South Korea - The Korea Times

Cold wave warnings issued across Korea as heavy snowfalls expected in southern regions

Hikers walk on a floating bridge across the frozen Hantan River in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province, Jan. 19. YonhapCold wave warnings were issued across South Korea Monday with heavy snowfall expected in southern regions, as the country came under the grip of the season's coldest weather. The cold wave alerts took effect for most of the country, including Seoul, starting at 9 p.m., the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said. A cold wave warning is issued when the morning low is below minus 15 C for more than two consecutive days, or when the temperature drops sharply and major damage is expected.Morning lows for Tuesday and Wednesday were expected to fall between minus 23 C and minus 25 C. Heavy rains or snow were forecast to hit the southwestern regions of Jeolla, the southernmost island of Jeju, and the central western region of South Chungcheong Province. Hikers walk on a floating bridge across the frozen Hantan River in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province, Jan. 19. YonhapThe interior ministry said it activated the central disaster headquarters at its initial phase and had

Jan 23, 2023

Cold wave warnings issued across Korea as heavy snowfalls expected in southern regions

300 won in cashable points to be provided for every cafe beverage bought in reusable cups

Consumers will be given 300 won ($0.24) in cashable points for every beverage they buy in a reusable cup at cafes, the environment ministry said Sunday, in a new waste-reduction program. Korea Times photo by Cho So-jinConsumers will be given 300 won ($0.24) in cashable points for every beverage they buy in a reusable cup at cafes, the environment ministry said Sunday, as part of a new waste-reduction program.Under the program, the 300-won "carbon neutrality" points will be paid when consumers buy a beverage either in their personal tumbler or when they return takeaway reusable cups provided by cafes.The benefit is available at stores of four participating cafe chains ― Starbucks, Paul Bassett, The Venti and Mega MGC Coffee ― and the points earned can be turned into cash or used at the cafes.The maximum value of the carbon neutrality points payable per month is 70,000 won, and those wishing to join the program are required to sign up at the homepage cpoint.or.kr/netzero.Under the program, up to 2,000 won worth of points will also be paid upon a range of eco-friendly consumption, such

Jan 22, 2023

300 won in cashable points to be provided for every cafe beverage bought in reusable cups

Top firms invest big in environment, safety in 2022

GettyimagesbankMajor Korean companies spent more than 5 trillion won ($4.04 billion) in 2022 to help cut air pollution and promote workplace safety as part of their so-called environment, social and governance (ESG) management, a report said Wednesday.The country's top 100 firms by sales invested 5.44 trillion won in the areas of environment and safety last year, up a whopping 87.6 percent from a year earlier, according to the report from the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI).The jump came as their greenhouse gas emissions increased nearly 5 percent in 2022 from a year earlier.Those large businesses emitted a combined 267.3 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent last year, 4.7 percent more than a year earlier.A CO2 equivalent is a standardized barometer of the climate effects of various greenhouse gases.The FKI, the lobby for family-controlled conglomerates in Asia's fourth-largest economy, attributed the rise to increased corporate production stemming from eased COVID-19 restrictions and more state fiscal spending.Yet their greenhouse gas emissions compared with sales c

Jan 18, 2023

Top firms invest big in environment, safety in 2022

Jeju islanders welcome waste incinerators in their backyards

Jeju Environmental Resources Recycling Center in Gujwa, Jeju Island, started operating in 2019 after locals and the provincial government held months of discussions on the construction deal. The structure with a chimney, right, is an incinerator, and the square patches of land, center, are where treated waste ends up. Courtesy of Jeju Special Self-Governing ProvinceNew incinerators supported by locals help manage island's wasteBy Ko Dong-hwanJEJU ― While Seoul's plan to build a new trash incinerator in the western district of Mapo has been sparking protests from residents since last year, a similar plan on Jeju Island has developed into a very different course of action: Islanders are welcoming with open arms the construction of landfill facilities and several districts competed with each other to have them right in their backyards.Last September, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province selected an uninhabited patch of the authority's land in the Sangcheon area of Andeok District in the island's southern city of Seogwipo as a site for the island's new waste incinerator. The selection pr

Jan 17, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

Jeju islanders welcome waste incinerators in their backyards

Ultrafine dust level reaches 'bad' only on 17 days last year

This undated file image shows a fine dust warning on an outdoor electronic display in Seoul. YonhapThe level of ultrafine dust was bad or worse only on 17 days last year, the lowest on record, thanks to lower dust levels in China, the environment ministry said Monday.Korea categorizes concentrations of ultrafine dust ― particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, also known as PM 2.5 ― into four levels. PM 2.5 between 36 and 75 micrograms per cubic meter is categorized as "bad," while density higher than 76 micrograms per cubic meter is "very bad."During 2022, the ultrafine dust level reached bad or worse on 17 days, six days fewer than in 2021 and the fewest since the ministry began ultrafine dust observation nationwide in 2015. The number of days the ultrafine dust level went up to bad or higher in 2015 was 62.In 2022, in particular, the dust level did not once go higher than bad.Of last year, the ultrafine dust level remained "good" on 180 days and "normal" on 168 days. The average ultrafine dust density last year stood at 18 micrograms per cubic meter, the all-time low on

Jan 16, 2023

Ultrafine dust level reaches 'bad' only on 17 days last year

Nuke safety review still under way on Japan's plan to release contaminated water

Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Chairperson Yoo Guk-hee talks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Jan. 13. YonhapA top Korean official stressed that a nuclear safety review process has not yet finished for Japan's planned release of contaminated water from its hobbled Fukushima Daiichi plant into the sea."The government's top priority is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the people," Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) Chairperson Yoo Guk-hee said during a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency. "We are reviewing whether Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO)'s plan, approved by the Japanese Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA), is legitimate."TEPCO is the operator of the Fukushima nuclear power plant ravaged by a devastating tsunami in 2011. In May, Japan's nuclear regulator gave the green light to the planned discharge of a million tons of tritium-laced water from the wrecked nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. Yoo said his agency had made an inquiry at Japan's NRA about the plan four times and received answers only to some of them."It should be verified in

Jan 15, 2023

Nuke safety review still under way on Japan's plan to release contaminated water

Downpours, strong winds hit Jeju, disrupting airport operations

This photo shows apricot flowers in bloom due to unseasonably warm weather at Hueree Park in the city of Seogwipo on Korea's largest resort island of Jeju, Jan. 13. YonhapAbout 300 mm of heavy rain soaked Jeju Island's mountain areas amid strong winds over the past day, causing flight cancellations and delays, the weather agency said Friday.The Jeju Regional Meteorological Administration said a heavy rain warning has been issued for the mountain areas of the southern resort island, which were pounded by downpours between 119.5 mm and 304.5 mm for one day until 9 a.m.The agency has also issued a heavy rain advisory for the island's mid-mountain and southern areas, forecasting an additional rainfall of up to 100 mm during the rest of the day.In addition, a strong wind advisory is in effect for all of Jeju Island, with a high seas watch issued for all seas surrounding the island, except the northern coastal waters.The maximum instantaneous wind speed reached 29.8 mps on top of Mount Halla and 19.3 mps over Jeju International Airport, forcing authorities to prohibit entry into the mounta

Jan 13, 2023

Downpours, strong winds hit Jeju, disrupting airport operations

Fine dust to blanket Korea until Thursday

Fine dust covers central Seoul, with concentrations at “very bad” and “bad” levels in many parts of the country, Monday. YonhapBy Lee Hae-rinFine dust is forecast to continue blanketing most parts of the country until Thursday, with levels expected to remain “bad,” according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), Monday. Weather authorities advise people to refrain from outdoor activities or wear masks when they go outside, forecasting that the fine dust level will improve from this Friday. The National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), under the Ministry of Environment, said the poor air quality is due to smog blowing in from China, yellow dust from deserts in northern China and Mongolia and domestic air pollution.The KMA said the fine dust density levels varied between “very bad” to “bad” throughout the country on Monday. As of 9 a.m., the fine dust levels in Seoul and Incheon were “very bad,” at 127 micrograms per cubic meter and 160 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively. The country sa

Jan 9, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

Fine dust to blanket Korea until Thursday

Fine dust level soars to worst this winter

Seoul is covered with fine dust, Jan. 7. YonhapAir quality in Korea reached its worst level this winter Saturday due to high levels of fine and “yellow” dust, according to the weather authorities.As of 10 a.m., the daily average concentration of ultrafine dust particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, known as PM2.5, was 86 micrograms per cubic meter, while that of fine dust known as PM10 was 143 micrograms per cubic meter nationwide, said Air Korea that is run by the environment ministry. These figures were much higher than the yearly average concentration of ultrafine and fine dust in 2021 ― 18 and 36 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively. The weather authorities have issued an ultrafine dust advisory in all areas except for the southern resort island of Jeju, and a fine dust advisory in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds Seoul, and the central Chungcheong, and South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang provinces. As of 5 p.m. Friday, a yellow dust warning has been in effect in the South Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces, the southwestern city of Gwangju and Jeju Islan

Jan 7, 2023

Fine dust level soars to worst this winter

2022 was ninth warmest year on record in Korea

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said the average temperature throughout 2022 was 12.9 degrees Celsius, 0.4 C higher than the average of 12.5 C during the baseline period from 1991 to 2020. It also marked the ninth highest temperature since the country began nationwide weather monitoring in 1973. Korea Times fileLast year was the ninth warmest year on record in Korea, data showed Saturday.The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said the average temperature throughout 2022 was 12.9 degrees Celsius, 0.4 C higher than the average of 12.5 C during the baseline period from 1991 to 2020. It also marked the ninth highest temperature since the country began nationwide weather monitoring in 1973.Adding to evidence that the planet is heating up, all but two of the country's 10 warmest years have occurred this century, according to KMA data.The hottest-ever was 2006, which saw an average temperature of 13.4 C: Followed by 2021 and 2019 with 13.3 C; 1998 with 13.2 C; 2015 with 13.1 C; 2020, 2007 and 1994 with 13.0 C; and 2004 and 2022 with 12.9 C.In 2022, the mercury was unusu