The Korean hygiene products market surpassed 3 trillion won ($2.1 billion) for the first time last year, driven by growing demand for adult diapers as the country becomes a superaged society and the inclusion of oral care products such as toothbrushes and dental floss in hygiene product statistics. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said the domestic hygiene products market reached 3.2 trillion won in 2025, up 9.7 percent from the previous year. The supply of adult diapers, including incontine

The number of employed South Koreans aged 55-79 surpassed 10 million for the first time, government data showed. As of May, 10.13 million older adults were employed, up 345,000 from a year earlier. Those aged 65-79 accounted for about 94 percent of the increase. The older population reached 17 million, or about 37 percent of the population aged 15 and older. About 69.2 percent of respondents said they wanted to continue working, with desired retirement age averaging a record 73.6. More than half

Seoul has been named the world’s best city for students for the second consecutive year in the “QS Best Student Cities 2027” ranking released by Quacquarelli Symonds, a British higher education consultancy. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul scored a perfect 100, followed by Tokyo and London. Melbourne, Munich and Sydney tied for fifth, followed by Paris, Berlin, Vienna and Zurich. Seoul first claimed the top spot last year and has now retained the title for two consecutive ye

South Korea is emerging as a major coffee exporter despite relying entirely on imported beans, with growth driven by an expanding domestic market and an advanced roasting industry. The country’s coffee industry grew 35.6 percent from 2.75 trillion won ($1.9 billion) in 2018 to 3.74 trillion won in 2024, averaging 5.2 percent annual growth. The number of coffee shops surged 61.6 percent to 107,055 over the same period. Coffee-related exports reached $229.6 million in 2024, up 4.6 percent from a y

South Korean adults scored an average of 58.6 out of 100 on the Healthy Eating Index in 2022-2024, with little change from 58.9 in 2019-2021, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The index measures how closely adults aged 19 and older follow recommended dietary guidelines. The 100-point score is based on their intake across 14 dietary categories, including vegetables, fresh fruit, sodium, saturated fat and carbohydrates, with higher scores indicating healthier eating hab

Foreign tourists in Seoul are increasingly visiting traditional markets and hiking trails beyond the city’s well-known attractions, a report showed. Dongdaemun Design Plaza recorded the largest year-on-year increase in foreign visitors at 12.1 percent in 2025, followed by Achasan at 11.8 percent, according to a report by the Seoul AI Foundation, a city-run research institute. Other locations also saw notable increases, with the Hongdae area and Naksan Park both recording a 10.5 percent year-on-y

The number of dogs, cats and other pets registered in South Korea rose by more than 5 percent on-year last year, data showed. The figure reached 3.67 million in 2025, up 5.3 percent from a year earlier, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Newly registered animals declined 4.9 percent to some 247,000 over the cited period. In South Korea, dog owners are required to register their pets with the authorities, while cat registration remains optional, as

South Korea’s theater ticket revenue more than doubled in the first half of this year from a year earlier, driven by the popularity of high-priced, large-scale productions based on global intellectual properties. According to the Korean Performing Arts Box Office Information System, theater ticket revenue reached 75.9 billion won ($51.2 million) from January to June, the highest since records began in 2014 and more than double the 37 billion won recorded a year earlier. The surge was driven larg

A study shows that temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius are reshaping summer mobility in South Korea, driving people away from outdoor destinations and toward air-conditioned indoor facilities. TMAP Mobility analyzed destination search data from late July to early August, compared with the same period last year. Searches in the shopping category rose 5.2 percent, led by hypermarkets, up 26.2 percent, and department stores, up 4.5 percent. Searches for indoor cultural venues also surged, wit

South Korea’s fruit exports reached a record high in the first half of 2026, customs data showed, driven by global demand for premium products and improved shipping. Fruit exports during the January-June period reached $95.72 million, up 19.7 percent from a year earlier, according to the Korea Customs Service. The figure for all of 2025 stood at a record $240 million. The agency attributed the robust performance to South Korea’s strategy of offering premium products tailored to different markets

The Korea Baseball Organization continues to draw record crowds, with the leaguewide average stadium occupancy rate reaching 86.7 percent through July 25, up from 82.2 percent last season. Average attendance rose to 17,996 fans per game from 17,101. At the current pace, total attendance is projected to reach around 12.96 million all combined, putting the league on track for a third consecutive season with more than 10 million spectators and within reach of 13 million for the first time. The Hanw

Eco-friendly vehicles accounted for half of new car registrations in South Korea in the first half of this year, driven by a sharp increase in electric vehicle sales, an auto market tracker said. It marked the first time eco-friendly vehicles accounted for more than half of new car registrations in the January-June period, according to the CarIsYou Data Research Center, which cited government data. In the first six months of the year, registrations of eco-friendly vehicles — including battery el

Tumblers have evolved from a lifestyle trend into an everyday necessity, with most consumers using them several times a week, according to a survey by Thermos Korea and Gallup Korea. The survey of 3,000 adults aged 20-54 in seven major South Korean cities found that 62.4 percent use a tumbler or thermos bottle at least three times a week, including 33.2 percent who said they use one almost every day. Most respondents (61.1 percent) said they purchased a tumbler to keep beverages at the desired t

Package theft is the biggest concern for single-person households leaving home for summer vacations, a survey showed. According to a survey conducted by Korean security company S-1 Corp. of 7,556 customers who use its services, 60.3 percent said they plan to leave their homes for summer vacations or extended trips this summer. The survey found clear differences in the concerns of single-person and multiperson households when leaving their homes vacant. Among single-person households, 59.1 percen

The average annual working hours for South Koreans fell by 32 hours last year from the previous year but remain nearly 100 hours longer than the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average, data showed. South Korea’s average annual working hours came to 1,833 hours in 2025, down from 1,865 hours the previous year, according to the OECD. Amid the South Korean government’s efforts to reduce real working hours, including the introduction of the 52-hour workweek system in 2018, the