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Firefighters battling fast-spreading wildfire in northeast

A firefighting helicopter drops water to contain a fire that broke out on a mountain in Uljin County, 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is seen in this screen grab from footage provided by the Korea Forest Service, May 28. YonhapFirefighters were fighting a fast-spreading wildfire in the northeastern county of Uljin Saturday, with the blaze prompting the authorities there to issue an evacuation order for nearby residents. No people were reported injured.The fire started on a mountain in Uljin, 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at around 12:06 p.m. and has been spreading rapidly due to high winds of up to 20 meters per second, according to officials.Local forest and fire authorities sent 30 helicopters and some 200 firefighters to contain the blaze.There have been no casualties, but some facilities and a temple in the vicinity caught on fire, according to the emergency authorities.The county office ordered residents of nearby villages to evacuate.The authorities issued a Level 2 wildfire alert, the third highest in the four-tier system, which allows for the mobilization of firefight

May 28, 2022
Firefighters battling fast-spreading wildfire in northeast

Korea asks EU to revise single-use plastic ban directive

A bottle made of biodegradable plastic / gettyimagesbankTrade Minister Ahn Duk-geun asked the European Union, Friday, to review its directive on single-use plastics, saying the rule has even regulated eco-friendly items and limited Korean firms' market access.Ahn made the request during a meeting with EU Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo-Fernandez held in Seoul.The Single-Use Plastics Directive, which came into effect in July last year, calls for banning certain single-use plastics. But it not only regulates fossil-based plastics but also restricted eco-friendly bioplastics, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy."The regulation has prevented Korean companies with the latest technologies for making bioplastics from accessing the European market. The regulation needs to be swiftly reviewed based on close consultations between the EU and the companies concerned," Ahn said.Currently, only Korea, the United States and Japan have secured key technologies on bioplastics.During the meeting, the two sides also discussed ways of cooperation in supply chains, and digital and

May 27, 2022
Korea asks EU to revise single-use plastic ban directive

Seoul issues first ozone warning this year

An ozone warning is seen on an electronic display near Seoul City Hall, May 23. YonhapSeoul saw its first ozone warning of the year take effect Monday in most parts of the city.The Seoul city government said the warning was issued at 2 p.m., as ozone density in the 21 districts of the city was between 0.123 and 0.137 parts per million (ppm). Four other districts were excluded, it said.Ozone warnings are issued when concentration levels reach an average of 0.12 ppm per hour. More serious alerts are issued at 0.30 ppm and 0.50 ppm, respectively.Patients with respiratory diseases, the elderly and children are advised not to go outside when such warnings are issued. (Yonhap)

May 23, 2022
Seoul issues first ozone warning this year

Korea postpones disposable cup deposit system for six months

An environment ministry official demonstrates the disposable cup deposit system at a cafe in Seoul, May 6, in this pool photo. Yonhap The government has postponed the launch of a disposable cup deposit system for six months until December in the face of opposition from business owners and the ruling conservative party. The environment ministry had planned to implement the new policy June 10, mandating consumers to pay a 300 won deposit when they buy a drink in a single-use cup. They can get the money back when they return the used cup."We will grant a grace period considering that small and midsized businesses suffering from slowdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic need time to recover," the ministry said Friday.Owners of cafes and fast-food outlets have complained the compulsory deposit return system would increase their costs and workload.The ministry said that during the six-month grace period, it will come up with measures to ease the possible burdens on them.The

May 21, 2022
Korea postpones disposable cup deposit system for six months

South Korea denies report of alleged approval of Japan's Fukushima water release plan

Protestors from civic groups stage a protest rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, May 20, to voice their objection to Japan's decision to discharge water into the sea containing radioactive materials stored at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. YonhapSouth Korea on Friday denied a Japanese media report claiming the Seoul government agreed to Tokyo's plan to release radioactive water into the ocean from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant.Earlier this week, a Japanese news agency reported that the new Yoon Suk-yeol government appears to be planning to have consultations with Japan on the premise that Tokyo will discharge contaminated water as planned, while the former Moon Jae-in government objected to the plan."Our government has never gone for Japan's Fukushima water release plan. We are concerned about some arbitrary and subjective media reports," Seoul's foreign ministry said in a text message sent to reporters.The ministry vowed utmost efforts to come up with "needed responses to have the contaminated water be disposed in a way that meets international laws and

May 20, 2022
South Korea denies report of alleged approval of Japan's Fukushima water release plan

Ministry to strengthen quarantine against animal diseases over rising int'l flights

Quarantine officers guide travelers from overseas at the arrival hall of Incheon International Airport, June 29, 2021. Yonhap Korea will step up quarantine efforts at major airports and harbors to prevent African swine fever (ASF) and other contagious animal diseases from entering the country, the agriculture ministry said Tuesday.The move comes as the number of international flights is set to increase further starting next month as the country plans to add hundreds more flights to meet growing demand for travel over the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions.The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said it will beef up the quarantine system at eight airports and six harbors, including those in the western port city of Incheon, Gimpo in Seoul, and the southern resort island of Jeju.The ministry will conduct on-site inspections and mock exercises this month to implement due quarantine procedures.It also vowed to strengthen the campaign to prevent foreign work

May 17, 2022
Ministry to strengthen quarantine against animal diseases over rising int'l flights

Seoul sees industrial greenhouse gas emissions drop during pandemic, but household emissions grow

gettyimagesbank Seoul saw greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial and transportation sectors decline during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic while emissions by households increased, officials said Tuesday.The estimated total greenhouse gas emissions from the city reached 45.46 million tons last year, down 0.3 percent from 2020 and 8.1 percent from 2005, when the city made an international pledge to cut down greenhouse gas emissions, according to city data. City officials pointed out that between 2020 and 2021, emissions from the industrial and transportation sectors, major greenhouse gas emitters, declined while those from households grew as a result of social distancing rules and a hike in the number of people working from home.Emissions from households grew by 3.1 percent each year during the period, snapping their 1.3 percent yearly decline recorded over the decade, according to the data. Emissions from the industrial and public sectors, meanwhil

May 10, 2022
Seoul sees industrial greenhouse gas emissions drop during pandemic, but household emissions grow

The 15th World Forestry Congress ends, addresses crucial environmental issues

Choi Byeong-am, head of the Korea Forest Service, speaks at the closing ceremony of the 15th World Forestry Congress held at COEX, Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of the Korea Forest ServiceBy Kim Hyun-binThe 15th World Forestry Congress came to a close Friday with global environmental leaders discussing major nature-based solutions to climate change and other eco-friendly measures during the five-day event held at Coex in Seoul. The World Forestry Congress is held every six years under the supervision of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Forestry officials from around the world gather to discuss global forest and environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss and desertification, as well as to seek solutions through forestry. It is the largest and most influential international conference in the forestry field.The closing ceremony started with the presentation of the results of the five-day general meeting, followed by remarks from representatives from each forestry sector, and then closing speeches by UNCCD Secretary-General Ibrahim Thiaw, F

May 6, 2022By Kim Hyun-bin
The 15th World Forestry Congress ends, addresses crucial environmental issues

Gov't to launch money-back policy for returned used cups

Single-use plastic and paper cups are stacked at a Starbucks shop in Seoul, April 6. NewsisBy Ko Dong-hwanTo reduce single-use waste and save resources in the country's efforts to fight the climate crisis, the government is launching an app to reward people for returning single-use cups after they're done with them. Using a new smartphone app, the new initiative by the environment ministry allows patrons at coffee shops across the country to return used coffee cups in exchange for money. With each cup returned, the app pays patrons back a “resource circulation deposit” worth 300 won (24 cents). The app is available at Google Play Store and Apple's App Store.The test service came ahead of the ministry's introduction of the service as a new environmental policy starting on June 10. The policy is a result of a revision last June to the country's Resources Recycling Act.The test service begins with four coffee shops in Sejong on May 6 and will expand to more stores interested in providing the service. The test service will continue until June 9.The participating stores first

May 5, 2022By Ko Dong-hwan
Gov't to launch money-back policy for returned used cups

Companies, state-run agencies promote ESG, green technology at WFC

Visitors, especially students, fill the venue of the World Forestry Congress at COEX in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeulBy Baek Byung-yeulSK Forest, Dunamu, Nepa and other Korean companies and state-run agencies are promoting efforts to improve their environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) performance and green technologies at the ongoing World Forestry Congress (WFC), according to officials from the companies and public agencies, Tuesday. They have installed promotional booths at COEX in southern Seoul, where the WFC event is taking place. They said the event, which provides a platform to discuss ways to build a green, healthy and resilient future with forests, has been a great opportunity to meet their future customers.An employee of local safety equipment maker Cijun introduces the company's disaster safety equipment during the World Forestry Congress at COEX in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul“As a safety equipment maker for natural disasters such as wildland fires, we've decided to join the event to promote our technolog

May 3, 2022By Baek Byung-yeul
Companies, state-run agencies promote ESG, green technology at WFC
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