MEDIA & CULTURE

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean airlines are slashing fuel surcharges for international flights in July, offering relief to travelers and carriers alike as jet fuel prices ease following earlier spikes tied to Middle East tensions.

SEOUL — South Korea exported a record $11.4 billion worth of cosmetics in 2025, surpassing the United States and securing the position of the world's second-largest cosmetics exporter behind France, according to data released by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on May 23, 2026.

SEOUL, South Korea — With just five months until the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo opens, the main venue in the southern coastal city remains little more than a barren construction site, sparking public outrage over the massive 160 billion won ($116 million) investment and raising fears of another embarrassing international event flop similar to the 2023 World Scout Jamboree.

SEOUL, South Korea — As South Korea grapples with stubbornly high inflation fueled by global energy shocks and a weak won, consumers are flocking to ultra-low-priced products such as 990-won soju and budget hamburgers priced around 2,500 won, signaling a shift from value-seeking "cost-performance" shopping to outright survival spending in a prolonged period of elevated prices.