The Korea Times

INTERVIEW UNICEF regional chief wins Korea's support for climate initiatives for children

UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific Debora Comini, second from right, poses with students in China's Qinghai province in August. Courtesy of UNICEFDirector for East Asia, Pacific finds hope in Korean gov't's outreach policies By Ko Dong-hwanDebora Comini, UNICEF's regional chief for East Asia and the Pacific, conveyed a sense of optimism after meeting key Korean legislators at the National Assembly last Wednesday.The purpose of her visit to Seoul was to garner Korea's support for initiatives focused on helping vulnerable children in the region fight the climate crisis, become more climate-resilient and thrive under the protection of adults and community leaders. The discussions were marked by encouragingly positive responses.Comini, who arrived in Seoul on Aug. 28, met with officials at Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) before her Wednesday meetings at the National Assembly. Her regional office has requested a minimum of $500 million to roll out c

Sep 1, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

[INTERVIEW] UNICEF regional chief wins Korea's support for climate initiatives for children

Travel & Food

Foodies select Seoul's top 100 dining spots

A bowl of “naengmyeon” or Korean-style cold noodles / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul By Ko Dong-hwan For the upcoming week-long event in September celebrating Seoul's vibrant culinary landscape, a diverse panel of 30 judges has curated this year's "100 Taste of Seoul 2023" list. Organized annually by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the list features the city's 100 premier restaurants, cafes and bars.The lineup features a wide variety of culinary options ― 21 Korean, 25 Western, 12 Asian, 10 grill and 10 vegetarian establishments. The list also includes 11 cafes and dessert spots, as well as 11 bars and pubs.Since the list's inception in 2020, 35 venues have consistently maintained their status among the top 100, while 28 newcomers made their debut this year.The 30 judges, ranging from local food and beverage industry experts to gastronomic travelers, scholars and food journalists, have

Aug 30, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

Foodies select Seoul's top 100 dining spots

Environment & Animals

Korea's typhoon center navigates storm predictions with more precision

Typhoon forecaster Kim Dong-jin studies atmospheric movements over Southeast Asian waters at the National Typhoon Center on Jeju Island, Aug. 24. Courtesy of National Typhoon Center With satellites and simulation models, climate data becomes more reliableBy Ko Dong-hwanIn this image generated by the National Typhoon Center before Typhoon Khanun hit the southern part of Korea, Aug. 10., Khanun was predicted to move over the Korean Peninsula putting both South and North Korea under its influence. Screen capture from Korea Meteorological Administration's websiteSEOGWIPO, Jeju Island ― As Typhoon Khanun loomed over the Korean Peninsula on Aug. 10, the mood at the National Typhoon Center on Jeju Island was a mixture of tension and excitement. The center's meteorologists were meticulously analyzing data to forecast accurately the typhoon's path every three hours, while locals prepared for the potentially devastating impact of the storm.Utilizing advanced simulation models, satellite data, current weather conditions and geographical information, a team of fewer than 20 experts at the center

Aug 30, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

Korea's typhoon center navigates storm predictions with more precision

Society

Seoul's 2,000-year history now available in English on YouTube

The thumbnail of “The Hangang in Seoul,” the first episode of a new 10-part YouTube series about the history of Seoul / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan GovernmentBy Ko Dong-hwanFor those interested in the history of Korea's modern capital city, a Seoul Metropolitan Government agency has launched a new audiobook series in English on YouTube. Covering the city's 2,000-year-long history ranging from prehistoric times to the present, the series is divided into 10 parts with a new episode uploaded every two weeks to take listeners on a time-traveling adventure through Seoul's hidden gems and iconic landmarks.The Seoul Historiography Institute, an affiliate of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, launched the series on Aug. 18 with the first installment titled "The Hangang in Seoul."In the first episode, a narrator explains in English the history of the Han River against time-lapse images of the river.The series showcases a variety of Seoul's landmarks, from historic sites like the earthen fortification in Pungnap-dong and the remains of royal palaces to contemporary spaces like d

Aug 29, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

Seoul's 2,000-year history now available in English on YouTube

People & Events

Seoul's smart watch healthcare program expands to 220,000 citizens

Official poster for the Seoul city government's Smart Doctor 9988 that runs from 2023 until the next year / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan GovernmentReward points offer strong motivation to participants: city gov'tBy Ko Dong-hwanThe Seoul city government on Monday began pooling participants for a smart watch-based healthcare monitoring service. This year, the city aims to enroll 220,000 participants, making it the largest group since the program's inception.Once the first 150,000 participants are confirmed on a first-come, first-serve basis, free smartwatches will be shipped to 100,000 of them and the remaining 50,000 participants will use smartwatches they already own, compatible models being either a Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch. The selection will be based on the city authority's assessment of online registrations submitted via Onhealth.seoul.go.kr.Anyone who received the watch or had their membership activated with their own watches within two weeks after their registration was assessed can initiate the program by installing an app that can be tethered to their watches. The device

Aug 29, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

Seoul's smart watch healthcare program expands to 220,000 citizens

Society

Mayors worldwide to promote their cities at Seoul summit

Official poster for World Cities Summit Mayors Forum 2023 / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan GovernmentSeoul Smart City Prize is key event of summit at DDPBy Ko Dong-hwanMayors and business leaders from around the world will gather in Seoul in September for a global summit to discuss creating more livable and sustainable cities.The World Cities Summit Mayors Forum 2023, slated for September 24 to 26 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), will feature mayors and vice mayors from 48 cities across 33 countries, such as Wellington, New Zealand Mayor Tory Whanau and Taipei, Taiwan Mayor Wayne Chiang Wan-an, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.Business leaders and representatives of international organizations, including the UN Habitat and Metropolis, are also among the list of some 200 guests invited to the forum.Held under the slogan, “Liveable and Sustainable Cities, Forging an Inclusive and Resilient Future,” the annual forum focuses on four main areas: creating an inclusive society, preserving cultural heritage, moving towards carbon neutrality and enhancing climate re

Aug 29, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

Mayors worldwide to promote their cities at Seoul summit

Society

Oct. 2 could be designated as temporary holiday

gettyimagesbankBy Ko Dong-hwanThe presidential office said Friday it is considering designating Oct. 2 as an extra holiday so that citizens can enjoy a long vacation that lasts almost a week.The Chuseok holiday runs from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 and National Foundation Day falls on Oct. 3 and the envisaged designation would allow the public to enjoy a six-day break.The office said the issue will be discussed at a Cabinet meeting, which will be presided over by President Yoon Suk Yeol.The move came as the ruling People Power Party made the recommendation to the presidential office and senior secretaries briefed the president on the economic and social benefits it could bring to the country.The senior secretaries said the “golden vacation” would generate economic activity with people encouraged to spend time shopping, eating and taking trips.News of the potential holiday has elated the country's tourism and retail industries with anticipation over rising demand and market revenues. Multiple tourism package providers said, while they had already seen a large number of people booki

Aug 26, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

Oct. 2 could be designated as temporary holiday

Society

Seoul appoints 16 outstanding citizens as 'honorary mayors'

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, fourth from left in the front row, poses with newly appointed “honorary mayors” of Seoul during an appointment ceremony at the city hall, Friday. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan GovernmentBy Ko Dong-hwanThe Seoul Metropolitan Government on Friday appointed 16 citizens as “honorary mayors” who will represent local citizens by recommending policy ideas to the city government for one year. After 80 candidates from a variety of fields were recommended in the first round by citizens and related departments, they were handpicked by a selection committee composed of experts. The 16 areas are housing and architecture, urban planning, small business, culture, tourism, transportation, environment, welfare, disability, health, education, women, livelihood, urban safety, digital and design. The honorary mayors, representing the city's civic sectors in general, will regularly join the city government's policy design and decision-making meetings with government bureaus to make suggestions they deem necessary for the public. In turn, they will also pro

Aug 25, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

Seoul appoints 16 outstanding citizens as 'honorary mayors'

Law & Crime

Court tells alpine club to pay for search operations for renowned missing climber

Late Kim Hong-bin raises his fingerless hands at the base camp in the Himalayas before climbing the Broad Peak in July 2021. Courtesy of Korean Olympic CommitteeMountaineers association pleads mercy; central gov't adamant with lawBy Ko Dong-hwanKim Hong-bin, a fingerless mountaineer who went missing after climbing Broad Peak in the Himalayas in 2021 to become the world's first disabled person to scale all 14 Himalayan peaks of 8,000 meters or greater in height, inspired people so much that they voted for him to be declared a national sports hero posthumously later that year.However, the glory seems to have been short-lived in the wake of a court ruling ordering the late climber's teammates of the Gwangju Alpine Federation to pay the cost of search operations conducted to find him. On June 23, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that the Gwangju Alpine Federation should pay the government 25 million won ($19,000) for using a Pakistani military helicopter that was arranged by the Embassy of Korea in Pakistan. Kim's five teammates are also ordered to pay a combined 10 million won fo

Aug 24, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

Court tells alpine club to pay for search operations for renowned missing climber

Foreign Affairs

Justice ministry operation nabs 11,000 illegal immigrants

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon speaks during the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting in Seoul on Monday. YonhapBy Ko Dong-hwanA joint force from the central government has apprehended over 11,000 illegal immigrants in the latest nationwide crackdown, with a large number ordered to leave the country.The collaborative operation between the ministries of justice, land-infrastructure-transport and employment-labor as well as the Korea National Police Agency and the Korea Coast Guard swept the country from June 12 to July 31. This was the second major operation this year targeting illegal immigrants.The crackdown found 6,114 undocumented people, with 5,482 of them ordered to leave the country immediately. Another 142 of those caught have been fined and the rest held for questioning. The crackdown aimed to tackle two major issues: illegal drug trading and employment brokerage. Illicit drug trading among young adults, including teenagers, has recently become a serious social issue, according to the justice ministry. The joint force has found 15 illegal immigrants

Aug 23, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

Ko Dong-hwan

Read more

INTERVIEW UNICEF regional chief wins Korea's support for climate initiatives for children

Foodies select Seoul's top 100 dining spots

Korea's typhoon center navigates storm predictions with more precision

Seoul's 2,000-year history now available in English on YouTube

Seoul's smart watch healthcare program expands to 220,000 citizens

Mayors worldwide to promote their cities at Seoul summit

Oct. 2 could be designated as temporary holiday

Seoul appoints 16 outstanding citizens as 'honorary mayors'

Court tells alpine club to pay for search operations for renowned missing climber

Justice ministry operation nabs 11,000 illegal immigrants

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