Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Korea reports record-low childbirths in January

GettyimagesbankThe number of babies born in South Korea fell to a record low in January, data showed Wednesday, underpinning the country's chronically low birth rate.A total of 25,003 babies were born in January, down 6.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.It marked the lowest for any January since 1981 when the statistics agency began compiling related data.South Korea is struggling with a sustained fall in childbirths as many young people delay marriage or give up on getting married or having babies amid a prolonged economic slowdown.The country's total fertility rate ― the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime ― hit a new record low of 0.84 last year. It marked the third straight year that the rate was below 1 percent.The number of deaths came to 27,181 in January, down 4.3 percent from the previous year.Accordingly, the country's population declined by 2,177 in the month, marking the 15th straight month of fall.South Korea reported the first natural decline in population last year as the number of deaths outpaced tha

Mar 24, 2021

Korea reports record-low childbirths in January

Over half of Koreans in their teens and 20s see no need to have kids after marriage: report

Cartoonist 'doodles' about realities of racism in Korea

Yerong, whose real name is Ko Ye-sung, draws cartoons about the realities of racial discrimination that foreigners in Korea experience in their daily lives. Courtesy of Ko Ye-sungBy Lee Hyo-jin Yerong, whose real name is Ko Ye-sung, draws cartoons about the realities of racial discrimination that foreign nationals in Korea encounter in their daily lives. The 29-year-old cartoonist's minimal drawings ― black and white with only minimum details ― are mainly uploaded on her social media channels. And they are quite popular among foreign residents here who find the stories totally relatable. Cartoonist Yerong, whose real name is Ko Ye-sung / Courtesy of Ko Ye-sung“I began to draw cartoons in 2018, when I first encountered racial discrimination in the country during my relationship with a Black man from Ghana. I felt the stares in the streets and came across some uncomfortable experiences,” Ko told The Korea Times. After realizing the seriousness of racism that foreigners face here, Ko began to upload the “doodles” based on her own experiences, with a hope that the

Mar 24, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin

Cartoonist 'doodles' about realities of racism in Korea

Korea's pet fish market to grow 35% by 2025

GettyimagesbankSouth Korea said Monday it will seek to expand the size of the local pet fish market by 35 percent through 2025 by developing more homegrown species while encouraging the public to adopt them.Under the goal, the size of the local pet fish market will reach 657 billion won (US$581 million) in 2025, up 35 percent from 487.3 billion won tallied in 2020, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.Over the period, the number of farms raising pet fish will increase to 186 from the current 151. The annual production of related products, including feed, will rise to 121.8 billion won, up from 90.3 billion won in 2020.South Korea earlier implemented a five-year development plan for the industry, which ran from 2016 to 2020. Over the period, the size of the country's pet fish market shot up 19 percent.To further bolster the growth, South Korea plans to ease its dependence on imported fish breeds and instead foster more homegrown species.The new blueprint also includes plans to install fish tanks at public facilities, including airports, and create educational content that

Mar 22, 2021

Korea's pet fish market to grow 35% by 2025

Some IOC members say Korea too harsh on Kim Un-yong

Craig Reedie, then president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), attends the WADA Symposium in Ecublens, near Lausanne, Switzerland, in this March 2018 file photo. Reuters-Yonhap Ex-president of World Anti-Doping Agency says Kim is victim of politically-motivated probe, an allegation former prosecutor denies By Kang Hyun-kyungHelen Kim's legal battle to honor her late father, the vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kim Un-yong, didn't turn out the way she had hoped.On Thursday, she received an email from her lawyer in Seoul informing her that the Central Administrative Appeals Commission (CAAC) dismissed her request to review the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs' (MPVA) decision last year which denied her plea to inter her father's remains in the national cemetery. In 2004, the late Kim was found guilty of embezzlement and sentenced to two years in prison. He was released on parole the next year. His conviction, however, was late

Mar 21, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

Some IOC members say Korea too harsh on Kim Un-yong

Number of marriages hits new low in 2020

The number of married couples in South Korea fell to an all-time low in 2020, according to Statistics Korea on Thursday. YonhapThe number of South Koreans getting married fell at a double-digit rate to an all-time low in 2020 amid young people's changing attitude toward marriage and the negative impact of the coronarvirus pandemic, government data showed Thursday The number of couples tying the knot in Asia's fourth-largest economy reached 214,000 last year, down 10.7 percent from the previous year, according to the data from Statistics Korea. The figure is the lowest since 1970, when the statistical agency began compiling related data, and represents the ninth straight year of shrinkage.The annualized decrease rate is also the steepest since the 18.9 percent tumble recorded in 1971. It also marks the first double-digit decline in 23 years.Last year's drop came as more young South Koreans think marriage is not a must due to difficulties finding decent jobs or buying homes. The COVID-19 outbreak has also resulted in many canceled or delayed marriages, the agency said.According to a 20

Mar 18, 2021

Number of marriages hits new low in 2020

South Koreans' spending on Netflix hits over $62.4 million in February: data

A scene from “Space Sweepers” on Netflix / Courtesy of NetflixSouth Koreans are estimated to have spent more than 70 billion won ($62.4 million) for Netflix's video streaming services last month, more than tripling from the previous year, data showed Thursday.Local credit and debit card payments on the video streaming platform reached 72.5 billion won in February, the highest-ever monthly figure, compared with 22.5 billion won the same month the previous year, according to the data from industry tacker WiseApp.Based on the data, WiseApp said there were an estimated 5.01 million South Koreans who made payments to Netflix last month, compared with 1.68 million the previous year.The data tracker said the 20s age group accounted for the largest share of paid users at 43.6 percent, followed by those in their 30s at 24.2 percent.WiseApp added that the data excludes other payment methods, such as those through telecom operators.Netflix has gained considerable popularity in the country since its debut in 2015 on the back of Korean-language content.Another mobile data tracker, IGA

Mar 18, 2021

South Koreans' spending on Netflix hits over $62.4 million in February: data

Pandemic-struck independent studios, cable networks to receive gov't loans

gettyimagesbank By Park Han-solIn response to the dramatic changes the contents and broadcasting industry has undergone during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government will provide a new line of loan support to companies in the industry and increase the amount of loans, according to the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), Wednesday.For small production studios and cable network program providers, which have been heavily affected after the outbreak of coronavirus cases with cancellations or suspension of filming, KOCCA will work with financial institutions to arrange 15 billion won ($13.2 million) worth of loans, an increase of two billion won compared to last year.Its goal is to help small studios and network providers produce televised programs, establish necessary infrastructure and stabilize their operation. Qualifying companies can receive up to 1.5 billion won over a two-year period.For the general contents industry, KOCCA will select a list of outstanding ente

Mar 17, 2021By Park Han-sol

Pandemic-struck independent studios, cable networks to receive gov't loans

What does home mean to you?

Artist Yoon Ji-hee poses in front of her art piece made out of old jeans, at the Alien Galley in the National Assembly complex in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-minArtist creates cityscapes with old jeans By Jung Da-minWhat does home mean to you? For 25-year-old artist Yoon Ji-hee, home is the only place in the world that embraces her. “I've been living on my own since leaving my parents' home for university,” Yoon told The Korea Times during an interview at the Alien Gallery in the National Assembly complex in Seoul, Tuesday. “It has been tough living alone in a strange area away from my parents, and taking all the responsibilities on my own. I felt overwhelmed, especially in forming connections with new people, and thought I was bad at everything except drawing. But home was where I could truly be myself and find relaxation.”To share the feeling of relaxation that she gets from the idea of home, she started to make art pieces out of old clothes, especially old jeans she got from her friends, to make the forms of houses and alleys. Her works oft

Mar 17, 2021

Korean religious groups' solidarity boosts morale among embattled protesters in Myanmar

Monks and students from Myanmar hold a street protest against the military who took control of Myanmar's government by force, in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Han Jin-takBy Park Ji-wonA group of Korean Buddhist monks and students from Myanmar held a street protest earlier this week. They prostrated themselves on the streets of Seoul in an act known as “ochetuji” that requires a person's elbows, knees and forehead to touch the floor. Ochetuji has been used by Buddhist worshippers both as a sign of reverence to Buddha and as a form of peaceful protest.In response to news articles and videos online showing the monks and students holding the protest, online commenters appearing to be Myanmar's citizens continue to express gratitude for the show of unity.One commenter wrote, “It touches my heart and even makes me cry. Thanks and we will never forget your voices and support, Korea.”Another wrote, “I have been a fan of K-drama since 10 years ago. Then I become a big fan of EXO. Now you and your people bring tears to my eyes as I am so grateful for your he

Mar 14, 2021By Park Ji-won

Korean religious groups' solidarity boosts morale among embattled protesters in Myanmar

Deaf Korean priest finds warm welcome in US

Father Park Min-seo, right, signs an online Mass for the Archdiocese of Washington held on Feb. 7. Screen capture from ADW Special Needs MinistryBy Park Ji-wonFather Park Min-seo signs before having an interview about the establishment of an Ephatha Church in Seoul, in this Aug. 25, 2019, file photo. Korea Times fileMasses in American Sign Language (ASL) by Father Park Min-seo, a deaf Catholic priest from Korea who was dispatched to the United States in January to serve as a chaplain, have received warm welcomes from congregations, according to local media and the Archdiocese of Seoul.The newly appointed chaplain at St. Francis of Assisi, chaplain to the Catholic community at Gallaudet University and provider of a pastoral ministry to the Archdiocese of Washington's deaf believers, led his first sign-language mass there on Feb. 6. Local media said the number of viewers of the mass greatly soared to 800 after Park's debut, compared to the previous average of around 95 viewers.Since the coronavirus pandemic slashed the number of masses for deaf Catholics, Park's sign-language Masses ha

Mar 11, 2021By Park Ji-won

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