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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

This year's monsoon season ends after 3rd-heaviest rainfall on record

Houses are flooded after torrential rain in the central city of Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, July 15. YonhapThe state weather agency on Wednesday declared an end to this year's month-long monsoon season, saying scorching temperatures will grip the nation for the time being.The annual monsoon season began on June 25-26, and the nation has since been drenched by frequent heavy rains resulting in casualties, property damage and floods.The closing dates and duration of this year's monsoon season were similar to those of the previous years, but the amount of rainfall was the third highest on record, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said.The nation's average precipitation during the month-long monsoon period was 648.7 millimeters, the third-largest volume after 704 mm in 2006 and 701.4 mm in 2020. The average number of rainy days was 21.2 days during the period, and the southwestern city of Gunsan received an all-time daily high of 372.8 mm on July 14.The KMA explained that this year's unusually heavy rains may have been affected by global warming and higher-than-norm

Jul 26, 2023
This year's monsoon season ends after 3rd-heaviest rainfall on record

Reinstated interior minister vows overhaul of disaster management system

Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, right, presides over a government meeting on downpour damage at the government complex in Sejong, July 26. YonhapInterior Minister Lee Sang-min pledged Wednesday to completely overhaul the country's disaster management system to better deal with natural disasters caused by climate change, one day after he was reinstated upon a court rejection of his impeachment.The minister made the remark during a videoconference with central and regional government officials held to examine the national disaster management system. Lee was reinstated as interior minister the previous day as the Constitutional Court rejected the National Assembly's impeachment of him on Feb. 8. Lee's duties as interior minister had since been suspended."A fundamental measure is necessary to reform the current paradigm of natural disaster response," Lee said, adding that the current national disaster management system is lagging behind the speed of climate change.The minister pledged to completely update the disaster prevention standards, such as those for disaster control and evacuatio

Jul 26, 2023
Reinstated interior minister vows overhaul of disaster management system

Korea confirms avian influenza cases in cats for first time in 7 years

Quarantine officials block a road leading to a poultry farm in Hampyeong, 383 kilometers south of Seoul, after a highly pathogenic strain of H5N1 of avian influenza was detected there earlier in the day, Dec. 5, 2022. YonhapTwo cats at an animal shelter in Seoul were confirmed to have been infected with a highly pathogenic avian influenza strain, marking the first infections of the virus in mammals in seven years, the agriculture ministry has said.Cats have been found dead at the shelter in Yongsan, central Seoul, since last month, and tests confirmed that two of them died of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza (AI), according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Tuesday.It is the first time since 2016 that the country confirmed highly pathogenic AI cases in mammals.Upon the report, the authorities cordoned off the facility and have implemented quarantine measures.People who have had contact with the cats have not shown any symptoms, and there has not been a human AI infection through cats or other mammals.But the health authorities are closely m

Jul 26, 2023
Korea confirms avian influenza cases in cats for first time in 7 years

Korea, Japan hold working-level consultations over Fukushima water

In this photo released by Tokyo Electric Power, Korean experts inspect the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in the town of Futaba, northeastern Japan, May 24. Yonhap Korea and Japan held working-level consultations on Tuesday to discuss Seoul's request regarding Tokyo's plan to discharge contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant.The director-general-level talks were held in Japan, with the Korean side led by Yun Hyun-soo, head of the foreign ministry's bureau for climate change, energy, environment and scientific affairs, and the Japanese side headed by Atsushi Kaifu, director-general of the Japanese foreign ministry's disarmament, non-proliferation and science department.The meeting came as part of follow-up measures to the results of a bilateral summit held on the sidelines of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, earlier this month.During the summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Pr

Jul 25, 2023
Korea, Japan hold working-level consultations over Fukushima water

Torrential rain to continue battering Korea on Monday

People walk under umbrellas at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Sunday, as a heavy rain advisory was issued for the capital. Yonhap By Ko Dong-hwanHeavy rain is forecast to continue drenching the entire nation on Monday, according to the weather watchdog, Sunday, with more than 100 millimeters of rainfall forecast for some regions.According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), torrential rain accompanied by strong wind, lightning and thunder is expected to continue in Seoul and its surrounding areas and the western parts of Gangwon Province. The rain may continue until Wednesday in some regions, but as the intensity of clashes between cold and warm air masses grows weaker, the rainfall will likely become lighter on Tuesday, the KMA added.Other parts of the nation, including North Chungcheong Province, the Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces and Jeju Island, are expected to have up to 150 millimeters of rain until as late as Monday afternoon.Gwangju and other regions of South Jeolla Province are expected to see at least 200 millimeters of accumulated precipitation through Tuesday

Jul 23, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan
Torrential rain to continue battering Korea on Monday
  • VIDEO Monsoon rains to soak entire nation until Monday

Monsoon rains to soak entire nation until Monday

People holding umbrellas walk across a crosswalk in Gwanghwamun as a heavy rain watch has been issued for the capital city, Seoul, July 23. YonhapMonsoon rains are forecast to hit most regions of Korea until Monday, and continue to fall in the Seoul metropolitan region and the central part of the country this week, the state weather agency said Sunday.A heavy rain watch has been issued in the wider capital area, the northwestern part of Gangwon Province, South and North Chungcheong provinces, and the western coast of South and North Jeolla provinces, as rain clouds are slowly moving eastward to cover the entire nation, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).This week's downpours are expected to continue in the Seoul metropolitan region and the western parts of Gangwon through Wednesday, although rainfall will likely become lighter from Tuesday as the intensity of clashes between cold and warm air masses becomes weaker.Until Tuesday, the broader capital region is forecast to see up to 80 millimeters of rain, with southern parts of Gyeonggi Province, surrounding Seo

Jul 23, 2023
Monsoon rains to soak entire nation until Monday

Gov't raises disaster alert level as Korea braces for more heavy rain

The Paldang Dam in Hanam, just east of Seoul, begins to release water, July 16, to lower its water level after heavy rain. YonhapThe government raised its disaster readiness alert level up a notch Saturday, as the country, still reeling from the aftermath of catastrophic torrential rain last week, braces for more heavy downpours in the coming days.According to the interior ministry, the disaster alert level from the central government's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) was raised to level 2 from level 1 as of 9 p.m.The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast rainfall of 50-120 millimeters in the greater Seoul region until Monday. Most other regions across the country are also expecting significant amounts of rain. The ministry said that current conditions technically did not meet the standards for a level 2 alert, but the authorities decided to elevate the level due to the high amount of rain expected in the Seoul metropolitan area, raising concerns of damage.Last week's heavy downpours that battered the nation have left over 8,000 public and priva

Jul 22, 2023
Gov't raises disaster alert level as Korea braces for more heavy rain

Monsoon rain to resume over weekend; up to 100 mm forecast nationwide

People walk past Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul during the monsoon rain season, July 11. YonhapMonsoon rains of up to 100 millimeters are expected to drench South Korea over the weekend, the state weather agency said Friday.A stationary front and low atmospheric pressure moving from northeastern China to North Korea are forecast to create humid heat in the South, bringing heavy rains across the country from Saturday through Monday, the Korea Meteorological Administration said.The greater Seoul area will receive 50 to 100 mm of rain over the weekend, while the northern Gyeonggi Province may see over 150 mm of rainfall.Precipitation is expected to range between 30 and 80 mm for inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province, and the central and southern regions. The southern island of Jeju will also see 30 to 80 mm of rain, with downpours of up to 150 mm predicted to pummel the island's southern and mountainous areas over the weekend.From late Saturday through midday Sunday, cloudbursts as strong as 60 mm per hour are expected to soak the Seoul metropolitan area.The upcoming dow

Jul 21, 2023
Monsoon rain to resume over weekend; up to 100 mm forecast nationwide

INTERVIEW Former dog meat farmer finds new life after freeing 200 dogs

A former dog meat farmer surnamed Yang speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his farm in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, June 27. Korea Times photo by Lee Hae-rin Animal advocacy program paves way for ending Korea's dog meat tradeBy Lee Hae-rinASAN, South Chungcheong Province ― “Here, look at my farm. We have everything,” said a former dog meat farm owner, who asked to be identified only by his surname Yang, pointing to his lush field filled with a variety of crops in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. “My life has never been better!”Until March, the 496-square-meter compound was the dismal dwelling for some 200 dogs in rusted and filthy cages. The space once filled with barks and stench of food waste and feces has been transformed into a serene farm, now flourishing with sweet potatoes, peppers, cabbage, beans and more.Yang, 73, said he feels like a “celebrity enjoying country life on a reality TV show” now that he has given up his 30-year profession

Jul 21, 2023By Lee Hae-rin
[INTERVIEW] Former dog meat farmer finds new life after freeing 200 dogs

Gov't refers 6 police officers for investigation over deadly tunnel flooding

Police investigators examine an underground roadway in the town of Osong, North Chungcheong Province, July 20. YonhapThe government referred six police officers to the prosecution Friday for investigation, accusing them of mishandling the deadly flooding of an underpass in the central city of Cheongju last week, which claimed 14 lives.The Office for Government Policy Coordination, under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), said that it had detected criminal suspicions involving the officers in an inspection conducted to determine the causes behind the tragic flooding. A total of 14 people have been confirmed killed in the accident.The office said it has revealed a significant fault in the handling of emergency calls made to 112, the emergency police telephone number.Furthermore, there was a falsified report submitted to the PMO as to how police were responding after the accident took place, the office also said.The underground roadway in western Cheongju, located 112 kilometers southeast of Seoul, was flooded Saturday when a nearby river overflowed after an embankment was brought down

Jul 21, 2023
Gov't refers 6 police officers for investigation over deadly tunnel flooding
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