South Korea - The Korea Times

How to protect pets from ‘holiday syndrome’ during Chuseok

For many households, Korea’s Chuseok holiday is a highlight of the year, a time for long-awaited reunions, generous feasts and journeys back to hometowns. Yet what feels festive for people can be a major disruption for companion animals. “There is a noticeable rise in clinic visits after major holidays,” Lee Chul-min, a veterinarian at Yadang Animal Medical Center in Paju, told the Korea Times. “Dogs and cats are often brought in with vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite or sudden behavioral changes, signs of what some call ‘holiday syndrome’ for pets.” Just as people experience fatigue and irritability from travel, housework and family obligations, animals face their own version of holiday stress. Being crated for hours, exposed to unfamiliar environments or separated from their primary caregiver can unsettle even the calmest pet. Without preparation, these situations may lead to digestive problems, anxiety, excessive barking or scratching, and in some cases aggression or self-harm. Prepare for long-distance travel Most pets are not accustomed to spending hours i

Oct 3, 2025By Youn Ye-jin

How to protect pets from ‘holiday syndrome’ during Chuseok

Jeju targets 2035 carbon neutrality with green hydrogen, V2G expansion

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — Jeju is accelerating its push to become Korea’s leading hub of clean energy transition, with Gov. Oh Young-hun unveiling plans to expand green hydrogen production and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) commercialization while laying the groundwork for exporting the island’s integrated model abroad. “The core of V2G commercialization is a vehicle capable of bidirectional charging. Right now, the EV9 is the eligible vehicle. Jeju surpassed a 10 percent electric vehicle (EV) rate in July, nearly five times the national average,” the governor said during a press conference held during the 2025 Green Hydrogen Global Forum in southern Jeju, Friday. “Most of the cars cannot be used for bidirectional charging. That is why future distribution must expand around vehicles such as (Kia’s) EV9. With higher subsidy ratios and various incentive policies being introduced, we expect adoption to rise.” Oh shared that Jeju plans to expand hydrogen production fivefold, noting ongoing partner projects such as the newly signed agreement with Hyundai Motors Group. “Currently, about

Sep 28, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

Jeju targets 2035 carbon neutrality with green hydrogen, V2G expansion

Cracked apples and bland grapes: Climate change reshapes Korean farms and dinner tables

In a small orchard in Jangseong County, South Jeolla Province — the southernmost region where apples grow in Korea — farmer Yoon Young-hwan has spent more than half a century tending his trees. But in the past few years, he has witnessed something he never saw before in 53 years of apple farming: perfectly ripened fruit suddenly cracking wide open. "If I had 100 apples last year, about 80 split open. This year I tried everything I could to prevent it, but still about 60 percent cracked," said Yoon, 83. "We call this 'yeolgwa.' When I started farming apples in 1972, this concept didn’t even exist." Fruits splitting in the heat The phenomenon occurs when fruit absorbs water too quickly due to extreme weather shifts — from scorching heat waves to sudden heavy downpours. The fruit’s skin cannot keep pace with the rapid growth, causing it to split. Even when the skin remains intact, prolonged exposure to intense sunlight can cause apples to turn yellow and spoil. Rising spring temperatures also cause blossoms to bloom earlier, leaving them vulnerable to sudden cold snaps. Some farme

Sep 27, 2025By Hankookilbo

Cracked apples and bland grapes: Climate change reshapes Korean farms and dinner tables

Jeju's Green Hydrogen Global Forum spotlights clean energy transition, global cooperation

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — The 2025 Green Hydrogen Global Forum kicked off on Wednesday, bringing together global energy leaders, experts and industry officials to explore pathways for a clean energy transition and carbon neutrality through green hydrogen and distributed energy solutions. The annual forum, co-hosted by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the Green Hydrogen Glocal Leading Research Center, serves as a platform to share Jeju’s successful models of green hydrogen and distributed energy while seeking ways to accelerate carbon-neutral initiatives for global corporations. The forum, which continues through Friday, invited 55 institutions and associations, 42 companies and nine universities across China, Norway, Germany, Denmark, Austria, India, Thailand, Namibia and Japan, to take part in sessions and exhibitions. More than 60 local and international experts in the energy sector are participating in discussions on carbon neutrality over the three days of the event. During the opening ceremony on Thursday at Jeju International Convention Center in Seogwipo, Jeju Gov. Oh Y

Sep 25, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

Jeju's Green Hydrogen Global Forum spotlights clean energy transition, global cooperation

Warming climate extends Korea’s mosquito season beyond summer

For generations, Koreans took comfort in an old saying: “After Cheoseo, mosquitoes lose their bite.” The seasonal marker, which fell on Aug. 23 this year, traditionally signaled the shift to cooler autumn weather. But that wisdom no longer holds. Recent studies show that in Korea, mosquito activity now reaches its peak not in midsummer but well into autumn, as climate change reshapes the insect’s life cycle in unexpected ways. Data from the Seoul Research Institute of Health and Environment showed that more mosquitoes were observed in the fall than in the summer last year. Between April and November, 16,997 mosquitoes were collected in light traps across the capital. More than half — 54.3 percent, or 9,234 — were observed in the fall months of September through November. October alone accounted for 5,087, more than twice July’s total of 2,511. The shift has been consistent in recent years. Between 2015 and 2019, mosquito activity typically peaked in July or August. Since 2020, however, the peak has moved to September, October or even November, with 2022 seeing the latest surge

Sep 16, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Warming climate extends Korea’s mosquito season beyond summer

PHOTO Autumn is approaching

Cosmos flowers are in full bloom at a park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday, as the country cools down from a record-breaking hot summer. Cooler weather is expected this weekend, and after rainfall in most regions between Tuesday and Thursday, morning lows are forecast to drop to around 20 degrees Celsius, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Yonhap

Sep 14, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

Korea reports 1st highly pathogenic bird flu case for this year

Korea reported its first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza for this year, prompting authorities to raise the alert level and step up quarantine measures, authorities said Saturday. The case was found at a poultry farm in Paju, north of Seoul, and authorities were carrying out quarantine measures, including access restrictions, culling and epidemiological investigations, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. It is the first case detected for this season, coming earlier than in recent years where outbreaks have typically occurred in October or November. The authorities raised the alert level from "attention" to "caution." Authorities will inspect chicken farms in Gyeonggi Province, where Paju is located, as well as poultry vendors at traditional markets and livestock transport vehicles nationwide to check disinfection and quarantine measures, the ministry said.

Sep 13, 2025By Yonhap

Korea reports 1st highly pathogenic bird flu case for this year

Water storage rate at drought-hit Gangneung's reservoir rises for 1st time in 52 days

The water storage rate at drought-stricken Gangneung's main water supply reservoir rose Saturday for the first time in 52 days following heavy rain overnight, weather officials said. The storage rate at the Obong Reservoir, which supplies 87 percent of residential water to Gangneung, about 210 kilometers east of Seoul, stood at 12.1 percent at 10 a.m., up 0.6 percentage points from the previous day, according to the regional weather agency. It marks the first increase since July 23, though the drought remains far from over, officials said. A state of national disaster was declared for the east coast city August 30. The water increase followed heavy overnight rain in Gangwon Province's coastal and mountainous regions, including 140 millimeters in Sokcho, 100 mm in Yangyang and 91.5 mm in Gangneung, as of 10 a.m. The last time daily rainfall in Gangneung exceeded 30 mm was two months ago on July 15, when it reached 39.7 mm. President Lee Jae Myung welcomed the rain in a Facebook post. "Though the aftermath of the drought that began July 6 cannot be resolved by this rain, I hope it will bring

Sep 13, 2025By Yonhap

Water storage rate at drought-hit Gangneung's reservoir rises for 1st time in 52 days

Court rules to halt Saemangeum airport project over environmental threats, bird strike risks

Korea’s administrative court delivered a landmark ruling to halt the Saemangeum Airport project Thursday, citing severe environmental damage and a heightened risk of bird strikes, in a decision widely hailed by activists but criticized by local officials. The Seoul Administrative Court canceled the basic plan for Saemangeum International Airport development, concluding that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had failed to adequately assess environmental threats. Presiding Judge Lee Joo-young said the project poised “a higher risk of bird strikes than any other operating airport in the nation” and lacked a sound plan for minimizing ecological damage. According to data, the airport site in North Jeolla Province was projected to face up to 45 bird collisions annually within a 13-kilometer radius, compared with three at Incheon International Airport and less than one at other regional airports. The figure was 610 times higher than Muan Airport’s rate of 0.07. The ruling drew particular weight from the fact that Muan, despite its relatively low risk level, was the sit

Sep 12, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Court rules to halt Saemangeum airport project over environmental threats, bird strike risks

Bill to allow use of euthanized shelter animals for research draws backlash

A proposed amendment to Korea’s Animal Protection Act that would permit animal shelters to provide euthanized animals for veterinary research and education has ignited heated debate. While some veterinarians say the bill could ease the shortage of cadavers for training, animal rights lawyers and groups warn it risks encouraging abuse and undermining the dignity of abandoned animals. Rep. Lee Sung-yoon of the Democratic Party of Korea introduced the bill in June. It would add an exception to Article 46 of the law, which currently requires euthanized animals to be disposed of as waste or through cremation, that allows the use of such cadavers for veterinary study. The bill’s stated aims are to reduce the number of animals used in live experiments, give veterinary students more training opportunities and lower the cost of handling carcasses. The Korean Veterinary Medical Association expressed support, noting that veterinary schools often struggle to obtain cadavers for anatomy classes and that continuing education also requires practice specimens. Animal rights lawyers and advocacy group

Sep 12, 2025By Hankookilbo

Environment & Animals