South Korea - The Korea Times

Korea's annual rainy season kicks off Thursday

People holding umbrellas stand near Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul, Aug. 27, 2021. This year's rainy season will officially begin later this week with heavy rainfall across the country. Yonhap This year's rainy season will officially begin later this week with heavy rainfall across the country, the state weather agency said Wednesday.The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said the onset of the nation's annual rainy season will start Thursday, with torrential downpours in most of the country lasting until Friday.The country's southern part, however, will witness heavy rainfall until Saturday, the KMA said.The amount of precipitation this week is expected to be high, as high atmospheric pressure in the southern part of the North Pacific Ocean will instantly produce a lot of water vapor, the agency said.Another heat wave is expected to bear down on most parts of the country throughout the weekend into Monday, it added. (Yonhap)

Jun 22, 2022

Korea's annual rainy season kicks off Thursday

This year's first heat wave warning issued

Children play in a fountain at an amusement park in Damyang, 250 kilometers south of Seoul, June 20. YonhapThis year's first heat wave warning was issued for southern parts of Korea, Monday, 20 days earlier than last year, the state weather agency said.The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said it issued the heat wave warning for the southern cities of Euiseong, Gyeongsan and Gumi as of 11 a.m.Last year's first warning was issued in the southern city of Daegu, July 11, the KMA said.Such a warning is issued when the “sensed temperature” is expected to exceed 35 degrees Celsius for two or more days.The KMA put other parts of the country, including most of the southeastern provinces, under a heat wave advisory, which is issued when the “sensed temperature” is expected to exceed 33 degrees C for two or more days. (Yonhap)

Jun 20, 2022

This year's first heat wave warning issued

Sealing off manholes, septic tank shafts keeps mosquitoes away: research

Seoul researchers have found that a good way to keep mosquitoes away from humans doesn't involve any chemicals. GettyimagesbankBy Ko Dong-hwan Putting aside nasty pesticides, researchers in Seoul have concluded that one of the most effective ways to keep mosquitoes at bay is simple enough.The Seoul Institute of Technology said Wednesday that a more effective way to keep the insects ― which mostly live in septic tanks or sewage tunnels in urban environments ― at bay is sealing off any cracks near manhole covers and covering open ventilation shafts connected to the tanks. Blocking these paths worked better than using pesticides against the insects, according to the researchers.Mosquitoes find their way to the open air through cracks around manhole covers. Researchers have proposed sealing them off with polyurethane-based sealing tape ― such as those that retail as window tape sealing. Holes on manhole covers ― mostly where handles are ― also provide a gateway through which mosquitoes can come and go. The experts suggested covering them with a fiberglass-based fishnet. The same fishnets

Jun 16, 2022By Ko Dong-hwan

Sealing off manholes, septic tank shafts keeps mosquitoes away: research

SK E&S' partner firm in Australia faces legal dispute over gas drilling project

Denis Tipakalippa, a senior lawman on Tiwi Island, represents the Munupi clan that filed a lawsuit against Australia's regulator over the planned Barossa gas field project. Courtesy of Solutions for Our ClimateMunupi natives worried drilling near Tiwi Islands will disrupt maritime ecologyBy Ko Dong-hwanKorean energy firm SK E&S' drilling project in Australia is facing a hurdle, as its partner company there has become embroiled in a legal dispute surrounding the development.Indigenous Australians in the northern Tiwi Islands have challenged the country's environmental regulator for allowing Santos, an Australian energy firm and the partner of SK E&S in the planned project at Barossa gas field, to drill for gas near the islands despite environmental concerns.The Munupi people argued that they were never consulted by Santos even though they live just five kilometers away. They fear that the drilling operation could seriously disrupt the marine ecosystem in the area.The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA), an Australian independent

Jun 14, 2022By Ko Dong-hwan

SK E&S' partner firm in Australia faces legal dispute over gas drilling project

First lady opposes dog meat consumption

First lady Kim Keon-hee, left, and President Yoon Suk-yeol pose with one of their dogs at the presidential office in Seoul, May 29. Screenshot from Facebook account of first lady Kim Keon-hee's supportersBy Lee Hae-rinFirst lady Kim Keon-hee called for animal rights in her first media interview given since her husband, President Yoon Suk-yeol, took office on May 10. “Korea and China are the only two economically successful countries that consume dog meat,” Kim said during an interview with local newspaper Seoul Shinmun that was published on Monday. “I believe the universal culture (of not consuming dog meat) should be shared in Korea with other developed countries. Otherwise, it could stoke an anti-Korean sentiment,” Kim said. To end the practice, Kim said the government could support dog meat traders to transition into new industries, underlining the unsanitary environment in which dogs are raised before being consumed as meat.“Dog meat is not good for health. Dogs that are raised to be consumed as meat are locked in small cages, where they eat, sleep a

Jun 13, 2022By Lee Hae-rin

Worst ozone levels in May prompt gov't to warn public

Low precipitation and a high amount of solar radiation have likely caused Korea's high ozone concentration level. Gettyimagesbank By Ko Dong-hwanThe government plans to warn the public of the dangerously high ozone concentration levels here soon after the figure in May peaked at a record high, due to abnormal climate conditions. The average ozone concentration level in May of this year was recorded at 0.051 parts per million (ppm). It's a 21-percent increase from May of last year when it was recorded at 0.042 ppm, as well as the highest since the country started monitoring in 2001. This past May also had 18 days when the country issued high ozone concentration level warnings ― 10 more days than May 2021. The ozone concentration level usually increases when the amount of solar radiation and temperature are high and precipitation and relative humidity are low, according to the Air Quality Policy Bureau under the Ministry of Environment. By comparing the ozone concentr

Jun 9, 2022By Ko Dong-hwan

Worst ozone levels in May prompt gov't to warn public

Korea's golden opportunity for energy and climate leadership

Mark BrownsteinBy Mark BrownsteinEnergy security was the hot topic as leadership from the world's oil and gas industry converged on Daegu for the World Gas Conference. The Ukraine crisis has upended global energy markets as Europe seeks new supplies of natural gas to end its dependence on Russia. And Korea, which imports 99 percent of its oil and gas, is feeling this market shock acutely.Meanwhile, countries scrambling for new gas supplies are simultaneously laboring to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from burning fossil fuels, which is worsening the climate impacts on people and nature in every corner of the Earth.Some people insist we must choose only one problem to solve: climate security or energy security, not both. In fact, we can't solve either without the other. But how? The bilateral statement by President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden highlights a crucial opportunity to address both these seemingly opposing goals at once ― quickly and with minimal cost.Reaffirming their climate commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement, the two leaders promised enhanced cooper

Jun 6, 2022

Korea's golden opportunity for energy and climate leadership

Main blaze of Miryang wildfire brought under control on 4th day

Service members battle a wildfire in Miryang, around 280 kilometers southeast of Seoul, June 2. YonhapThe main blaze in a wildfire in the southeastern city of Miryang is expected to be brought under control after four days, Friday, according to officials.The fire broke out on a mountain in Miryang, around 280 kilometers southeast of Seoul, early Tuesday and has so far burned an estimated 763 hectares of woodland, the size of more than 1,000 football fields, the forestry and firefighting authorities said. As of 10 a.m., the main body of the blaze had been suppressed, Korea Forest Service Minister Nam Sung-hyun said in a briefing. Firefighting operations of about 2,300 people, 47 firefighting helicopters and other equipment resumed earlier in the day after 110 residents of nearby villages were evacuated from their homes.No casualties or property damage have been reported. (Yonhap)

Jun 3, 2022

Main blaze of Miryang wildfire brought under control on 4th day

Miryang wildfire continues for 3rd day, nearly 650 hectares of woodland scorched

A firefighter battles a wildfire in Miryang, around 280 kilometers southeast of Seoul, June 1. Courtesy of Korea Forest ServiceDozens of firefighting helicopters battled to bring a wildfire in the southeastern city of Miryang under control Thursday, as the blaze continued for a third day, scorching nearly 650 hectares of woodland, authorities said. The fire, which broke out on a hill in Miryang, around 280 kilometers southeast of Seoul, early Tuesday, is continuing to spread rapidly, driven by strong winds and a dry spell.Forestry and firefighting authorities dispatched 53 helicopters to resume their firefighting operation as soon as the sun rose, and plan to send 2,400 personnel to join the battle later in the day.The blaze has burned an estimated 649 ha of forestland as of 6 a.m. while the fire extinguishing rate dwindled to 37 percent from the 62 percent registered Wednesday evening as the blaze spread further. No casualties or property damage have been reported yet.The Korea Forest Service retained its highest Level-3 wildfire response posture as of Thursday. (Yonhap)

Jun 2, 2022

Miryang wildfire continues for 3rd day, nearly 650 hectares of woodland scorched

Over 1,000 people evacuated as wildfire spreads in Miryang

A wildfire spreads near a village in Miryang, around 280 km southeast of Seoul, May 31. YonhapAuthorities evacuated over 1,000 people from villages, hospitals and correctional facilities near a fast-spreading wildfire in the southern city of Miryang on Tuesday. The blaze broke out at 9:25 a.m. on the hill in Miryang, around 280 km southeast of Seoul, and is continuing to spread, according to firefighting authorities. Close to noon, the Korea Forest Service upgraded its wildfire response level to the highest level of 3, issued when a fire is estimated to scorch over 100 hectares. As of 5 p.m., the fire burned 187 hectares of mountainous terrain in Bubuk County. Authorities said dense smoke and strong wind are making it difficult to control the fire. A total of 44 firefighting helicopters, along with 1,600 personnel, battled the blaze.Firefighters erected containment lanes around the blaze to keep it from spreading into nearby villages, located about 180 meters from where the fire broke out.A total of 476 villagers near the area and 228 people from nearby elderly care hospitals have be

May 31, 2022

Environment & Animals