The year 2023 has proven to be quite eventful, marked by a mix of news, including local and global politics, viral outbreaks, rising costs of living in Singapore, inflation concerns, and, regrettably, conflicts and wars.
In the face of all the stresses and uncertainties of circumstances ongoing in the world, many of us have turned to television shows and films as a distraction, the most popular of which has to be, of course, Barbie, Oppenheimer, and yet another K-drama series, The Glory.
But we also got our daily dose of drama from real life, thanks to the presidential election this year, with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam clinching the presidential title.
So, you’d expect one of these sagas to be at the top of Google’s top searches for the year, right?
Well, 2023 has done it again and thrown up another surprise.
Google Releases Most Searched Phrases in Singapore for 2023 & It Isn’t Tan Chuan-Jin
Google unveiled its Year in Search 2023 lists on Tuesday (12 December 2023), presenting a comprehensive overview of the events, individuals, and subjects that held Singapore’s interest throughout the year.
The searches were grouped into several categories, including Trending International News, Trending TV Shows, Trending Singapore News, and Trending Searches.
Trending Singapore News
The top search in the trending local news category is “Ticketmaster”. You might find yourself puzzled as to why this keyword is the most searched, but it is likely attributed to the numerous concerts held in Singapore this year and the upcoming ones next year.
Singapore has earned a reputation for hosting many international artists, including Taylor Swift, who is scheduled to perform for six nights at The Eras Tour at The National Stadium next year.
Additionally, the British rock band Coldplay is set to stage six nights of performances in January 2024.
Next on the list are two former Singaporean politicians – Tan Chuan Jin and Nicole Seah.
Tan likely found himself in the most trending news after he resigned from Parliament and the People’s Action Party (PAP) on 17 July 2023. This followed his involvement in an affair with Member of Parliament (MP) Cheng Li Hui after the last general election (GE) in 2020.
Meanwhile, Nicole Seah tendered her resignation from the Workers’ Party (WP) on 19 July 2023, alongside MP Leon Perera, after admitting to their affair, which had started after the 2020 GE but had stopped some time ago.
The third most searched term related to local news was “CDC Vouchers 2023”. Given the rising costs in Singapore, every Singaporean household received $300 CDC Vouchers this year to assist with daily essentials.
Unsurprisingly, Transport Minister S. Iswaran also made the list at number five. He is currently cooperating with the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in an investigation into a case uncovered by CPIB.
Trending International News
The international news that topped the list this year is none other than the war in Israel and Gaza.
As reported by Reuters, at least 17,487 Palestinians have been killed since then, according to Gaza Health Ministry figures, while 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas incursion into Israel.
Residents were also particularly interested in the death of Abby Choi, the Hong Kong model and socialite who was dismembered in a gruesome case in February.
OpenAI also made it to the list, which isn’t surprising considering the success of their artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, ChatGPT, this past year.
Trending Places in Singapore
When it comes to trending places in Singapore, one might expect the most popular tourist attractions or new exhibitions to dominate the search trends among residents. However, the results may come as a surprise.
Taking the lead as the most searched place in Singapore is Woodleigh Mall, a shopping destination located in Bidadari Park.
This three-story mall opened in May this year and is home to Singapore’s largest Pepper Lunch outlet.
Following closely is Sengkang Grand Mall, which recently made its debut near Buangkok MRT in March.
Woodlands Checkpoint and Tuas Checkpoint also secured spots on the list, likely due to the frequent trips made by residents for food adventures and shopping trips in Johor Bahru.
Trending Movies in Singapore
No prizes for guessing this one.
Topping the list of the most searched movies this year is Oppenheimer, a film based on the life of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who played a pivotal role in designing the atomic bomb, leading to the world’s first nuclear explosion.
Next is Barbie, a cultural icon that has enjoyed global success. This is evident not only in the numerous Halloween costumes inspired by Barbie but also in the various brand collaborations.
Simply enter any mall, and you’ll likely encounter stores selling pink Barbie-themed merchandise.
Other notable movies on the list include John Wick 4, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Avatar.
Trending TV Shows in Singapore
It’s evident that Singaporeans have a deep affection for Korean drama series, as all five of the top trending TV shows belong to the K-drama genre. Care to guess which ones they are?
Leading the list is The Glory, a series that revolves around a young woman, portrayed by Song Hye-kyo, who embarks on a quest for vengeance against those who once bullied her during her school days.
Securing the second spot is Physical 100, where the title speaks for itself.
One hundred participants, all in peak physical condition, engage in a series of demanding challenges to be the last one standing.
Mask Girl, Crash Course in Romance, and One Piece also made their way into the top ten most searched TV shows in Singapore this year.
Other Trending Searches
In the category of activities in Singapore, the top searches for 2023 were “F1 Singapore 2023”, “Chatuchak Singapore”, and “River Hongbao 2023”.
When it comes to the most sought-after how-tos, it’s no surprise that “How to claim CDC vouchers 2023” claimed the top spot. Singaporeans are keen to access their vouchers and enjoy the associated benefits.
As for the most searched international personality by Singaporeans, it’s none other than Taylor Swift.
Last but not least, in the Trending Farewells category for Singapore, the most searched names were Coco Lee and Matthew Perry, marking their passings.
For a comprehensive list of our top searches for 2023, you can explore them all here.
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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