The Korea Times

INTERVIEW DoubleTree by Hilton turns hotel rooftop into urban bee farm in Pangyo

A beekeeper of Urban Bees Seoul takes out a hive frame from a rooftop bee farm at DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, during the hotel's first harvest ceremony, June 2. Courtesy of DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo By Lee Hae-rinSEONGNAM, Gyeonggi Province ― “Here, you can see all these bees growing safe and healthy in the beehive. No need to be afraid of them,” urban beekeeper Park Jin said, lifting a wooden hive frame filled with glittering honey and buzzing bees on the rooftop of a newly built hotel in Pangyo in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.“Honey bees usually forage within a radius of about two kilometers, so this very colony of bees nestled on this rooftop makes significant contributions to building a healthy ecosystem in the area,” he said, looking around at the building's surroundings, full of mountains with acacia forests.Clad head-to-toe in his beekeeping suit, Park and DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo's staffers took the first

Jun 6, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

[INTERVIEW] DoubleTree by Hilton turns hotel rooftop into urban bee farm in Pangyo

Environment & Animals

Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets

A Korean shorthair cat rests on a cushion at The Bom Center, a shelter for abandoned animals founded by domestic animal advocacy group KARA in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 9, 2021. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Lee Hae-rinPark Mun-su, a 33 year-old Seoul-based program developer, rescued two Korean shorthair kittens ― Marry and Milk ― from his neighborhood seven years ago. He had never planned on bringing animals into his household, but said he felt an undeniable bond with the kittens after rescuing them, a connection he simply couldn't ignore.Park and his wife said they believe an animal's value and worth “cannot be determined by its breed.” If they had to do it again, they would still choose to rescue and adopt pets in need of help instead of buying purebreds from pet shops. Park added that they are particularly proud of their Korean shorthairs Marry and Milk, since such breeds are less prone to genetic disorders and hereditary health conditions while also being naturally amiable.Korean shorthairs are domestic mixed-breed cats of unidentified ancestry, stigmati

Jun 5, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets

Health

Korea sees record-high number of flu patients for late spring

People line up at an ear, nose and throat clinic in Gyeonggi Province, May 29. Korea Times photo by Ha Sang-yunBy Lee Hae-rinInfluenza, which typically strikes during winter, has spread at an alarming level in late spring, marking the highest number of patients for a late spring and early summer season. Health experts and authorities presume eased COVID-19 rules involving face masks and in-person gatherings have caused an influenza surge.According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Sunday, the number of people with symptoms of flu stood at 25.7 per 1,000 outpatients from May 14 to 27. This figure was also the same for the previous week.It was the highest number seen during that period of the year since September 2000 when the KDCA started collecting related statistics. In previous years, the figure has remained at less than five per 1,000 outpatients. The previous record was seven during May 14 to 27 of 2021.Also, flu cases normally decline after the peak winter season. But this time, the number peaked at 60.7 in the last week of 2022, declined to 11.6 from Fe

Jun 4, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

Korea sees record-high number of flu patients for late spring

Society

Calls grow for female flight attendants to ditch skirts for pants

In this photo taken on Sept. 7, 2019, Asiana Airlines flight attendants are seen in uniform, two wearing trousers and one in a skirt as they pass a model airplane at the company's headquarters in western Seoul. NewsisBy Lee Hae-rinCalls are growing here for airline companies to allow and encourage female cabin crew members to wear trousers for their benefit and convenience in their inflight safety duties after a viral image showed an Asiana Airlines flight attendant wearing a skirt, which was then criticized as not practical after a recent inflight incident.On May 26, a male passenger in his 30s allegedly opened an emergency exit of an Asiana plane 213 meters above the ground just before landing at Daegu International Airport. He told police that he felt suffocated and wanted to get off the plane.None of the 194 passengers aboard were injured in the incident but 12 onboard passengers were taken to a hospital due to breathing difficulties. Police arrested the man for allegedly violating the Aviation Security Law after questioning him.On Monday, a photo of the incident shared by an off

Jun 1, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

Calls grow for female flight attendants to ditch skirts for pants

People & Events

INTERVIEW French photographer highlights amazing transformations of dog meat farm survivors

L.A.-based French photographer Sophie Gamand poses in front of the portrait of Soju, rescued from a dog meat farm in Korea, at Humane Society International Korea's exhibition “Beyond Prejudice” at Seoul Metro Art Center inside Gyeongbokgung Station in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Humane Society InternationalBy Lee Hae-rinFrench photographer Sophie Gamand still vividly remembers when she first met Soju, a small orange-furred chow chow mix, in September 2019 at a dog meat farm in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. On that day, she witnessed the transformation of this helpless creature from a dire situation through a rescue mission.Born and raised for human consumption, Soju lived in a small, filthy elevated cage without adequate food, water or care all his life. The operator of the dog farm identified him ― and other canines ― by their weight, similar to meat pieces sold at a butcher shop, because that was all he was worth for him. This grim reality saw many dogs lead wretched lives, dying of neglect or being slaughtered for their meat.Thanks to Humane Society International (HIS) Kor

Jun 1, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

[INTERVIEW] French photographer highlights amazing transformations of dog meat farm survivors

Foreign Affairs

Korea's Fukushima inspection team focuses on long-term management of wastewater

Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Chairperson Yoo Guk-hee, front, speaks during a briefing on Korean experts' on-site inspection of the crippled Fukushima plant in Japan, at Government Complex Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Lee Hae-rinA Korean inspection team that visited Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant said Wednesday that they are focusing on evaluating how the facilities and systems to treat contaminated water can be managed stably for the next three decades and beyond.The experts from the team said meaningful progress was made during the inspection, but added that additional analysis and more data are needed for an accurate conclusion regarding Tokyo's plan to discharge the contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean.The 21-member inspection team, headed by Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Chairperson Yoo Guk-hee, announced its findings from a six-day inspection last week of Japan's water discharge plans, aimed at assessing whether the contaminated water is treated safely enough to be discharged into the sea starting this summer.&ld

May 31, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

Korea's Fukushima inspection team focuses on long-term management of wastewater

Society

Calls grow for regulations on AI technology on webcomics

A mobile image of Naver Webtoon's Toon Filter, an artificial intelligence image generator, released May 12 / Courtesy of Naver WebtoonBy Lee Hae-rinWith the ongoing advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) within the realm of the creative industry, there is an increasing demand to establish guidelines for its use and to safeguard the intellectual property rights of artists.Earlier this month, Naver Webtoon, a digital comics platform by Korea's largest portal Naver, introduced Toon Filter, its AI image generator. This tool converts a photo into the drawing styles of 10 popular artists who publish their works on Naver Webtoon, such as Lee Dong-geon of "Yumi's Cells," 232 of "Love Revolution," Park Tae-jun of "Lookism" and Oh Sung-dae of "Tales of the Unusual." Aimed to give users the feeling of having their portraits drawn by their favorite artists, the Toon Filter became an instant sensation, generating over 20 million images within a week after its release and nearly quintupling the number of new users on the platform.Over 80 percent of the users were overseas fans of Korean webc

May 27, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

Calls grow for regulations on AI technology on webcomics

Travel & Food

Korea hiking trail weeks kick off to promote regional tourism

Visitors walk along Oryukdo Sunrise Park in Busan, the starting points for the Haeparang and Namparang trails, in this photo taken in March 2013. Courtesy of Korea Tourism OrganizationBy Lee Hae-rinThe Korea hiking trail weeks, a promotional campaign for the Korea Dulle Trail, was launched Friday by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). The two-week event runs until June 9. The ministry held the campaign's kick-off ceremony at Oryukdo Sunrise Park in the southeastern port city of Busan, a starting point for two of the four trail routes constituting the Korea Dulle Trails ― Namparang Trail and Haeparang Trail.The Korea Dulle Trail system includes 4,500 kilometers of walking routes stretching along the eastern, western and southern coasts, as well as the border area in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The trail system is woven through 10 metropolitan areas and 78 local municipalities across the country.Haeparang Trail on the eastern coast starts from Busan's Oryukdo Sunrise Park and ends at the unification observatory in Goseong, Gangwon Pro

May 26, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

Korea hiking trail weeks kick off to promote regional tourism

Foreign Affairs

Seoul City set to help Ukraine rebuild war-damaged city infrastructure

Ukrainian soldiers pass by homes destroyed by Russian shelling in Bakhmut in Ukraine's Donetsk region, Nov. 10, 2022. AP-YonhapBy Lee Hae-rinThe Seoul Metropolitan Government will share its post-war city rebuilding knowhow in order to help Ukraine recover from Russia's invasion, the city government said, Thursday.Ukrainian politician Andriy Nikolayenko and the city governments of Irpin and Bucha of Ukraine proposed the idea to the Seoul government, Tuesday (local time), to cooperate on rebuilding Ukraine's war-torn city infrastructure during a recent international conference held in Warsaw, Poland.The event, which took place from Monday to Tuesday and brought government officials, companies, scholars and researchers from Korea, Poland and Ukraine together to discuss and establish plans for the war-torn country's economic recovery. Over 150 participants, including officials of the Seoul Housing & Communities Corp., an organization affiliated with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, joined the conference.Ukrainian politician Andriy Nikolayenko, third from right, speaks to Seoul Metr

May 25, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

Seoul City set to help Ukraine rebuild war-damaged city infrastructure

Travel & Food

Suncheon turns into botanical oasis city through int'l garden expo

Visitors enjoy sunset at the green square during the Suncheonman International Garden Expo, Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, April 30. Courtesy of Suncheon CityBy Lee Hae-rinSUNCHEON, South Jeolla Province ― Located near the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, Suncheon is a serene city renowned for its wetland habitat and a slow travel destination recommended for those looking for a break from the bustle of city life. The city, with its name literally meaning a “city abiding by heaven's will,” has been transformed into a garden city through the Suncheonman International Garden Expo 2023 that kicked off, April 1.Under the 203.2 billion won ($153 million) event running until the end of October, the city aims to showcase how urban green space can improve people's lives and present a sustainable ecological city model, which the city sees as necessary in the face of climate crisis. The main venue of Suncheonman International Garden Expo, Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, April 23 / Courtesy of Suncheon CitySuncheon is a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve featuring coastal ec

May 25, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

Lee Hae-rin

Read more

INTERVIEW DoubleTree by Hilton turns hotel rooftop into urban bee farm in Pangyo

Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets

Korea sees record-high number of flu patients for late spring

Calls grow for female flight attendants to ditch skirts for pants

INTERVIEW French photographer highlights amazing transformations of dog meat farm survivors

Korea's Fukushima inspection team focuses on long-term management of wastewater

Calls grow for regulations on AI technology on webcomics

Korea hiking trail weeks kick off to promote regional tourism

Seoul City set to help Ukraine rebuild war-damaged city infrastructure

Suncheon turns into botanical oasis city through int'l garden expo

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