The Korea Times

PHOTOS Plastic pandemic

A worker sorts recyclable material from plastic waste at a landfill site in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 19. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Bae Eun-jooThe coronavirus pandemic has sparked a massive demand for and use of plastics. The increasing necessity of face masks, plastic gloves and disinfecting wipes, which have become everyday items for most, is creating a plastic pandemic. Intensifying the rise in plastic demand, social distancing restrictions have quarantined people at home and as a result they have started relying more on online shopping and food delivery services. Plastic waste is delivered to a recycling facility after being compressed. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukThe protective measures against virus infection are creating higher consumption of single-use goods including takeaway food containers, delivery packages and bubble wrap for online shopping. Plastic packaging for food delivery is crucial and the rising popularity of next-day delivery services associated with over-packaging is creating environmental hazards at an alarming rate. South Korea was one of

Nov 12, 2020By Bae Eun-joo

Darkroom

Appreciation of autumn colors

The colorful autumn foliage is among the exquisite scenery Korea boasts. Hwadam Botanic Garden is an eco-friendly arboretum that maintains the most red-leaf tree species in the nation. Located within Konjiam Resort in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, the botanical garden was designed in 1997 as part of moves to revive the country’s forest ecosystem, featuring over 4,300 types of exotic and domestic plants to form a forest park divided by 17 themes. Hwadam, translated into “friendly communication,” is named after the pen name of the late LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo in hopes of bringing people to communicate with nature at the wildlife sanctuary that opened to the public in 2013. Korea Times photos by Choi Won-suk                              

Nov 5, 2020By Bae Eun-joo

Politics

The Korea Times, a living history

The Korea Times, a living historyBy Bae Eun-jooejbae@koreatimes.co.krSince The Korea Times published its first issue on Nov. 1, 1950, it has been on the ground reporting stories from around the world keeping its values of fairness, impartially and independence. These founding values have helped South Korea's longest-running English-language newspaper stay above political affiliation or ideologies and suggest solutions to social, political and economic conflicts as a critical and constructive mediator.Standing by its mission of informing readers to help shape a fair and just society, The Korea Times has been a witness to the nation's turbulent history over the last seven decades, going through the devastating era of the 1950-53 Korea War and the difficulties stemming from the global financial crisis in the late 1990s. The paper's first issue was published as a two-page tabloid with an inaugural editorial headlined “Really New Start,” stressing the need for the nation to come together for goodwill and cooperation at the height of the Korean War. In 1964, The Korea Times bec

Oct 29, 2020By Bae Eun-joo

Photo News

PHOTOS Strolling under the moonlight

A cheongsa chorong (traditional Korean lantern) guides the way through Changgyeong Palace at dusk. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Bae Eun-jooWhen the nationwide social distancing restrictions were lowered to Level 1 last week, people were quick to search for an escape from the prolonged confinement and boredom they’ve had to endure since the COVID-19 pandemic struck early this year. Social distancing Level 1, the lowest of the three-tier restriction system, opened up doors to a lot of activities, as restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings were lifted as long as participants wear face masks and take other necessary precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.Gyeonghoeru Pavilion at Gyeongbok Palace is reflected in the moonlight. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukThe Royal Culture Festival, which kicked off its month-long celebration Oct. 12, just in time as the social distancing rules were relaxed, sold out tickets in minutes to arts lovers eagerly awaiting the performances.Performances and exhibitions were complemented by the colorful autumn foliage at S

Oct 22, 2020By Bae Eun-joo

Photo News

PHOTOS Putting lives on the line amid COVID-19

Jobseekers flock to the Guro labor market in the early morning before darkness has lifted. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Bae Eun-jooA recent news report showing thousands of jobseekers lined up looking for a day’s work early in the morning raised the alarm over economic woes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. What also seriously concerned people was that many of the people gathered at Guro labor market were not wearing face masks or abiding by social distancing rules.Guro labor market is Korea’s largest gathering place for day laborers who get by living hand to mouth. Mostly construction laborers, they flock to the site between 3:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. to be picked up for a day job, if they are lucky. Many of the workers in the crowd are non-nationals, including ethnic Koreans from China, who are not fluent in Korean to understand quarantine guidelines well.People anxiously wait for their names to be called out every morning. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulThe market usually attracts thousands of people every morning, but the number of jobseekers has increased with the i

Oct 8, 2020By Bae Eun-joo

Putting lives on the line amid COVID-19 [PHOTOS]

Photo News

PHOTOS Wishing upon a moon

People exercise near a glowing full moon installation in a park in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Bae Eun-jooChuseok, Korea’s autumn thanksgiving day, is one of the biggest and most celebrated holidays in the country when family members from near and far gather together to honor their ancestors. Also known as hangawi (“the great middle of the autumn”), it is a major harvest festival celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar when there is a full moon. The Chuseok holiday is also a time of the year when millions of Koreans are on the move, emptying out the capital as people head for their hometowns. This year’s Chuseok, however, may become a time of yearning for some people who cannot reunite with their loved ones as the government is strongly recommending citizens to refrain from visiting their families or relatives amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.A woman poses in front of an artificial full moon in a park in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukThe government said the

Sep 24, 2020By Bae Eun-joo

Opinion

Pandemic pets

By Bae Eun-jooThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic shows little sign of abating and social distancing drags on. In these stressful times, the benefits of having a pet in helping people stave off loneliness and isolation go even further.Numerous studies have shown that the bond between a human and an animal, especially a dog, decreases psychological stress and brings emotional comfort.The state-run Gyeonggi Province Service Dog Center reported that the prolonged pandemic has resulted in an increased number of pet adoptions during the first months of the year. It said that an average of 57 dogs were adopted a month in the first half of this year, a whopping increase from 28 last year. Since social distancing measures have been enacted, the center has been receiving continuous queries regarding fostering or adopting pets, especially from families with children who are spending most of their time at home after school lockdowns.While more people show greater interest in raising a companion animal, many lack understanding and knowledge on how to become a proper caretaker and maintain a good relat

Aug 26, 2020By Bae Eun-joo

Opinion

Saving artists

By Bae Eun-jooThe world has surpassed another grim milestone as over 4.9 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections and over 320,000 deaths are reported. The novel coronavirus outbreak has taken an enormous toll on the global economy, forcing countless number of businesses to collapse and sending jobless rates to record-high worldwide.South Korea undoubtedly has not escaped the impact of the novel coronavirus crisis with the Ministry of Employment and Labor announcing May 11 that the payment of unemployment benefits had soared to nearly 1 trillion won ($820 million) in April, a record disbursement for jobseekers. The ministry said that 129,000 people applied for jobseekers' allowances that month, up 33 percent from a year ago, suggesting that most people have been affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Among the 129,000 new beneficiaries, the self-employed, freelancers, workers in special employment such as home study teachers or translators, and artists were not eligible for unemployment payments as they are not covered by the state's insurance program. The government states

May 20, 2020By Bae Eun-joo

World

Bomb found at philanthropist George Soros' suburban home

A mailbox stands in front of the Bedford residence of billionaire George Soros on October 23, 2018 in Bedford, New York. AFPFederal agents safely detonated the device after being summoned Monday by a security officer at the sprawling, wooded compound, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Manhattan. The 88-year-old Soros was not home at the time.Laura Silber, a spokeswoman for Soros' Open Society Foundations, blamed the country's toxic political environment. In recent days and weeks, Soros has been accused of being the hidden hand behind some of the opposition to Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination and helping to create the caravan of Central Americans making their way toward the U.S.``The hateful rhetoric that dominates politics in the U.S. and in so many countries around the world breeds extremism and violence,'' Silber said in a statement. ``In this climate of fear, falsehoods and rising authoritarianism, just voicing your views can draw death threats.''The FBI confirmed it was involved in an investigation but declined to comment. The New York Police Department said that

Oct 24, 2018By Bae Eun-joo

Bomb found at philanthropist George Soros' suburban home

World

Rise, fall and suspense: bitcoin's wild first decade

Representations of the Ripple, Bitcoin, Etherum and Litecoin virtual currencies are seen on a PC motherboard in this illustration picture, February 13, 2018. ReutersFrom its birth in an anonymous, academic style paper to one of the world's most volatile and closely watched financial instruments, bitcoin has lived through a tumultuous first 10 years.Here is a look back at some of the trials and tribulations of the world's most popular virtual currency as it stands on the brink of either mass market acceptance ― or early retirement.Bitcoin 'Bible' Published on October 31, 2008 by a person or group writing under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, the currency was introduced to an unsuspecting world in a nine-page paper called "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System."Nakamoto's objective: to create a system that can send payments "directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution." It was, in effect, a master plan for a global currency that could not be controlled by any central bank and could be accessed by anyone.'Genesis block'The first 50 bitcoins

Oct 23, 2018By Bae Eun-joo

Bae Eun-joo

Read more

PHOTOS Plastic pandemic

Appreciation of autumn colors

The Korea Times, a living history

PHOTOS Strolling under the moonlight

PHOTOS Putting lives on the line amid COVID-19

PHOTOS Wishing upon a moon

Pandemic pets

Saving artists

Bomb found at philanthropist George Soros' suburban home

Rise, fall and suspense: bitcoin's wild first decade

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