South Korea - The Korea Times

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

Jan 7, 2023

2022 was ninth warmest year on record in Korea

PM orders emergency measures to cut emissions amid ultrafine dust

Smog hangs over the southeastern port city of Busan on Jan. 6, when an ultrafine dust advisory was issued. YonhapPrime Minister Han Duck-soo on Friday instructed relevant authorities to take emergency measures to cope with ultrafine dust plaguing the nation. "With the environment minister taking the lead, ministries and local governments should thoroughly implement emergency reduction measures in accordance with the current high-concentration ultrafine dust measures," Han said in a statement. Han also ordered relevant ministries to reduce emissions by coal-fired power plants and other facilities, the statement said. The instruction came as the ultrafine dust advisory was issued in South Gyeongsang, North Chungcheong, North Jeolla and Gyeonggi provinces earlier in the day. The alerts were expanded later in the day to many other parts of the country, including Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province and South Chungcheong Province. The advisory is issued when the hourly average concentration of PM 2.5 ― particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter ― stay above 75 micrograms per cubic me

Jan 6, 2023

PM orders emergency measures to cut emissions amid ultrafine dust

Military city Gyeryong undergoes revamp with green initiatives

An underground garage below two apartment buildings reserved for service people and their families in Sindoan District in Gyeryong recently replaced its fluorescent ceiling lights with motion-sensitive LED lights to conserve power and increase efficiency. Courtesy of Gyeryong City OfficeJoint headquarters for Korea's Army, Navy, Air Force support city's carbon neutralization policyBy Ko Dong-hwanRFID food waste collecting bins are beached outside the apartment buildings reserved for service people and their families in Sindoan District in Gyeryong. Courtesy of Gyeryong City OfficeGYERYONG, South Chungcheong ― Sindoan District, a small northern part of the city of Gyeryong, has one of the country's most unique backgrounds. With approximately 8,500 residents, the population almost entirely consists of soldiers on duty at Gyeryongdae ― the joint headquarters for the country's Army, Navy and Air Force ― and their families. With Gyeryongdae situated inside the district, Sindoan is its own little community, with public schools for children, supermarkets, churches and outdoor golf courses.

Jan 4, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

Military city Gyeryong undergoes revamp with green initiatives

Seoul's ultrafine dust density falls to record low in 2022

Downtown Seoul is hazy due to fine dust in this Dec. 27, 2022 file photo. Korea Times photo by Hong In-kiSeoul saw a record-low ultrafine dust density last year mainly on the back of continued efforts to tackle worsening air pollution problems, and favorable weather conditions, the city government said Tuesday.The average density of ultrafine dust particles in the capital city was tallied at 18 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022, the lowest level since relevant record-keeping began in 2008, according to the Seoul metropolitan government.Ultrafine particles are smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter and are also known as PM 2.5. The class one carcinogen is found in dust, soot and smoke.The city's annual average density of ultrafine dust particles decreased for three years in a row, from 21 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020 to 20 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021.Also, the number of ultrafine dust "good" days in the city totaled 182 last year, while the number of "bad" days came to a record low of 31, the government said. Weather authorities here categorize concentrations less than

Jan 3, 2023

Seoul's ultrafine dust density falls to record low in 2022

INTERVIEW Korea vows to support developing nations' 'green transition'

Minister of Environment Han Wha-jin, left, tries out a single-use plastic cup recycling machine that returns a deposit of 100 won ($0.08), at the Government Complex Sejong, Dec. 7. Courtesy of Ministry of EnvironmentEnvironment minister's agenda focuses on ODA, circular economy, waste treatmentBy Ko Dong-hwanMinister of Environment Han Wha-jin / Courtesy of Ministry of EnvironmentKorea and Indonesia signed the Green Transition Initiative last November to provide the Southeast Asian country with development assistance to expand the use of electric vehicles. The initiative, signed on the sidelines of the G20 Bali Summit, seeks to help Indonesia, with a population of 276 million, develop a more eco-friendly auto market. The pact also benefits Korea's automobile industry, which will provide technical skills to help Indonesia transition to EVs.Such projects are more than just business deals signed by two countries. They are joint investments for the broader cause of protecting the global environment. That's why the Korean Ministry of the Environment's official development assistance (ODA)

Jan 3, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

[INTERVIEW] Korea vows to support developing nations' 'green transition'

Korea aims to cut ultrafine dust by 30% by 2032

Downtown Seoul is hazy due to fine dust, Dec. 13. Korea Time photo by Wang Tae-sukKorea aims to cut the country's annual average level of ultrafine dust particles by 30 percent by 2032, the environment ministry said Tuesday.Under the latest countermeasure to tackle the nation's worsening air pollution problem, the government aims to reduce the annual average density of ultrafine dust particles to 12 micrograms per cubic meter by 2032 from 18 micrograms per cubic meter tallied in 2021.Ultrafine particles are smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter and are also known as PM 2.5. The class one carcinogen is found in dust, soot and smoke.The measure is the third of its kind, following the second one targeted for 2016-2025.In accordance, the nation's annual average density of ultrafine dust particles in 2021 was reduced from 26 micrograms per cubic meter tallied in 2015, the ministry said.Regardless, the tally is still above the highest average annual emission level recommended by the World Health Organization. The previous recommendation was 10 micrograms per cubic meter but the revision

Dec 27, 2022

Korea aims to cut ultrafine dust by 30% by 2032

2.6 magnitude earthquake hits southeastern Korea

This image provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration shows the epicenter of a 2.6 magnitude earthquake that struck near Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, Sunday. YonhapA 2.6 magnitude earthquake struck near the southeastern city of Andong on Sunday, the state weather agency said.The quake struck 10 kilometers southwest of the city, 191 km southeast of Seoul, at 7:31 p.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.The epicenter was at a latitude of 36.51 degrees north and a longitude of 128.65 degrees east at a depth of 14 km.Fire and police officials said they received six reports from people who felt the earthquake.No damage has been reported, according to local fire authorities.Sunday's quake was the 75th to strike the Korean Peninsula this year with a magnitude of at least 2.0.The yearly average from 1999 to 2021 was 70.6.This year's strongest earthquake, with a magnitude of 4.1, occurred on Oct. 29 in the central county of Goesan. (Yonhap)

Dec 25, 2022

Environment & Animals