Foreigners, locals are traveling beyond greater Seoul area, gov't data shows

Traveling in Korea doesn’t equal traveling in Seoul anymore, according to the latest data revealed by the government.

2026-04-14

Increased travel demand drives overseas card spending growth in 2025

Koreans' overseas card spending reached an all-time high in 2025, driven by increased overseas travel and cross-border purchases, data showed Wednesday.

2026-02-25

Younger homeowners hit by rising house prices, older owners benefit

Rising home prices in Korea have reduced spending and overall economic well-being for younger households while increasing wealth for older homeowners, a Bank of Korea (BOK) report showed on Thursday.

2026-02-17

KDI ups Korea's 2026 growth outlook to 1.9 percent, cites strong chip exports, consumer spending

Korea's state-run economic think tank on Wednesday raised its 2026 growth forecast for the domestic economy to 1.9 percent, citing strong semiconductor exports and a recovery in consumer spending.

2026-02-11

DDP operator rejects mayoral hopeful's claim that landmark turned area in 'ghost town'

The Dongdaemun Design Plaza is central to Seoul's mayoral race, with data showing it boosts local sales and foot traffic, contradicting candidate Jeon Hyun-heui's calls for its dismantling.

2026-02-08

Less digital, more deliberate: What 2026 trend forecasts say about young Koreans

As annual trend forecasts make their rounds, many of them begin to sound familiar. The JoongAng Ilbo reviewed four books that track consumer behavior every year to identify ideas that point to the same underlying shift heading into 2026.

2026-01-06

Spending on private education jumps 60 percent over past decade: Data

Korean families' spending on private education for their children has jumped by more than 60 percent over the past decade, government data showed Sunday.

2026-01-04

Expecting a peak, Korean workers in their 40s instead find a sharp decline

The share of employed people in their 40s fell to 21.2 percent in November — the lowest percentage for the month since 1995, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. Their struggle in the job market is slashing their purchasing power.

2025-12-30

Overseas card spending hits record high in Q3 on rising travel demand

Koreans' overseas card spending reached an all-time high in the third quarter, driven by increased overseas travel during the summer holiday period, data showed Tuesday.

2025-11-25

Colby praises Korea as 1st non-NATO treaty ally to commit to 3.5% of GDP defense spending

A senior Pentagon official on Friday praised Korea as the first non-NATO ally that has committed to increasing defense spending to 3.5 percent of its GDP, highlighting the administration's desire to work with "partnerships" over "dependencies."

2025-11-15

korea joongAng daily