South Korea - The Korea Times

PHOTO Heavy snowfall in southwestern Korea

A resident walks through heavy snow in Muan, South Jeolla Province, Sunday, as a heavy snow advisory was issued in the region. Some regions in the southwestern parts of the country received more than 25 centimeters of snow since Saturday evening. A cold snap is forecast to continue in the coming days, with daytime highs expected to hover near or below freezing in central areas amid lingering clouds and light snowfall. Yonhap

1h agoBy Lee Hae-rin

[PHOTO] Heavy snowfall in southwestern Korea

Main blaze in Uiseong wildfire contained

The main blaze of a wildfire that broke out in the southeastern county of Uiseong was contained within three hours, forest service authorities said Saturday. Authorities issued a Level 2 wildfire response and an evacuation order for residents in a rural area after a wildfire erupted on a hillside in Uiseong, 252 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at around 3:15 p.m., less than a year after a major blaze swept through the area last spring. "The main blaze was contained at around 6 p.m., when helicopters withdrew from the scene. Firefighters will extinguish the remaining embers overnight," Uiseong County Gov. Kim Joo-soo said. Strong snowfall in the area around the wildfire site on Saturday afternoon reportedly helped slow the spread of the fire. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Authorities issued the Level 2 response at 3:41 p.m. and deployed 10 helicopters, 51 fire suppression vehicles and 315 firefighters and other personnel. The government issued an evacuation order instructing nearby residents to move to their respective village community centers as the fire spread rapidly am

23h agoBy Yonhap

Main blaze in Uiseong wildfire contained

2025 was nation's second hottest year on record

Last year was the nation's second hottest year on record, the weather agency said Tuesday, due to an extended period of hot weather from early summer to autumn. The country recorded an average temperature of 13.7 degrees Celsius last year, 0.8 C lower than in 2024 and the same as in 2023, tying for the second hottest year since 1973, when Korea began actively collecting weather data, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Last year's figure was 1.2 C above the annual average of 12.5 C for the 1991-2020 period. Aside from February and May, the monthly average temperature last year in all other months was above the long-term average. June and October last year saw the hottest monthly average temperature on record. The KMA attributed the extended period of heat last year to the North Pacific High that grew stronger earlier than usual and maintained its strength longer than previous years. The pressure system's presence near the country led to high temperatures as hot and humid air flowed in. The number of days under a nationwide heat wave, or daily highs of 33 C or over,

Jan 6, 2026By Yonhap

2025 was nation's second hottest year on record

Korea to implement special quarantine measures to curb spread of bird flu

The government will implement a set of special quarantine measures this month to prevent the further spread of avian influenza (AI), officials said Monday. The Central Disaster Management Headquarters (CDMH) said 32 cases of highly contagious AI have been confirmed at poultry farms and 22 cases among wild birds since the cold season started. The latest case was confirmed on Monday at a farm in Iksan, North Jeolla Province. Provincial authorities have dispatched an initial response team to the farm to restrict access, conduct epidemiological investigations and implement emergency containment measures. In particular, three strains of bird flu viruses — H5N1, H5N6 and H5N9 — have been reported this winter, marking the first time in the country's history that more than two strains of AI have been confirmed simultaneously, while the H5N1 strain has been confirmed to be at least 10 times more infectious than in previous years, according to the CDMH officials. In light of the situation, authorities will dispatch quarantine officials to 539 layer farms raising more than 50,000 laying hens nat

Jan 5, 2026By Yonhap

Korea to implement special quarantine measures to curb spread of bird flu

Overseas wildfires linked to severe fine dust alert in Korea: study

Overseas wildfires were among the causes of Korea’s heavy ultrafine dust episode on Nov. 24 last year, when advisories were issued in multiple central and western regions, according to the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment on Friday. The institute said a detailed chemical analysis of fine dust that day showed smoke from biomass burning abroad had mixed with local emissions and long-range industrial pollution to worsen air quality. Using a high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer, the institute detected a clear fingerprint of biomass burning organic aerosol, or BBOA, in samples collected during the episode, confirming that overseas wildfires were one of several contributors. An official said there were no major wildfires burning in Korea at the time, while large forest fires were reported in China with winds blowing toward the Korean Peninsula, making it likely that the smoke traveled from there. Seoul’s ultrafine dust concentration that day averaged 76 micrograms per cubic meter, peaking at 92 micrograms per cubic meter. The advisory issued on Nov. 24 lasted for 11 hours and

Jan 2, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Overseas wildfires linked to severe fine dust alert in Korea: study

Heavily criticized bear bile farming to be fully banned next year

Korea is set to fully ban its decades-old controversial practice of bear bile farming next year, according to officials Wednesday, although about 200 bears are still in captivity. Since 1981, Korea has allowed the import and breeding of bears in an effort to boost income for farmers in rural areas. Although bear imports were banned in 1985 amid growing international criticism, bears continued to be held captive for their bile and other body parts used in alternative medicinal treatments. The revision to the Wildlife Protection and Management Act passed in December 2023 to formally outlaw bear farming. This week, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced that the breeding of bears and the extraction of bear bile will be prohibited starting Jan. 1 next year. Authorities said 34 bears have been relocated to protection facilities, but 199 bears remain in captivity at 11 farms across the country as negotiations continue between animal rights groups and bear farmers. The ministry said it will grant a six-month grace period, during which the farmers will not be punished for keepi

Dec 31, 2025By Yonhap

Heavily criticized bear bile farming to be fully banned next year

Korea reports new bird flu cases in central, southwestern regions

Korea has confirmed two additional cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza at poultry farms in central and southwestern regions, bringing the total number of cases this season to 26, authorities said Monday. The latest cases were detected at a duck farm in the county of Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, and at a chicken farm in Naju, South Jeolla Province, according to the Central Disaster Management Headquarters. Authorities have restricted entry to the farms, and begun culling poultry and investigating the outbreaks. They have also ordered a temporary standstill on relevant facilities and farming vehicles in the affected areas.

Dec 29, 2025By Yonhap

Korea reports new bird flu cases in central, southwestern regions

Allocation of emission rights completed for 2026-30 period

The government has allocated 2.36 billion tons of greenhouse gas emission rights, which can be traded from next year until 2030, to 772 companies, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said Monday. The latest allocation was completed on the day for the 772 firms participating in the fourth planning period (2026-2030), the ministry said. The greenhouse gas emissions trading system sets a cap on total emissions for major polluters, issues tradable "allowances" and lets companies buy or sell these allowances to meet target. The goal is to encourage greenhouse gas emissions reductions through market principles. The total allowable emissions for the fourth planning period are 2.36 billion tons, which represent a 17.91 percent decrease compared to the 2.88 billion tons allowed during the third planning period (2021-2025), the ministry noted. In the power generation sector, 796 million tons were allocated to 59 companies. In the non-power generation sector, 1.57 billion tons were distributed to 713 companies.

Dec 29, 2025By Yonhap

Allocation of emission rights completed for 2026-30 period

PHOTO Winter wall of ice

People watch an ice climbing wall at Pandae Ice Park in Wonju, Gangwon Province, Sunday, as a cold snap persisted throughout the month, leaving the rocky surface encased in ice. While the mercury was expected to go up Monday, it will plummet again Tuesday and subzero temperatures will continue even during the daytime throughout the week. Yonhap

Dec 28, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Korea reports another bird flu case at poultry farm in central region

Korea has reported a new case of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm, bringing the total number of cases this season to 23, officials said Saturday. The latest case was found at a chicken farm in the city of Asan, around 85 kilometers south of Seoul, on late Friday, which raises about 21,000 chickens, according to the Central Disaster Management Headquarters. Authorities have restricted entry to the farm, and begun culling animals there and investigating the outbreak. They have also ordered a temporary standstill order on relevant facilities and farming vehicles in the affected area, the official said.

Dec 27, 2025By Yonhap

Environment & Animals