Busan to host barista contest to select S. Korean representative for World Barista Championship

SEOUL -- A barista competition to pick South Korea's national barista will take place in the southern port city of Busan, well known for its fervent coffee culture. Using a coffee machine, contestants will create 12 beverages such as espresso and milk-based drinks within 15 minutes. The winner will participate in a global barista championship in May 2024. The 2024 Korea National Barista Championship (KNBC) is scheduled for four days, starting on February 1. To host the event,

January 26, 2024

S. Korea leads in number of overseas travelers during Lunar New Year holidays among Asian countries

SEOUL -- South Korea has become the country with the largest number of travelers headed to overseas countries during the Lunar New Year holidays among other Asian countries that follow the lunar calendar, according to data released by the global tourism information company Agoda. The Lunar New Year is celebrated over a three-day festive holiday known as "Seollal" in South Korea. Families typically gather at the eldest member's house to prepare food and catch up with

January 26, 2024

Flying passenger vehicles to be demonstrated above S. Korea's iconic canal in 2024

SEOUL -- South Korea has selected Ara Waterway, a canal that connects the Han River that flows through Seoul with the Yellow Sea, as the first location to demonstrate flying taxis, also known as urban air mobility vehicles. Starting in August 2024, flying passenger vehicles will be tested above the canal's 14-kilometer (8.7-mile) section in the western port city of Incheon. Urban air mobility (UAM) is a future ecosystem involving flying passenger vehicles in city areas. Aerial

January 25, 2024

Increased consumer prices affect preparation of Confucian rite for Lunar New Year holidays

SEOUL -- Increased consumer prices have affected the preparation of "Charye" a Confucian rite that is carried out during the three-day traditional Korean Lunar New Year holiday. The ancestral ritual involves one or two large tables full of offerings including food, fruits, and beverages. On Seollal, the Lunar New Year Day, and Chuseok, the traditional Korean autumn harvest thanksgiving holiday, non-Christian families traditionally arrange tables laden with dishes encompa

January 24, 2024

35% of S. Koreans have experienced more convenient lifestyle through subscripted services: survey

SEOUL -- Survey data revealed that approximately 35 percent of South Koreans have embraced subscripted services to enhance their daily convenience. The most popular among these services was home appliance rental and hygiene management, utilized by 18 percent of the population. A subscripted service, also known as a subscription service, is a retail solution that consistently delivers products or promised services monthly without requiring users to regularly renew orders or supply

January 23, 2024

S. Korea tries to increase birth rate by providing total subsidies worth $22,000

SEOUL -- The national committee, tasked with addressing the challenges of a low birth rate and an aging society, aims to encourage more couples to have children by offering government subsidies totaling 29.6 million won ($22,223) until the newborn child reaches seven years old. Recent data from South Korea's National Assembly Budget Office (NABO) reveals a projected 49.6 percent decrease in the population of young people aged 0 to 14 by 2040, dropping to approximately 3.18 mil

January 22, 2024

Winter Youth Olympics to be held in S. Korea's eastern province

SEOUL -- The Winter Youth Olympic Games is set to take place in South Korea's eastern province of Gangwon, well known for its mountainous and forested landscapes, on January 19, 2024. South Korea is the first Asian country to host the multi-sport event, drawing 1,803 athletes from 79 nations. The Winter Youth Olympic Games (WYOG), organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) encompasses a range of winter sports such as alpine skiing, curling, and biathlon. Previously

January 19, 2024

S. Korea's 'milkflation' continues to increase, causing price hikes in dairy products

SEOUL -- South Korea's prolonged "milkflation," the continuous increase in the price of raw milk produced at dairy farms, has reached its steepest climb ever, recording the highest milk price since 2008. The average price for raw milk was 1,253 won ($0.93) per liter in December 2023, up by 7.83 compared to the average price of 1,162 won in January 2023. The price of raw milk is an important factor that affects consumer prices, especially in the food sector, as milk i

January 18, 2024

Young S. Koreans join rural exodus to Seoul seeking higher salaries and better living environment

SEOUL -- Many young South Korean university graduates are leaving their hometowns in rural provinces to migrate to Seoul in search of higher salaries and a better living environment. The rural exodus of young people is accelerating depopulation and the aging phenomenon in cities and provincial areas outside Seoul and its suburbs. A famous centuries-old Korean saying goes, "When a child is born, send the baby to Seoul. If a horse is born, send it to Jeju." This saying con

January 17, 2024

S. Korea sets record with 30,586 tons of whisky imports in 2023

SEOUL -- Customs data reveals that South Korea has set a new record for whisky imports in 2023, thanks to a growing number of foreign liquor enthusiasts. A total of 30,586 tons of whisky were imported, marking a significant 13.1 percent increase compared to the previous year. This record-breaking change in consumption trend comes in a country where traditional spirits such as "Soju" and beer have long been the preferred choices among drinkers. According to Eatup Trend, a

January 16, 2024