South Korea - The Korea Times

Monsoon shifts north, leaving Korea sweltering under intense summer heat

An early retreat of the monsoon front has left Korea with one of its shortest rainy seasons in recent memory, exposing much of the country to sustained heat and oppressive nighttime temperatures. The Korea Meteorological Administration said Thursday that this year’s monsoon ended on June 26 in Jeju, a week earlier than usual and half its normal length at just two weeks — making it the island’s second-shortest rainy season on record. The southern part of the mainland saw a similarly brief spell, with the monsoon ending on July 1 after only 12 days. While rainfall is expected to remain limited, meteorologists say the rainy season may not yet be over for Seoul and parts of the upper mainland. While the exact dates remain subject to change, the broader pattern is clear: An anomalously strong North Pacific subtropical high-pressure system has displaced the monsoon front to the north, leaving southern Korea largely dry, with intensifying heat conditions. Korea’s rainy season, known locally as “jangma,” typically stretches from late June through late July or early August, deliverin

Jul 3, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Monsoon shifts north, leaving Korea sweltering under intense summer heat

Monsoon season ends in Jeju, southern region

The annual monsoon season has ended on Jeju Island and in the southern region, the state weather agency said Thursday, as the North Pacific high-pressure front has pushed the stationary front northwest. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Jeju and the southern region were freed from the influence of the stationary front on June 26 and Tuesday, respectively, ending their rainy season. The stationary front is created by the collision of hot and humid air moving north from the south and cold air moving south from the north. The agency noted the monsoon season ended the fastest on Jeju since nationwide weather observations began in 1973. The previous record was July 1, 1994. In the southern region, the earliest recorded end to the monsoon season was June 30, 1973, making this year the second-earliest end. The KMA said it is still too early to declare the end of the rainy season in Seoul and the central region due to the possibility of a temporary influence from a stationary front passing through North Korea. Indeed, rain may fall in the central region Friday night and between

Jul 3, 2025By Yonhap

Monsoon season ends in Jeju, southern region

SNU-affiliated pet health center charging up to W2.7 million sparks controversy

A newly opened animal health screening center branded with the name of Seoul National University (SNU) is facing backlash from the veterinary community over its funding structure and pricing, which critics say violate the spirit of existing veterinary laws. The SNU Animal Healthcare Center opened on June 16 in Gwangjin District, Seoul. It promotes itself as a nonprofit institution for public and academic purposes, aiming to collect diagnostic data. However, its establishment was backed by an investment from a for-profit company, raising concerns that it undermines regulations meant to keep animal hospitals out of commercial hands. The center was established by a nonprofit medical corporation led by SNU veterinary professor Sung Je-kyung. Funding came from SNU Holdings, the university’s tech holding company, while medical equipment and facilities were provided by SNU Pet, a for-profit hospital management firm also funded by SNU Holdings. SNU Pet holds priority rights to the animal health data collected at the center. Legal loophole or violation of intent? The first point of contention is

Jul 3, 2025By Hankookilbo

SNU-affiliated pet health center charging up to W2.7 million sparks controversy

Temperatures to soar to 36 degrees Celsius in southern regions

Daytime highs are set to surge to 36 degrees Celsius in southeastern and east coastal regions on Wednesday, with a heat wave advisory in effect for most parts of the country, the state weather agency said. The highest daily temperatures will reach 36 degrees Celsius in Daegu, Ulsan and Gangneung, among other cities, due to the continued influx of hot and humid air from the southwest, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Some areas of Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds Seoul, Gangwon Province's east coast and mountains and eastern Jeju Island will also see their sensible temperatures rise to around 35 degrees Celsius during the day, the KMA said. Seoul and many other regions nationwide experienced tropical nights for the third consecutive night on Wednesday, as temperatures are forecast to remain above the 30-year average for the time being.

Jul 2, 2025By Yonhap

Temperatures to soar to 36 degrees Celsius in southern regions

Record-breaking average daily temperatures reported for June

Daily average temperatures reached new records for June in Busan, Daegu and many other southern cities earlier this week, amid a sweltering heat wave sweeping across the country, the state weather agency said Tuesday. In Busan, the daily average temperature was 26.2 degrees Celsius on Monday, the hottest day in June in the southeastern port city since modern weather observations began there in 1904, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The record was already broken on Sunday, when the city's daily average temperature was 25.9 degrees Celsius, the agency said, noting the previous record was 25.8 degrees Celsius set on June 15, 2024. Likewise, new June records were set in the southwestern city of Mokpo, which saw an average of 27.3 degrees Celsius on Sunday and 28.1 degrees Celsius on Monday, the KMA said. The southeastern city of Daegu also broke its record for the first time in 20 years on Monday, with the average daily temperature reaching 30.7 degrees Celsius. The previous record for the month was 30.1 degrees Celsius set on June 25, 2005. The KMA said 59 of 97 c

Jul 1, 2025By Yonhap

Record-breaking average daily temperatures reported for June

Lovebugs back — this time a bigger problem

Kim Jae-woong, an avid outdoorsman, headed to Incheon’s Mount Gyeyang over the weekend — and found himself in the middle of a surreal infestation. Swarms of lovebugs took over the mountain, their dead and living bodies so thick they blanketed many of the trails. “The ground felt soft with lovebugs,” he wrote in a comment on his video online. “Even the stray cats that usually roam the area had all disappeared. The entire mountain felt overrun.” His footage, showing the lovebug invasion on Mount Gyeyang, quickly went viral, becoming one of the most talked-about posts in Korea over the weekend and racking up more than 35,000 likes. Lovebugs, or Plecia nearctica — named for the way mated pairs fly while attached — have increasingly appeared across the country in recent years, a trend scientists attribute to the Korean Peninsula’s shift toward a subtropical climate due to climate change. Commonly found in warm regions like southeastern China and Japan’s Okinawa, lovebugs began appearing in large numbers in Korea around 2022, especially in the Seoul metropolitan area. They

Jul 1, 2025By Park Ung

Lovebugs back — this time a bigger problem

Firefighters put out fire at building inside Joseon-era garden in Seoul

A fire at a wooden building inside a garden designated as cultural heritage in northern Seoul was put out after four hours Monday, firefighters said. The blaze erupted at the Korean-style building located in the garden in Seoul's Seongbuk-dong at 12:45 p.m., with firefighters quickly mobilizing personnel and equipment to the scene upon reports that a fire occurred for unknown reasons. The fire was fully under control at around 5:00 p.m., according to the officials. No casualties have been reported yet, officials said. The building that caught fire was known to have been newly erected in the 1950s, and firefighters were currently dismantling the roof as smoke was coming from the upper roof tiles. The pillars of the building were severely damaged by the fire, according to firefighters and the Korea Heritage Service. The garden, formerly known as Seongnagwon, is a representative garden from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), which was designated as one of the country's scenic sites in 2020.

Jun 30, 2025By Yonhap

Firefighters put out fire at building inside Joseon-era garden in Seoul

YouTube is full of 'cat-calming music' — but does it really help? A vet explains

Hello, I’m Dr. Lee Woo-jang, head of Hi Animal Behavior Clinic, where we provide science-based behavioral care for companion animals. Today’s question is simple, but surprisingly fascinating: Is there scientific evidence behind music that calms cats? The short answer? Yes — there absolutely is. Since the person who submitted this question asked for evidence, let’s explore some published studies. You may be surprised to learn that music specifically designed for cats — based on their unique hearing range and physiological responses — can indeed reduce feline stress. Cat parents, take note! Cats hear a much wider range of sound than humans do. Cats can hear from approximately 48Hz to 85,000Hz — about four times wider than the human hearing range. They’re especially sensitive to high frequencies. Additionally, music with consistent tempo, soft melodies and repetitive patterns can influence a cat’s autonomic nervous system and induce a calming effect. One landmark study supports this. In 2015, American psychologist and behavioral biologist Charles Snowdon teamed up with co

Jun 28, 2025By Hankookilbo

YouTube is full of 'cat-calming music' — but does it really help? A vet explains

Korea approves decommissioning of 1st commercial nuclear reactor

Korea has approved the decommissioning of the country's first commercial nuclear reactor, the now-defunct Kori 1 reactor, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) said Thursday, also marking its first-ever decommissioning of a reactor. Unit 1 of the Kori nuclear power plant, located in the southeastern city of Busan, was permanently shut down in June 2017 after operating for about 40 years since April 1978. In May last year, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) began chemical decontamination to remove radioactive materials from the reactor, marking a crucial first step in the decommissioning process. The KHNP said the successful dismantling of the Kori 1 reactor will be significant for the nuclear and related industries as it will open up new business opportunities in the global reactor decommissioning market. "The full dismantling of the Kori 1 reactor is expected to take 12 years due to challenges related to the construction of spent nuclear fuel storage facilities," an NSSC official said. According to the review by the commission, KHNP operates three dedicated decommissioning un

Jun 26, 2025By Yonhap

Korea approves decommissioning of 1st commercial nuclear reactor

Urban Korea’s new headache: giant crows attacking people

The Environment Ministry on Wednesday issued public safety guidelines as reports increase of large-billed crows attacking people during their breeding season, which typically peaks between May and July when fledglings leave the nest. Measuring up to 57 centimeters in body length, the large-billed crow is the biggest among the crow species found in Korea. Recognized by its glossy black feathers and distinctively curved upper beak, the bird has increasingly been seen nesting in urban green spaces near residential areas, sometimes rummaging through trash or attacking people who get too close to their nests. Crow attacks are concentrated during the breeding season from March to July, especially between May and July when the young begin to fledge. These incidents are typically a result of defensive behavior by parent birds trying to protect their eggs or fledglings. People approaching nests or fledglings often trigger such reactions. To stay safe, the ministry advises avoiding areas where nests or young crows have been spotted. If passing through such areas is unavoidable, people should move

Jun 25, 2025By Hankookilbo

Environment & Animals