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Cash-strapped wage earners give up vacations: survey

By Ko Dong-hwangettyimagesbankA majority of wage earners in Korea cannot afford to take a vacation this summer because of their economic conditions, according to the results of a survey released Sunday.Among the country's salary earners who have given up on taking a vacation this year or delayed making plans, 62 percent said they did so because they “don't currently have enough cash in hand.”The survey was conducted by Gabjil119, a civic group advocating for the rights of domestic workers, over a week starting on June 9. “Gabjil,” or “gapjil” as it's more commonly spelled, is Korean for a set of actions taken by workplace superiors or customers in service sectors against others who deem the actions unfair and abusive.The survey, which interviewed 1,000 salary earners aged 19 and older across the country, has found that less than 44 percent have made vacation plans for this summer. Meanwhile, over 36 percent said they had not yet decided whether to take a vacation this summer, while 20 percent said it was not an option. There was a correlation betwe

Jul 24, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan
Cash-strapped wage earners give up vacations: survey
Environment & Animals

Torrential rain to continue battering Korea on Monday

People walk under umbrellas at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Sunday, as a heavy rain advisory was issued for the capital. Yonhap By Ko Dong-hwanHeavy rain is forecast to continue drenching the entire nation on Monday, according to the weather watchdog, Sunday, with more than 100 millimeters of rainfall forecast for some regions.According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), torrential rain accompanied by strong wind, lightning and thunder is expected to continue in Seoul and its surrounding areas and the western parts of Gangwon Province. The rain may continue until Wednesday in some regions, but as the intensity of clashes between cold and warm air masses grows weaker, the rainfall will likely become lighter on Tuesday, the KMA added.Other parts of the nation, including North Chungcheong Province, the Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces and Jeju Island, are expected to have up to 150 millimeters of rain until as late as Monday afternoon.Gwangju and other regions of South Jeolla Province are expected to see at least 200 millimeters of accumulated precipitation through Tuesday

Jul 23, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan
Torrential rain to continue battering Korea on Monday
  • VIDEO Monsoon rains to soak entire nation until Monday
Environment & Animals

Yoon declares 13 special disaster zones over heavy rain

Most areas are in North Gyeongsang, South Chungcheong provinces By Ko Dong-hwanPresident Yoon Suk Yeol designated 13 areas affected most severely by torrential rains as special disaster zones, including cities and counties in North Gyeongsang Province, North Jeolla Province and North and South Chungcheong provinces, Wednesday. The announcement came amid search and rescue operations for those who remain missing, and the presidential office said additional designations are expected depending on the completion of the government's damage inspection. The latest special disaster zones are Yecheon, Bonghwa, Yeongju and Mungyeong in North Gyeongsang Province; Nonsan, Gongju, Cheongyang and Buyeo in South Chungcheong Province; Cheongju and Goesan in North Chungcheong Province; and Iksan and Gimje's Juksan Township in North Jeolla Province. Sejong Special Self-Governing City is also on the beneficiary list.Local governments and district offices for the areas designated as special disaster zones receive special benefits from the central government, including special funds to be used for recove

Jul 19, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan
Yoon declares 13 special disaster zones over heavy rain
Environment & Animals

Sonar tech, drones, satellites to detect waste in Incheon waters

A conceptual image of the new maritime waste collection system being developed jointly by Incheon Metropolitan City and Ongjin County / Courtesy of Incheon Metropolitan CityWaste detection system now under test operation with completion expected before 2026By Ko Dong-hwanIncheon is testing a new waste detection system using drones and satellites, which will maximize the efficiency of locating and removing sea trash.According to Incheon Metropolitan City, the system, being developed jointly with the Ongjin County government in the city's maritime territory, uses satellites, drones and sonar radar to monitor the country's western coastal waters and pinpoint the location of waste. First, a satellite scans the surface of the water to detect the presence of trash. Then, drones fly to the satellite-designated location for a closer inspection.Below the waves, sonar radars will monitor for submerged waste resting on the seabed.The three-pronged monitoring system, once having located waste, relays the data to the city government's smart maritime environment management center. The center then

Jul 19, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan
Sonar tech, drones, satellites to detect waste in Incheon waters
People & Events

Busan to host World Cyber Games this month

WCG marks first offline event since 2020By Ko Dong-hwanBusan will host this year's World Cyber Games (WCG) later this month, the first time the international event will take place offline since 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced most offline events to switch to online. According to the Film and Contents Industry Division under Busan Metropolitan City's Culture and Sports Bureau, the WCG, one of the largest global esports tournaments, will be held from July 28 to 30 at BEXCO.About 150 people from Korea, Japan, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Canada will participate in it including 72 competitors, 22 commentators and 34 influencers. The players will compete in Hearthstone, Genshin Impact, Clash Royale, Mobile Legends, Starcraft 2, World of Warcraft and Epic Seven.The highlight of the event, according to the city government, will be the WCG Grand Final in Hearthstone, Clash Royale and Mobile Legends. It will become the stage to decide the final winners after the preliminary rounds kicked off online last December and continued until June.

Jul 19, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan
Busan to host World Cyber Games this month
Environment & Animals

High humidity meets dry air to feed extreme downpour: weather agency

Paddy fields in Haenam County, South Jeolla Province, are flooded, Sunday. YonhapChungcheong, Jeju forecast to see up to 300 mm through WednesdayBy Ko Dong-hwanA seasonal stationary front is formed above the Korean Peninsula between the North Pacific High, bottom right, and the Tibetan anticyclone, top left, and low atmospheric pressure in this graphic image by the Korea Meteorological Administration released Monday.An intensified stationary front jointly fed by high humidity from the south and dry air from the north has generated the severe downpours that have so far left 50 people dead or missing and caused landslides and flash floods over the weekend, according to the country's top weather watchdog, Monday. High humidity from the North Pacific High, a semi-permanent subtropical anticyclone, moved up from the country's south and met a cool, dry air current that penetrated south between low atmospheric pressure and the Tibetan anticyclone.That collision of weather systems has activated more rigorously the stationary front that forms every summer over the country for weeks triggering

Jul 17, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan
High humidity meets dry air to feed extreme downpour: weather agency
Society

INTERVIEW Jeju governor seeks diplomatic deals via ASEAN Plus Alpha, Jeju Forum

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Governor Oh Young-hun / Courtesy of Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Government Jeju pork export to Middle East signifies new eraBy Ko Dong-hwanDiplomatic events are part of Jeju Island Province Governor Oh Young-hun's broader agenda to build stronger network ties with international cities as diplomacy emerges as key to the survival of municipal governments here. Last month, a delegation from the island province went to Okinawa Prefecture in Japan to attend the 10th Korea-Japan Cultural Caravan, during which the island's representatives showcased Jeju's traditional music, promoted its tourism and had promising conversations with Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki. The visit came after Okinawa's vice governor joined the Jeju Forum earlier this year and expressed an intention to strengthen exchanges with the Korean island.In the same month, the Jeju authority recruited some 20 local high school and university students who are interested in an annual music exchange program with the Chinese city of Ningbo and the Japanese city of Nara where they will

Jul 15, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan
[INTERVIEW] Jeju governor seeks diplomatic deals via ASEAN Plus Alpha, Jeju Forum
Environment & Animals

Heavy rain causes landslides, damage across nation

A village in Buyeo County, South Chungchung Province, is inundated with mud and rubble, caused by a landslide, Friday. YonhapBy Ko Dong-hwanHeavy rainfall nationwide on Friday caused damage to residential areas and infrastructure, prompting authorities to close down bridges, mountain trails and coastal roads. The damage came as the country experienced days of downpours during the annual monsoon season.Up to 200 millimeters of rain falling across the country from Thursday to Friday morning knocked down trees, walls and structures and flooded underground car parks and other public areas. Gyeonggi Province closed off entrances to over 3,700 streams, 40 parking lots, 205 bridges and over 180 locations near mountains and slopes in danger of landslides, and 8 coastal areas.The disruptions have prompted residents to be evacuated from homes in Paju and Hanam in Gyeonggi Province and Andong and Sangju in North Gyeongsang Province.A street bisecting apartment buildings in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, is flooded, Friday. YonhapPower outages occurred in 40 households in Seosan, South Chungcheo

Jul 14, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan
Heavy rain causes landslides, damage across nation
  • N. Korea remains unresponsive to Seoul's request for prior notice on dam water discharge
Politics

Korean employers in US call for bigger visa quota for professional workers

Ruling People Power Party Chairman Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon speaks during a policy meeting with Koreans in the U.S. at the Korean Community Center in Washington, D.C., Monday. Courtesy of People Power PartyBy Ko Dong-hwanKorean businesses in the United States urged the ruling party to make efforts to expand the quota of American visas for professional workers for Korean companies, saying their operations are being hampered by labor shortages due to the U.S. visa restrictions.During a meeting between members of the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the USA (KOCHAM) and a delegation of the People Power Party (PPP), including chairman Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, Thursday (local time), the businesses asked the Korean government and the ruling party to urge Washington to expand the issuance of U.S. visas for nonimmigrant skilled workers or the H-1B visa.According to the delegation, the number of H-1B visas issued per year is usually limited to some 80,000 among applicants from all countries, so it is not easy to bring skilled Koreans to their companies.In that respect, the businesses said that K

Jul 14, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan
Korean employers in US call for bigger visa quota for professional workers
Foreign Affairs

Seoul launches international smart city awards highlighting environment, inclusion

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks during a spring event for ambassadors at Sebitseom Island in Seoul, March 3. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government93 cities selected for main round of Seoul Smart City PrizeBy Ko Dong-hwanSeeking to encourage urban innovation worldwide, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has begun sorting out global city projects that cater to eco-friendliness, digital technologies and vulnerable urban residents as the city hosts the first international smart city award in September.The Digital Policy Division under the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Digital Policy Bureau announced Wednesday that it shortlisted 209 submissions from 93 cities in 47 countries. It is the first smart city prize to be awarded by Seoul. Most submissions were from Asia with 44 percent, followed by Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Africa and Oceania in order. Submissions were categorized as “human-centered” projects, “technological innovation” projects or “city leadership” projects. It was the result of the first round of selection that evaluated a t

Jul 12, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan
Seoul launches international smart city awards highlighting environment, inclusion
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