South Korea - The Korea Times

Tropical storm Aere forecast to affect southern parts of S. Korea next week

This image from July 1, shows the predicted course of tropical storm Aere. YonhapTropical storm Aere is likely to affect Jeju Island and other southern parts of South Korea early next week after having formed off Japan's Okinawa, the weather agency said Friday.Aere was moving north-northeast at a speed of 13 kilometers per hour, packing winds of up to 65 km per hour and with a central pressure of 1,002 hectopascals upon its formation in the sea 760 km off south-southeast of Okinawa at 9 a.m. Friday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Jeju Island and areas along the south coast are forecast to come under the influence of the tropical storm from Monday to Tuesday, the agency said. Aere may pass over waters 260 km south-southwest of Jeju on Monday morning and move eastward to pass near Busan on Tuesday morning, according to the KMA. The country's southern parts are expected to see heavy rains and strong winds as the tropical storm passes through. The agency added that Aere could change course and a more accurate forecast will be possible on Sunday morning. (Yonh

Jul 1, 2022

Tropical storm Aere forecast to affect southern parts of S. Korea next week

At least 3 killed in heavy rains

This photo, taken on June 30, shows trails and bicycle lanes along the Tan Stream in Seongnam, south of Seoul, submerged and closed, as weather authorities issued a heavy rain warning for the capital and its surrounding areas. YonhapHeavy rains that pounded the country this week have killed at least three people, and flooded houses and farmland nationwide, officials said Friday. A man in his 90s was killed when the roof of his house collapsed in the central city of Gongju on Thursday, while a construction worker drowned in a pool of water created by the torrential downpours at an apartment construction site in Yongin, south of Seoul, on the same day. The circumstances of the third death were not immediately known. The downpours also flooded more than 2,900 hectares of farmland across the country, according to government officials. The seasonal rain also toppled scores of trees, and submerged more than 190 properties and cars, forcing residents to evacuate. Damage was also reported at bridges and dams. The annual monsoon season that brought three days of heavy rain hit the country's c

Jul 1, 2022

PHOTOS Heavy downpour hits central regions

Environment ministry pushes 11 cities to build more incineration plants

Trucks collecting household waste operated by Gangnam District Office dump waste at an incineration plant in the district in this September 2021 file photo. Courtesy of the National Environmental Facility Labor UnionMajor landfill in capital region to shut down in 2026By Ko Dong-hwanThe Ministry of Environment on Friday notified 11 city mayors in the Greater Seoul region that they must build additional incineration plants to treat their own daily local household waste as the major landfill used by the region will shut down in 2026.The cities have insufficient incineration capacity compared to the amount of household waste locally generated. The Waste-to-Energy Division under the ministry's Resources Circulation Bureau sent the message to the mayors of Seoul, Incheon and the Gyeonggi provincial cities of Goyang, Bucheon, Ansan, Namyangju, Anyang, Hwaseong, Siheung, Gimpo and Gwangju.For the city of Seoul, the average total daily household waste for 2020 was 3,687 tons. The city currently operates five incineration plants in the districts of Mapo, Yangcheon, Gangnam, Nowon and Eunpyeon

Jun 30, 2022By Ko Dong-hwan

Environment ministry pushes 11 cities to build more incineration plants

Major expressway in Seoul closed off due to heavy downpours

A section of the Dongbu Expressway is blocked off due to heavy rain, June 30. YonhapA major expressway linking southeastern Seoul to northeastern Gyeonggi Province was closed off Thursday due to a heavy rain downpour, according to officials. The city government said all entrances to the Dongbu Expressway that runs from Seoul's Songpa district to Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, have been blocked since 6:43 a.m. as heavy rain in the area pushed up the water level in a nearby river.After the annual monsoon season hit the country, heavy downpours have been reported overnight in many parts of the country, including the central city of Seosan, where precipitation of 278 millimeters was reported between early Wednesday afternoon and early Thursday morning. Rain of over 100 mm was reported overnight in southern Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap)

Jun 30, 2022

Major expressway in Seoul closed off due to heavy downpours

679 million tons: Greenhouse gas emissions in Korea increased 3.5 percent in 2021

Industrial output growth following economic recoveries after the COVID-19 pandemic intensified greenhouse gas emissions across the globe. GettyimagesbankBy Ko Dong-hwanTotal greenhouse gas emissions in Korea increased 3.5 percent year-on-year in 2021 to 679.6 million tons, according to the Ministry of Environment on Tuesday.The increase stemmed from economic recovery from the COVID-driven recession that began in 2020, which boosted the country's overall industrial output, the National Center for Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Research (GIR) under the ministry said. The authority's report was based on comprehensive records of energy resources used for power generation, exports and imports, as well as livestock management in 2021. The GIR, citing the International Energy Agency's records of global carbon dioxide emissions in 2021, said the increase rate of Korea's greenhouse gas emissions was lower than the global average of 5.7 percent as well as that of other advanced countries ― the United States (6.2 percent), the European Union (7 percent) and China (4.8 percent). Almost 87 percent

Jun 28, 2022By Ko Dong-hwan

679 million tons: Greenhouse gas emissions in Korea increased 3.5 percent in 2021

Torrential downpours to soak central region until Thursday morning

Residents of Yeoncheon, north of Seoul, watch water gushing out of the floodgates of the Gunnam Dam on the Imjin River that runs across the inter-Korean border, June 28, following heavy rainfall in North Korea. YonhapWith the whole nation in the middle of the annual monsoon season, heavy downpours reaching up to 300 millimeters are forecast to pound the central region, including the Seoul metropolitan area, between Tuesday night and Thursday morning, according to the state weather agency.The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said 100 mm to 200 mm of monsoon rains are expected to soak the capital area and almost all parts of the central region, including the Gangwon and Chungcheong provinces, until early Thursday.The precipitation may reach up to 300 mm in some mountainous districts in the central region, the KMA said.Elsewhere, 50 mm to 100 mm are forecast for southern South Chungcheong Province, North Jeolla Province, northern North Gyeongsang Province and Yellow Sea islands near the North Korean border, though the precipitation may exceed 150 mm in some areas of North Jeoll

Jun 28, 2022

Torrential downpours to soak central region until Thursday morning

Korea reports 1st-ever tropical night for June

People are out late on a beach in Gangneung Province to seek refuge from soaring temperatures June 26 that remained even after sunset.A tropical night occurred in Seoul and other major cities across the country Sunday, marking the first such phenomenon for June, according to the state weather agency.The lowest temperature between Sunday night and Monday morning was 25.4 degrees Celsius in Seoul, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said. A tropical night refers to when the temperature remains above 25 degrees C between 6:01 p.m. and 9 a.m.With the morning low surpassing 25 C, Seoul logged a tropical night for the first time this year, and the first time for June, the KMA said.Overnight lows were 25.1 C in Suwon, just south of Seoul, and 25.3 C in the central city of Daejeon. (Yonhap)

Jun 27, 2022

Korea reports 1st-ever tropical night for June

'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong

 Minky, wearing a black bag filled with mountain herb seeds, stands in front of a burnt pine tree in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, June 17. She is one of the 50 dogs that spread seeds to help reforest the mountains that were burnt in the April 2020 forest fires. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Lee Hae-rinANDONG, North Gyeongsang Province ― For Kim Dong-seob, an Andong native who has lived all his life in the small mountainous village of Mureun-ri, the nightmare of the giant forest fire two years ago feels like yesterday.“It was pure horror,” Kim, who is head of the village, told The Korea Times Friday, pointing at the devastated region. “More than dozens of these mountains were under scorching fire and the entire city was covered with smoke and ash.”The forest fire swept away not only 1,900 hectares of the mountains that generously gave the villagers firewood and medicinal herbs, but also burnt down the homes and livelihoods of these agricultural communities.The fire continued for three days until it was finally brought under control. When 50 v

Jun 26, 2022By Lee Hae-rin

'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong

Seoul records highest-ever morning low for June

Children play in a fountain at a park in Yeouido, Seoul, by the Han River, June 25. YonhapSeoul recorded the highest-ever morning low for June on Sunday, with temperatures hitting 24.8 C or higher, the state weather agency said.The figure, recorded at 2:34 a.m., broke the previous record of 24 degrees set on June 19, 1997, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.The city of Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, also recorded the highest morning low in 117 years with 23.5 C at 1:55 a.m. The city's previous record high morning low was 22.8 C in 1904.Other cities across the country have also reported record high morning lows, the KMA said. (Yonhap)

Jun 26, 2022

Seoul records highest-ever morning low for June

Yoon orders thorough readiness for rainy season

People holding umbrellas cross the road near Euljiro 1-ga Station in central Seoul during a heavy downpour Thursday. Yonhap President Yoon Suk-yeol instructed officials Thursday to brace thoroughly for the rainy season, including by quickly evacuating residents in the case of a heavy downpour, his spokesperson said.The annual rainy season began the same day with most of the country forecast to receive heavy rainfall through Friday, according to the state weather agency."This year we experienced drought until early summer and frequently experienced major wildfires that have made soil across the country very prone to landslides during the rainy season," Yoon was quoted as saying by spokesperson Kang In-sun.The president instructed the interior ministry and other related agencies to carry out advance inspections of areas prone to landslides, low-lying coastal areas and campgrounds."In the event of heavy downpours, carry out emergency evacuations of residents from risky

Jun 23, 2022

Environment & Animals