South Korea - The Korea Times

Gov't proposes minimum 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035

The South Korean government on Thursday unveiled its proposal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent by 2035 from the 2018 level. In a public hearing, the government unveiled two proposals for the nationally determined contribution (NDC) by 2035, one of which will be submitted to the United Nations. The first option would require the country to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum 50 percent and a maximum 60 percent, while the second option calls for a slightly more ambitious goal of reducing emissions by a minimum 53 percent and a maximum 60 percent by the target year, according to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. In 2018, South Korea's greenhouse gas emissions reached 742.3 million tons. To decrease emissions by 50 percent from the 2018 level, the country would have to only emit 371.2 million tons in 2035. Last year, Korea's greenhouse gas emissions were estimated at 691.6 million tons, far above the minimum target for 2035. The government will set the final NDC goal at a Cabinet meeting next week and submit its new target to the U.N. the

Nov 6, 2025By Yonhap

Gov't proposes minimum 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035

Nutria capture programs highlight mixed treatment of wild animals

The hunter who appears in a documentary shown at a recent forum says he made 100 million won (about $69,471) from bounties, and that many nutria are still killed by drowning or starvation because “the government cares only about capture numbers, not how animals are killed.” The comment came during “Crossing the Boundary: Animals between Protection and Removal,” an event hosted last weekend by the civic group Green Korea United that examined contradictions in how society treats wild animals — protecting endangered species while labeling others as invasive and removing them. The forum included a screening of Rahm Kim’s 2023 documentary “The Coexistence of Eradication,” which renewed attention to the nutria population problem around Korea’s rivers. Native to South America, nutria were imported to South Korea in the mid-to-late 1980s for fur and meat, but were later abandoned when demand fell. With a high reproductive rate, they multiplied along the lower Nakdong River and began damaging crops, prompting the government to designate nutria as an ecosystem-disturbing specie

Nov 4, 2025By Hankookilbo

Nutria capture programs highlight mixed treatment of wild animals

Gov't unveils measures to boost critical mineral recycling amid global supply chain uncertainty

The government on Friday unveiled a plan to promote recycling of critical minerals by easing regulations and expanding financial and tax incentives, as part of its wider goal to stabilize supply chains, the industry ministry said. The measures were announced during a supply chain meeting chaired by Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, amid rising global uncertainty in raw material supply chains due to rising tech rivalry and escalating geopolitical tensions, the ministry said. "The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju has become a meaningful turning point amid ongoing global economic uncertainty," Koo said, noting that the government expects the outcomes to positively contribute to Korea's supply chain stability. Critical mineral recycling refers to the process of reprocessing materials recovered from waste to produce critical minerals, which are essential for advanced industries. The domestic critical mineral recycling market is expected to expand from 6.7 trillion won ($4.7 billion) in 2024 to 21.1 trillion won by 2040. Despite the growth potential, high technological

Oct 31, 2025By Yonhap

Gov't unveils measures to boost critical mineral recycling amid global supply chain uncertainty

Korea leverages APEC summit for greener future

Korea has spearheaded initiatives aimed at boosting economic growth, regional prosperity and innovation since joining the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) at its founding in 1989. This year's APEC summit, set for Oct. 28–31 in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, will see Korea take a leading role in climate action and sustainability discussions, while highlighting public- and private-sector initiatives under the theme of "Building a Sustainable Tomorrow." That commitment is reflected in the organization of the summit. The event will be paperless, with single-use products kept to a minimum. Delegates will receive commemorative items crafted from recycled wood salvaged from forests in North Gyeongsang Province that were damaged by wildfires earlier this year. Furniture for the venue, including tables, sofas and chairs, has also been crafted from trees affected by wildfires. KOAS, the company behind the furnishings, partnered with the Korea Forest Service, North Gyeongsang Province and Dongwha Group for the project. "It is deeply meaningful to give new life to the scars of the fo

Oct 29, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo

Korea leverages APEC summit for greener future

Seoul turns to high-tech solutions to combat surge in rat population

Seeking to restore its image as a clean, hypermodern metropolis, Seoul is rolling out a high-tech campaign against its burgeoning rat population, deploying a data-driven “smart” control system to curb the recent surge in urban sightings. The initiative represents a major shift in the city’s approach to urban sanitation, moving from traditional extermination tactics toward predictive, networked intervention. The city government said Thursday that the program focuses on installing sensors in known infestation hotspots. Connected to the internet, these devices will provide around-the-clock, real-time monitoring of rodent activity, enabling municipal workers to pinpoint breeding areas and respond with speed and efficiency. The initiative aims to create a digital shield, harnessing technology to tackle a persistent public health challenge. When a rat enters a baited device, the door will automatically close and send an alert so it can be retrieved. “Unlike conventional traps or poison left in open areas, the smart devices store bait inside a sealed box, reducing risks to pets and the

Oct 24, 2025By Park Ung

Seoul turns to high-tech solutions to combat surge in rat population

Nearly 30 racehorses euthanized each year in Korea

Nearly 30 racehorses are euthanized each year in Korea due to severe injuries sustained during competitions, raising growing concerns over animal welfare in the country’s horse racing industry. According to data that Rep. Yoon Joon-byeong of the Democratic Party of Korea received from the Korea Racing Authority (KRA), a total of 518 racehorses were euthanized between 2008 and September this year — an average of 28.8 per year. So far this year, 29 horses have been put down. Most of the euthanized horses died from fractures, including broken bones in the humerus, tibia and pelvis. The KRA said about 80 percent of such injuries occur during races, where horses running at high speeds often misstep or suffer stress fractures from accumulated fatigue. Some horses were euthanized after becoming unable to stand, while others died from concussions or sepsis. Due to their high sensitivity and the difficulty of treatment, injured racehorses rarely return to the track. Few are adopted afterward, as they are not considered companion animals. Owners face steep maintenance costs — often over 2 mil

Oct 22, 2025By Hankookilbo

Nearly 30 racehorses euthanized each year in Korea

KTO unveils guidelines to make Korea pet-friendly travel destination

As more Koreans consider their pets part of the family, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is taking steps to make travel easier for them — and for everyone else. In cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the KTO released new guidelines for creating pet-friendly travel facilities on Monday. The comprehensive manual is designed to help tourism sites better accommodate travelers with pets. The guidelines outline measures that can be applied across various facilities, including tourist attractions, accommodations, restaurants and cafes. They specify essential features such as leash hooks and disinfectants, as well as recommended amenities like pet lounges, playgrounds and waste disposal areas. The guide also compiles key regulations under the Animal Protection Act, Food Sanitation Act and Feed Management Act. To ensure practicality, the KTO consulted with experts including veterinarian and animal behaviorist Seol Chae-hyun, Petsgo Travel CEO Lee Tae-gyu and officials from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The organization said the initiative aims to create an

Oct 13, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

KTO unveils guidelines to make Korea pet-friendly travel destination

Rescued lab beagles to find new homes at adoption event in Seoul

Beagles once confined to laboratories will be looking for their forever homes at a special adoption event this weekend in Myeong-dong, one of Seoul’s most popular tourist and shopping districts. Animal welfare group Beagle Rescue Network, known for its efforts to save and rehabilitate research dogs, will host the Be Happy Beagle Adoption Fair at Community House Masil in central Seoul on Saturday. Following the success of its inaugural event in June, the fair returns this fall to raise awareness about the plight of laboratory animals and promote a culture of responsible, compassionate adoption. The fair, organized by Professor Kang So-young of Seoul Digital University, will be held under the theme “Adoption is a life, a responsibility, a promise.” Organizers hope to remind the public that adopting a pet is not merely a generous act, but a lifelong commitment to protect and care for another living being. “Only about one out of every 10,000 beagles used in laboratory experiments ever make it out alive. It underscores how far we still have to go in ending animal testing and developi

Oct 10, 2025By Youn Ye-jin

Rescued lab beagles to find new homes at adoption event in Seoul

3.1 magnitude earthquake strikes central county of Okcheon

A 3.1 magnitude earthquake struck the central county of Okcheon, the country's third-most powerful quake of the year, Wednesday, the state weather agency said. The quake hit an area about 17 kilometers east of the county in North Chungcheong Province around 11:49 a.m., with the epicenter estimated at a depth of 9 km, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. The National Fire Agency said it received about a dozen reports from residents who felt the tremors. However, no injuries, property damage, or emergency dispatches were reported. Later in the day, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission confirmed that all domestic nuclear power facilities remain safe and were unaffected by the earthquake.

Oct 8, 2025By Yonhap

3.1 magnitude earthquake strikes central county of Okcheon

Why Korean families are taking their pets everywhere, even on overseas vacations

When Kwon, 35, planned a fall camping trip in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province with her husband over the Chuseok holiday, leaving behind their six-year-old dachshund, Malrang, was never an option. “He’s family, so of course he should come with us,” Kwon said. Malrang, a long-haired cream dachshund, has already traveled to 19 countries — including France, Montenegro and Türkiye — and is now a seasoned “pro traveler.” For Kwon, finding pet-friendly restaurants, cafes and accommodations is as much a part of the trip as sightseeing. This Chuseok, she booked a campsite with a dedicated space where Malrang can roam freely. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 28.6 percent of Korean households now have a pet, meaning about one in four families lives with an animal companion. And instead of leaving them with neighbors or at pet hotels as they did in the past, more people are choosing to spend time and money to travel together. Their approaches to pet-inclusive travel are varied. Lee, 28, who adopted a dog earlier this year, purchased a Jeju travel ticket

Oct 5, 2025By Hankookilbo

Environment & Animals