Samsung Electronics has maintained its lead in the global smartphone market for the second consecutive quarter this year, according to data from market research firm International Data Corporation. In the second quarter, Samsung shipped 53.9 million smartphones, securing an 18.9 percent market share. Apple followed, shipping 45.2 million units and capturing 15.8 percent of the market. Overall, global smartphone shipments reached 285.4 million units, marking a 6.5 percent increase from last yea

World Business Aug. 7, 2024

South Korea’s archery team showcased their unparalleled prowess in the sport at the Paris 2024 Olympics, sweeping all five gold medals in the event. This remarkable achievement marks the best performance by South Korea’s archers in Olympic history. The team clinched the gold in the men’s and women’s team events, mixed team event and women’s individual event. The final gold was secured by Kim Woo-jin, who triumphed over Brady Ellison of the United States in a thril

More Sports Aug. 6, 2024

The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in South Korea saw a significant rise last month, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Hospitalizations increased from 63 in the fourth week of June to 91 in the first week of July, 145 in the second week and 225 in the third week. This surge comes despite the country lowering its COVID-19 crisis level from “alert” to the lowest “interest” level on May 1, following a sharp decline in confirmed cases earlie

Social Affairs Aug. 5, 2024

For the third year in a row, Austria’s capital Vienna has been named the “world’s most liveable city” by The Economist magazine. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s evaluation of 173 cities worldwide, Vienna achieved an impressive score of 98.4 points, with perfect scores in four out of five categories: Stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Following Vienna, Copenhagen in Denmark, Zurich in Switzerland and Melbou

World News Aug. 2, 2024

A recent survey reveals that 7 out of 10 South Koreans have opted for sugar-free or non-alcoholic beverages while drinking. According to a Lotte Members survey on alcohol consumption trends, 71.6 percent of 2,000 adults surveyed nationwide reported having tried sugar-free soju. The primary reasons cited were “lower calories” (40.4 percent) and “healthier perception” (25.9 percent). Additionally, 76.4 percent of respondents had experience drinking non-alcoholic beer. The

Food Aug. 1, 2024

The number of foreign visitors to the National Museum of Korea hit a record high of 94,951 in the first half of this year, museum officials said. The figure represents a 34.5 percent increase from 70,585 a year ago and a 55.6 percent rise from prepandemic levels in 2019, they said. They expect the annual number of foreign visitors to reach 200,000 this year if the current trend continues. The museum attributes the rise to its efforts to diversify exhibition content, aligning with growing globa

Travel July 31, 2024

Korean cosmetics exports surpassed $4.8 billion in the first half of 2024, setting a new record for beauty product exports within the first six months of a year. The figure is an 18.1 percent increase from the same period last year, according to the Korea Customs Service. This milestone surpasses the previous semiannual record of $4.63 billion set in the first half of 2021. During the first half of this year, cosmetics imports amounted to $850 million (1.2 trillion won), resulting in a trade s

Market July 30, 2024

Incheon Airport has been ranked third on the list of the World’s Best Airports by Skytrax, an international air transport rating organization. The top spots were claimed by Doha’s Hamad International Airport in Qatar and Singapore Changi Airport, respectively. This marks the first time since 2019 that Incheon has placed in the top three. Skytrax surveyed passengers from over 100 countries between August 2023 and March 2024, evaluating more than 570 airports worldwide. The criteria

World News July 29, 2024

The upcoming US presidential election on Nov. 5 has set the stage for a new showdown between former Republican President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris, the likely Democratic candidate. According to the Associated Press, recent surveys indicate that Vice President Harris has secured the delegates to be the Democratic nominee, effectively replacing President Joe Biden as the party's candidate.

World News July 25, 2024

South Korea’s exports of food and related goods rose 5.2 percent on-year in the first half of 2024, data showed, led by the popularity of instant noodles and processed rice products. Outbound shipments of the food segment known as “K-Food Plus” reached $6.21 billion, compared with $5.9 billion posted a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. K-Food Plus encompasses a diverse range of food products and related items, from fresh and proce

Market July 24, 2024

The 2024 Paris Olympics marks the 33rd edition of the Summer Games, returning to Europe for the first time in 12 years. This event also brings the Olympics back to France 32 years after the 1992 Albertville Winter Games. Notably, it celebrates 100 years since Paris last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1924. The Games will take place from July 26 to Aug. 11. In a break from tradition, the opening ceremony will be held on the River Seine, while the closing ceremony will take place at the Stade de

More Sports July 22, 2024

In the lead-up to the US presidential election on Nov. 5, Donald Trump was shot by a gunman during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13. The bullet pierced through the upper part of Trump’s right ear, but he escaped assassination. He appeared two days later at the Republican National Convention with a bandaged ear. Shown here is a look back at some other assassination attempts on US presidents.

World News July 19, 2024

Global in-app payment revenue for social applications reached an all-time high in the first quarter of 2024, with the Chinese platform TikTok leading the charge, according to a report by data analysis company Sensor Tower. In-app payment revenue for social apps worldwide hit $4.5 billion in Q1 2024, marking a 19 percent increase year-over-year. TikTok’s in-app purchases soared to over $2 billion, a 26 percent rise from the previous year, driven primarily by livestreaming sponsorships. Yo

World Business July 18, 2024

According to Wiqtcom, a Finnish intelligence testing agency, the smartest country in 2024 is Japan, with an average Intelligent Quotient of 112.30. Wiqtcom’s “2024 World’s Most Intelligent Country Ranking” is based on the test results of 109 countries. Hungary (111.28), Taiwan (111.20), Italy (110.82) and South Korea (110.80) are within the top 5, after Japan. The global average is 99.64. The United States placed 77th with 96.57 and other advanced nations of Germany (10

World News July 17, 2024

South Korea is experiencing a growing number of elder abuse cases as its population rapidly ages, according to a recent report from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The data, compiled from complaints received by senior abuse hotlines and welfare centers, highlights an alarming trend. In 2023, reported cases of elder abuse increased by 12 percent compared to the previous year, rising from 19,552 to 21,936. The percentage of confirmed cases also saw an uptick, increasing by 3.2 percent to acc

Social Affairs July 16, 2024