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Water level of river near inter-Korean border rises dangerously amid heavy rain

Water is discharged from Gunnam Dam in the northern county of Yeoncheon, Monday. YonhapTorrential rains on Monday caused the water level of the Imjin River near the border with North Korea to rise dangerously, local officials said. The northern parts of Gyeonggi Province were hit by rains ranging from 80 millimeters to 170 mm from midnight to 1 p.m., prompting weather authorities to issue heavy rain alerts for the areas.The water level at Pilseung Bridge over the northern part of the river rose from 1.24 meters at 7 a.m. to 2 meters at 10:50 a.m. and 4.23 meters at 2:30 p.m., Yeoncheon County said.The bridge is located near the Southern Limit Line, the southern boundary of the Demilitarized Zone, which separates the two Koreas.When the level reaches 2 meters, an evacuation order is issued for riverside areas. The water level in Gunnam Dam, located about 10 kilometers downstream from the bridge, also went up from 25.21 meters at 7 a.m. to 26 meters at 10:50 a.m. and 28.59 meters at 2:30 pm.All floodgates of the dam were opened, discharging 2,306 tons of water per second. (Yonhap)

Aug 8, 2022
Water level of river near inter-Korean border rises dangerously amid heavy rain

Heavy rain advisories issued in much of capital area, northern Gangwon Province

People holding umbrellas wait at a crosswalk in central Seoul, Monday. YonhapHeavy rain advisories have been issued in much of the capital area, including all of Seoul, and northern parts of Gangwon Province, the weather agency said Monday. The Korea Meteorological Administration issued heavy rain watches earlier in the morning across the capital and Incheon as well as northern parts of Gyeonggi Province that surrounds Seoul and northern Gangwon Province.Such advisories are issued when precipitation is predicted to surpass 60 millimeters in a span of three hours or 110 mm in 12 hours. The weather agency said the country's central regions and northern Gyeonggi Province are forecast to receive downpours combined with strong winds, thunder and lightning as a clash of cold and warm air masses produces a stationary front.Precipitation for the capital area, parts of Gangwon Province and border islands in the Yellow Sea through Tuesday is predicted to reach up to 200 mm, with some areas forecast to see over 300 mm of rain, the agency said. (Yonhap)

Aug 8, 2022
Heavy rain advisories issued in much of capital area, northern Gangwon Province

Heavy rains to soak central regions through end of this week

People holding umbrellas walk in the rain near City Hall in Seoul, Aug. 3. YonhapHeavy rains are expected to soak central Korea through the end of this week, with up to 300 mm forecast for regions near the border with North Korea, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Sunday.Starting Monday, central regions are expected to receive rains through up to Sunday, the KMA said, with about 100-200 mm of rain forecast through Tuesday for the Seoul metropolitan areas, part of Gangwon Province and on islands near the western sea border with North Korea.About 300 mm of rain is expected to pound regions near the inter-Korean border, the agency said. (Yonhap)

Aug 7, 2022
Heavy rains to soak central regions through end of this week

First 10 days of this year's July hottest on record

People enjoy their vacation at the Vivaldi Park's Ocean World Park in Gangwon Province, Monday. YonhapKorea experienced the hottest first 10 days of July on record last month, according to the state weather agency Thursday.The average temperature for July 1-10 was 27.1 C, the hottest since the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) began expanding observations nationwide in 1973.The average temperature ― figured by averaging the daily highs and lows ― for the whole month of July was 25.9 C, 1.3 degrees above normal, the KMA said.This year's July recorded an average of 5.8 days of heat waves and 3.8 days of tropical nights. (Yonhap)

Aug 4, 2022
First 10 days of this year's July hottest on record

Korea identifies 2,704 wetland areas for protection

This June 14 photo shows a wetland ecological reserve alongside Hwapo River in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province. Courtesy of South Gyeongsang Provincial GovernmentBy Ko Dong-hwanIn this June 3 photo is a Suweon-tree frog in a wetland near Gimpo International Airport in southwestern Seoul. Courtesy of National Institute of Environmental ResearchLocations and basic information about all existing wetlands in Korea have been released to the public, Tuesday, in the central government's bid to protect them as ecological reserves.The Ministry of Environment and the National Institute of Ecology have jointly amassed and released data online about 2,704 wetland areas scattered across the country. The data includes locations, sizes and species living at each of the sites. The data is the result of the authorities' research since 2000 in accordance with the country's Wetlands Preservation Act. The first couple rounds of research were completed in 2010, the third round was conducted from 2011 to 2015 and the fourth was run from 2016 until 2021. Past versions of the Inland Wetlands List have so

Aug 2, 2022By Ko Dong-hwan
Korea identifies 2,704 wetland areas for protection

E-mart under fire for displaying dead shark in seafood section

A dead shark is displayed to offer a “unique experience” to customers in the seafood section of Yongsan E-mart in Seoul, Sunday. Captured from TwitterRetail store apologizes for gruesome displayBy Lee Hae-rinA large retail store at Yongsan Station in Seoul, has come under fire for a bizarre scene in which a dead, bleeding shark was on display in a photo zone at the seafood section, to provide “a unique experience” for customers, Monday.Several people who visited the Yongsan branch of E-mart posted pictures of the animal, along with their comments about the gruesome scene on social media and online communities, Sunday. In those pictures, a dead shark placed on ice dripping with blood is displayed at the supermarket's seafood section. A Styrofoam box is placed underneath to collect the blood dripping from its tail and a sign is placed on its head reading “Careful, it will bite if you touch it.”Next to the carcass stands another sign calling this “an exclusive event at Yongsan E-mart,” and featuring the characteristics of the animal, names

Aug 1, 2022By Lee Hae-rin
E-mart under fire for displaying dead shark in seafood section

Typhoon Trases approaches Jeju

This photo, taken July 30, shows big waves in the sea off the coast of the southern resort island of Jeju as this year's fifth typhoon Songda moved north toward China's Shanghai after passing by the distant waters south of Jeju. YonhapTyphoon Trases is approaching the southern resort island of Jeju, packing maximum winds of 18 meters per second, the weather agency said Sunday. The Korea Meteorological Administration predicted the typhoon to move the closest to the island around Monday. The season's sixth typhoon is forecast to pass 140 kilometers south of the island at around noon Monday and weaken to a tropical depression, the weather agency said. Heavy rains pounded Jeju on Saturday as this year's fifth typhoon, Songda, passed by the waters south of the island, but there were no reports of damage from downpours and strong winds. (Yonhap)

Jul 31, 2022
Typhoon Trases approaches Jeju

Typhoon Songda brings heavy rains to Jeju Island

Municipal officers block the entrance to the seaside in Seogwipo on Jeju Island, July 30. YonhapHeavy rains pounded the southern resort island of Jeju on Saturday as this year's fifth typhoon, Songda, passed by the waters south of the island, the weather agency said. But there were no reports of damage from downpours and strong winds.As of 9:25 p.m., the heavy rain alert was issued to mountainous areas on the island, and warnings for downpours took effect for other areas, according to the Jeju provincial government and the regional weather agency.Rains of up to 206 millimeters had soaked Mount Halla on the island, the highest peak in South Korea, as of 9 p.m.Access to paths leading to the mountain was denied due to downpours and strong winds.The operations of passenger ships linking Jeju to other islands were suspended. But flight services were operating normally despite warnings of strong winds issued across Jeju Island.As of 3 p.m., the typhoon had moved in a northwestern direction at a speed of 26 km per hour near the seas 330 kilometers east of China's Shanghai.It is expected to

Jul 31, 2022
Typhoon Songda brings heavy rains to Jeju Island

Heatwave grips Seoul, other areas of nation except for southern regions

Water is sprayed from a road cleaning system set up on the centerline of Sejong Street in downtown Seoul, July 29, to cool down the hot road amid a heat wave. YonhapA scorching heat wave gripped Seoul and many parts of the country Saturday, except for the southern island of Jeju and other southern regions under the influence of this year's fifth typhoon, Songda, the weather agency said.Seoul saw the daily temperature ceiling reach 36.1 C, with the temperature in five districts of the capital, including the western Gangseo Ward, rising over 37 C, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.Dongducheon, 40 kilometers north of Seoul, had seen the temperature reach 38.2 C as of 3:50 p.m.But Jeju Island and southern regions are receiving rain, as they came under the influence of the typhoon.As of 3 p.m., the typhoon had moved in a northwestern direction at a speed of 26 km per hour near the seas 330 kilometers east of China's Shanghai.The weather agency said Songda is expected to start to bring rain to the country's central regions late Saturday night or early Sunday. (Yonhap)

Jul 30, 2022
Heatwave grips Seoul, other areas of nation except for southern regions

Heavy rains forecast for Jeju, southern regions on weekend as Typhoon Songda passes

Waves hit the rocks near the beach in Seogwipo, southern Jeju, in this Sept. 16, 2021, file photo. YonhapHeavy rains are expected to soak the southern island of Jeju and other southern regions over the weekend as the year's fifth typhoon, Songda, is forecast to pass by Jeju, the weather agency said Friday.The typhoon passed over the waters 740 kilometers east of Japan's Okinawa at 9 a.m. and is expected to pass by Jeju Island to reach the seas 290 km east of China's Shanghai at 9 p.m. Saturday before dissipating into a tropical depression between Sunday and Monday, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. Songda's maximum wind speed currently hovers at around 18 meters per second. As Jeju Island comes under the influence of the typhoon, heavy rains of up to 150 millimeters will begin soaking the island Saturday morning. By Sunday afternoon, the country's southern regions will also come under Songda's influence, receiving up to 80 mm of precipitation to be possibly combined with winds with an instantaneous velocity of up to 30 meters per second, according to the agency. The heavy

Jul 29, 2022
Heavy rains forecast for Jeju, southern regions on weekend as Typhoon Songda passes
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