, 2020

[Graphic News] S. Korea’s total birthrate hits new low in 2019

　South Korea’s birthrate hit an all-time low in 2019, government data shows, a clear sign of a coming population decline down the road. 　The country’s total birthrate, which refers to the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime, came to 0.92 last year, down from 0.98 a year earlier, according to data from Statistics Korea. 　Last year marked the second consecutive year for the rate to fall below 1. South Korea was the only member of the Organization for Economic

Social AffairsMarch 2, 2020

[Graphic News] Coffee market grows 2.2%

　The South Korean market for coffee drinks expanded more than 2 percent in 2019 thanks mainly to strong sales of bottled products, a market tracker said. 　Sales of coffee drinks came to 1.32 trillion won ($1.1 billion) last year, up 2.2 percent from the previous year, according to Nielsen Korea. 　Shipments of bottled coffee drinks shot up 60.1 percent on-year to 185.8 billion won in 2019, leading the overall market growth. 　In contrast, sales of canned products shrank 6.1 percent on-year

FoodMarch 1, 2020