South Koreans took an average 5.5 local trips last year, spending 586,495 won ($522), travel-related data showed Thursday.Data from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said among 43.9 million people aged 15 and over, 39.29 million, or 89.5 percent, traveled domestically last year, up 1.6 percentage points from 2015.The travelers made an average 5.51 trips during the year, 9.4 days in total, according to the data. Women were more frequent travelers (5.82 times) than men (5.19 times), and

Economy July 20, 2017

More unemployed young people are using their free time for personal activities rather than actively searching for jobs, data analysis showed Thursday, a trend that may be a sign that they have given up finding work.Statistics Korea took a supplementary survey last month on 1.47 million young people between 15 to 34 to ask how they spend their time. The survey results show that 35.4 percent were preparing to take tests that can lead to their employment. The same survey found that 5 percent of the

Economy July 20, 2017

A man in his 20s was arrested for physically assaulting his girlfriend and causing chaos within an alleyway in Seoul, police said Wednesday.The suspect reportedly attacked his girlfriend of more than a year, kicking and punching her after a drunken argument. She subsequently suffered three broken bones and two fractures from the assault. (YTN news capture)In order to run from the scene, the suspect climbed into a parked truck and drove it through a narrow alleyway, nearly hitting multiple pedest

Social Affairs July 19, 2017

The volatility in the dollar-won exchange rates slightly eased in the April-June period from a quarter earlier as global financial markets stabilized, the central bank said Wednesday.The average daily variation, showing the change from the previous session's closing price, came to 4.2 won in the second quarter, down from 5.7 won in the previous quarter, according to data from the Bank of Korea.Meanwhile, the average gap between the daily high and low of the dollar-won exchange rates came to 5.8

Economy July 19, 2017

South Korea's exports of industrial parts and materials rose 10.5 percent in the first six months of this year on firm global demand, government data showed Wednesday.Outbound shipments of industrial parts and materials stood at $134.4 billion in the January-June period, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.On a six-month basis, it marked the first double-digit growth since the first-half of 2011.  (Yonhap)Imports also rose 9.6 percent on-year to $81.4 bil

Industry July 19, 2017

South Korean stocks turned lower Wednesday morning as foreigners and individuals offloaded their holdings. The won traded higher against the dollar.  The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index that started the day in positive territory surrendered 2.36 points, or 0.10 percent, to 2,423.68 as of 11:20 a.m.Foreigners and individuals sold a combined 133 billion won ($118 million) worth of stocks. Institutions bought a net 126 billion won that kept the main index from falling further. Tech

Market July 19, 2017

South Korean stocks opened higher Wednesday despite losses on Wall Street, with institutions buying stocks on bargain hunting.  The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 1.26 points, or 0.05 percent, to 2,427.30 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The main index hit a record high of 2,425.10 in the previous session. Institutional investors bought a net 29 billion won ($26 million) worth of stocks. Foreigners and individuals offloaded a combined 27 billion won in shares.  On

Market July 19, 2017

A man in his 30s was arrested for breaking and entering into his neighbor’s home as well as attacking the neighbor with a weapon.Police said that the suspect climbed the gas piping of a four-story apartment building in Busan to enter the home. Wearing a mask and wielding a weapon, the suspect threatened the victim and his young daughter, who were inside.CCTV footage of the suspect hanging onto the gas piping beside his apartment building, hiding from police. (Yonhap)The victim was stabbed in the

Social Affairs July 19, 2017

The evolving dining industry in Seoul has transformed blue-collar communities into hipster havens, where artists and expats alike relocate to open their restaurants and cafes. With food comes locals, drawn by the aesthetically pleasing interiors and foods on a platter, housed inside abandoned warehouses and narrow alleyways.Industrial neighborhoods, like Mangwon-dong, are only in their beginning stages of revival. Mangwon-dong’s main roads are crowded with open-air markets and low-cost produce,

Food July 18, 2017

Rapper Jeong Sang-su, who gained popularity through the TV program "Show Me the Money" was arrested for driving under the influence, police said Tuesday.Jeong was reportedly arguing with a man in his 30s in front of a shopping mall in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, accusing the man of blocking the road with his car. He then slammed his car into the man’s and was subsequently arrested. The man did not suffer serious injuries. (Yonhap)This is only one of a string of Jeong’s encounters with the law. Last week,

Social Affairs July 18, 2017

Samsung Electronics said Tuesday it kicked off efforts to recycle parts from the Galaxy Note 7 phablets in environmentally friendly ways after the product was discontinued last year due to faulty batteries.The South Korean tech giant released the Galaxy Note FE, a refurbished version of the ill-fated Note 7, earlier this month. The Note FE kept key features of the flagship but came with a lower battery capacity amid safety concerns. Visitors take a look at the Galaxy Note FE at a shop in Seoul i

Industry July 18, 2017

A man in his 50s was arrested for attempted murder Sunday night.The suspect was accused of stabbing his landlady during an argument over a leak in his home, according to Namyangju Police. It was reported the leak had been left unfixed for at least three months.(Yonhap)On Sunday, the suspect drunkenly argued with the victim, who is in her 60s, and angrily attacked her with a knife.The victim reportedly did not suffer serious injury.Police said the suspect was in custody and undergoing an investig

Social Affairs July 17, 2017

Cheong Wa Dae told local media on Monday that it remains undecided about what to do with the bed left behind by ousted former President Park Geun-hye.Park reportedly bought her bed using finances from the national budget, and Cheong Wa Dae continues to mull over its options on what to do with it. (Yonhap)After being expelled from the presidency over a corruption scandal, Park had attempted to move her bed from Cheong Wa Dae to her private residence in Samseong-dong, but she was not allowed to ta

Politics July 17, 2017

The Beautiful Foundation said Monday that it plans to set up a youth committee designed to address social issues surrounding adolescents.The committee, to be launched in August, will hold discussions on a project aimed to alleviate a specific issue that Korean youth face. A total of 10 million won ($9,300) will be allocated to the endeavor.(Yonhap)The committee will become the first non-profit organization in South Korea to be run exclusively by teenagers, said the foundation.Members of the yout

Social Affairs July 17, 2017

South Korea will gradually phase out the anti-trust regulator's exclusive right to file complaints against a company for any fair trade violation, the head of regulator said Monday, in an apparent attempt to hold companies more accountable.Under the Fair Trade Act, the Fair Trade Commission is the only entity that can bring a fair trade case to court through the state prosecutors' office. The law is aimed at preventing a flood of lawsuits being filed against firms by individuals and civic groups

Business July 17, 2017