Seoul ranked seventh among 139 cities in the latest Global Financial Centers Index, up one spot from March, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said. The capital also ranked seventh in fintech, its highest-ever position in the category, placing Seoul among the world’s top seven financial centers in both overall and digital finance competitiveness. The GFCI, released by London-based consultancy Z/Yen Group, assesses financial centers based on business environment, human capital, infrastructure, fin

The number of Korean restaurant businesses nationwide fell by more than 6,000 over the past year, marking a decline after years of growth that continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the National Tax Service, the number of Korean restaurant operators stood at 403,299 as of July, down 6,001, or 1.46 percent, from 409,300 a year earlier. Over the same period, the number of Japanese restaurant businesses rose 1.07 percent, from 23,201 to 23,451. The number of Korean restaurants co

More than 6 in 10 South Korean adults living alone experience feelings of loneliness at least once a week, a survey showed. PMI surveyed 1,000 adults ages 20 to 59 nationwide and found that 63 percent of those living alone reported feeling lonely at least once a week over the previous six months, compared with 40.5 percent of those living with others. Among those living alone, 47 percent said they had no one to confide in, while 44.8 percent said they had no one to turn to for help when needed.

Generative artificial intelligence has become the second-most common source of advice for Generation Z job seekers, surpassing family members and romantic partners, according to a survey. Recruitment platform Jinhaksa Catch surveyed 1,110 job seekers on their use of generative AI. Friends were the most common first choice when respondents faced a problem, at 31 percent, followed by generative AI at 26 percent, family at 18 percent and romantic partners at 13 percent. Fifty-eight percent said the

Nuri rocket set for fifth launch 누리호 5차 발사 예정 South Korea’s fifth Nuri rocket is scheduled to lift off on Wednesday afternoon, carrying 15 satellites from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, according to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. 한국의 다섯 번째 누리호가 수요일 오후 전남 고흥 나로우주센터에서 15기의 위성을 싣고 발사될 예정이라고 한국항공우주연구원이 밝혔다. The payload includes five New-space Earth Observation Satellite Constellation, or NeonSat, satellites and 10 CubeSats. In a first for South Korea, the five cons

South Korea’s fifth Nuri rocket is scheduled to lift off on Wednesday afternoon, carrying 15 satellites from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, according to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. The payload includes five New-space Earth Observation Satellite Constellation, or NeonSat, satellites and 10 CubeSats. In a first for South Korea, the five constellation satellites will separate sequentially at intervals of 35 to 40 seconds. NeonSat deployment is scheduled to begi

Seoul ranked No. 4 among Asia’s most revisited travel destinations in the first half of the year, as South Korea saw a surge in foreign visitors driven by growing interest in Korean culture. According to travel platform Agoda, Seoul ranked No. 4 among Asia’s top destinations for repeat visitors based on accommodation bookings during the first half of this year. Tokyo took the top spot, overtaking Bangkok, which ranked first last year. Bali, Indonesia rose one place to third, followed by Seoul, O

South Korea ranked ninth globally in consumption of instant noodles, last year, while China remained the world’s largest consumer, with consumption nearly three times that of second-place Indonesia. According to the World Instant Noodles Association, South Korea consumed 4.06 billion servings of ramyeon last year, down 0.9 percent from 4.1 billion servings a year earlier. China, including Hong Kong, topped the list with 43.27 billion servings, followed by Indonesia with 14.54 billion and India w

South Korean parents are having their first child about two years later than they did a decade ago, reflecting a continued trend toward later marriage and childbirth, data showed. In 2025, first-time fathers were 35.4 years old on average, while first-time mothers were 33.2, up from 33.7 and 31.2, respectively, in 2015. The number of births rose 6.7 percent year on year to 254,300, the highest since 2021. Firstborn children accounted for 62.4 percent of all births. The total fertility rate, or t

The cost of preparing a Chuseok memorial table has risen at both traditional markets and hypermarkets this year, returning to the 300,000 won range at traditional markets after falling below that level last year. According to the Korea Price Information, the estimated cost of preparing a Chuseok memorial table for a family of four is 302,500 won at traditional markets and 397,700 won at hypermarkets. The figures represent year-on-year increases of 1.2 percent, or 3,500 won, and 1.6 percent, or 6