A global survey of experts revealed a significant increase in expectations that South Korea will develop nuclear weapons within the next decade. The Atlantic Council’s survey of 357 strategists from 60 countries found that 40.2 percent believed South Korea was likely to acquire nuclear weapons. This places it just behind Iran (72.8 percent) and Saudi Arabia (41.6 percent) in terms of nuclear weapon acquisition potential. The figure marks a sharp rise from last year’s 25.4 percent. The growing ex

According to recent data from Altrata, the global billionaire population has shifted with the rise of “superbillionaires” — individuals whose net worth exceeds $50 billion. The top of the list is dominated by tech moguls, with Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos holding the first two spots. Other sectors, such as fashion, manufacturing and telecommunications, are also represented in the group of 24. These exceptional wealthholders now make up a significant portion of global billionaire wealth. In early Feb

South Korea’s exports of auto parts to the United States hit a record high last year, data showed, as experts weigh the potential impact of incoming auto tariffs from the United States. Exports of automotive parts to the US totaled $8.22 billion in 2024, up from $8.08 billion the previous year, according to data compiled by the Korea Auto Industries Cooperative Association. The figure has been on a steady increase from $6.91 billion in 2021 and $8.03 billion in 2022. In 2024, shipments to the US

Apple has maintained its position as the most admired company in the world for the 18th year running, according to Fortune’s annual ranking. Based on a survey of over 3,000 executives, directors and analysts, the list highlights the world’s most respected firms. Microsoft and Amazon keep hold of their second and third positions, respectively, for a sixth consecutive year. Nvidia, at fourth place, continues to rise thanks to its role in advancing artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, Alphabet, Goog

Nearly 6 out of 10 South Koreans support impeaching suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol over his Dec. 3 botched martial law declaration, a survey showed, as the Constitutional Court began deliberations to decide whether to uphold his impeachment or reinstate him. According to the survey conducted by Gallup of 1,000 adults aged over 18 Feb. 25-27, 59 percent said they supported Yoon’s impeachment, down 1 percentage point from a week earlier. Thirty-five percent said they were against Yoon’s impeach

A recent survey by the Federation of Korean Industries reveals that six out of ten job seekers in South Korea are classified as “passive job seekers” with low expectations for employment. The 2024 University Student Employment Perception Survey, conducted among 2,938 students and graduates from four-year universities nationwide, found that 1,235 respondents were preparing for employment. Of these, 60.5 percent were categorized as passive job seekers. Passive job-seeking behavior wa

South Korea’s digital infrastructure is regarded as the world’s best, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT, citing findings from the OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2024. In the report, South Korea ranked first among 29 countries, including non-OECD members such as China and the European Union, in “5G base station deployment.” The country recorded 593 5G base stations per 100,000 inhabitants, significantly surpassing Lithuania (328) and Finland (251). The OECD aver

The Japanese cities of Osaka, Fukuoka and Tokyo emerged as the top destinations for repeat overseas travel among South Koreans, according to data from Triple, a travel platform run by Interpark. These three destinations accounted for over half of all demand for multiple visits, reflecting strong interest in tourism to Japan. Osaka topped the list with 18.6 percent of respondents reporting at least two visits, followed by Fukuoka (16.6 percent), Tokyo (15.2 percent), Bangkok, Thailand (7.9 perc

In 2023, one in ten newlyweds in Korea was part of an international couple, with international marriages making up 10.6 percent (20,431) of all unions. This marks an increase of 9.1 percent (17,428) in 2022. Of these, 69.8 percent were between foreign national wives and Korean national husbands, 17.9 percent between foreign husbands and Korean wives, and 12.3 percent were comprised of two or at least one naturalized Korean citizen. Married couples where both partners are of foreign nationality

Golf has made its first appearance in Gallup Korea’s top 10 favorite hobbies for South Koreans, ranking No. 8 with 4.1 percent of survey respondents mentioning it as their hobby of choice. The annual survey, conducted with 1,777 participants aged 13 and older, asked, “What is your favorite hobby?” and marked the first time since the survey began in 2004 that golf reached the top 10. The top hobbies include gaming (9 percent), followed by fitness and hiking tied for second (7

Nearly 7 in 10 South Koreans believe that couples can live together without getting married, and almost 40 percent support having children without getting married first, a government report showed, signaling a substantial shift in perceptions around marriage and having children. The report was based on a survey, conducted by Statistics Korea in May 2024, involving 36,000 respondents aged 13 years and older. The survey is conducted biennially. The findings showed that 67.4 percent of respondent

A recent survey by online recruiter Saramin showed that 8 out of 10 companies favor raising companies' retirement age. Conducted among 461 firms, 79.8 percent of respondents were in favor of raising the retirement age, with an average ideal age of 65.7 years. Over half of those surveyed, 57.9 percent, saw age 65 as optimal retirement age, citing the value of retaining experienced employees. Furthermore, 52.9 percent indicated openness to hiring workers in their 50s and 60s, to benefit fro

The average temperature of South Korea’s surrounding seas has risen at nearly twice the global average rate over the past 56 years, according to a government report. The National Institute of Fisheries Science stated in its report, “2024 Impact of Climate Change in Fisheries Sector,” that sea temperatures around South Korea have increased by 1.44 degree Celsius between 1968 and 2023, compared to the global average rise of 0.7 C. The East Sea experienced the most significant i

Travel app Skyscanner has unveiled its Travel Trends 2025 report, capturing tourism insights based on a survey of 20,000 travelers worldwide. According to the report, next year’s key travel theme is predicted to be “shared experiences with others,” in which people will pursue experiences that can be shared with others who have similar interests. Among the survey participants, 1,000 South Koreans shared their preferred travel destinations, favoring shorter flights. Taiwan&rsqu

US-based social media platforms YouTube and Instagram saw their usage time among South Korean app users rise sharply in September from a year earlier, data showed, while locally based platforms like KakaoTalk and Naver lost ground. The total hours spent by Korean users on YouTube, the most popular app here, came to 1.8 billion hours in September, up 9.5 percent from a year earlier, according to data compiled by industry tracker Wiseapp. Instagram also saw its combined usage time reach 378 mill