Articles by Lee Jung-joo
Lee Jung-joo
lee.jungjoo@heraldcorp.com-
2023 marks ‘hottest year on record’
The year 2023 was Korea's “hottest year on record,” according to the Korea Meteorological Administration on Wednesday. South Korea’s average annual temperature was 13.7 degrees Celsius, the highest average annual temperature since 1973, when weather records were first collected by the administration, the KMA said. The average annual temperature last year was 0.3 degrees higher than the previous record of 13.4 C in 2015. According to the KMA’s data, between January to Nove
Social Affairs Jan. 3, 2024
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Fear of apartment safety resurfaces as another fire kills 1, injures 14
A fire broke out at an apartment building in Gyeonggi Province, leaving one dead and 14 others injured, according to fire services on Tuesday. According to the Gyeonggi-do Fire Service, the fire occurred on the ninth floor of a 15-story apartment building in the city of Gunpo in Gyeonggi Province at around 7:15 a.m. A man in his 50s, who was living on the ninth floor, was pronounced dead at the site. His wife, also in her 50s, was sent to a hospital for severe burns and breathing difficulties du
Social Affairs Jan. 2, 2024
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Rain or snow expected nationwide on New Year’s Eve
As 2023 draws to a close, the Korea Meteorological Administration forecast on Friday that most of South Korea will see either snow or rain over the weekend. According to the KMA, snow or rain is expected to fall in most parts of the country on Saturday and Sunday, as low pressure passes through. The central parts of the West Sea, western Seoul and northern South Chungcheong Province are expected to be hit with the first waves of snow or rain on Saturday morning. These weather conditions are expe
Social Affairs Dec. 29, 2023
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South Korea to produce biogas from organic waste resources
The Ministry of Environment said Thursday it will require industries that are heavy producers of organic waste resources to transition to the production of biogas starting Dec. 31. According to the Environment Ministry’s biogas law, public and private industries that generate organic waste such as livestock manure and food waste will be required to produce them in the form of biogas. Biogas is a gaseous renewable energy source produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, plant m
Social Affairs Dec. 28, 2023
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City of Seoul to extend late-night public transit for New Year's Eve
Subways and buses running in central Seoul will extend late-night operating hours for those enjoying New Year's Eve celebrations, with the bell-ringing ceremony at Bosingak Pavilion and Sejongdaero expected to take place from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m the next day. Normally, on public holidays subways are scheduled to arrive at their final station by midnight. However, on Sunday, subway trains will operate until 2 a.m. on New Year’s Day. A total of 173 subway trains will run on Line Nos. 1 to
Social Affairs Dec. 27, 2023
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8 trains to be added to Seoul Metro Line No. 9 by early 2024
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday that it will add eight six-carriage trains on Line No. 9 of the Seoul Metro, increasing the number of trains in operation from the current 45 to 53 by early 2024. Out of the eight that are planned to be added, five will begin operating from this weekend on Dec. 30. With the newly added trains, the city government plans to reduce train arrival intervals and extreme overcrowding during rush hour. By the year-end, train arrival intervals are exp
Social Affairs Dec. 27, 2023
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Apartment fire on Christmas could be due to ‘negligence’: police
A fire that broke out in an apartment building in Dobong-gu, northern Seoul that left two people dead and injured 30 others Monday was likely caused by human negligence, the police and fire authorities said Tuesday. A police official on-site said that it seems “unlikely that the fire was ignited due to electrical factors” after a joint on-site investigation. “It seems unlikely that the fire was caused by a short circuit or malfunctioning electrical equipment. Based on the evide
Social Affairs Dec. 26, 2023
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From 2024, Seoul to use drones to monitor traffic
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Tuesday that it will monitor traffic conditions in real time using drones starting in 2024. Using drone footage of traffic taken 200 meters above the ground, an artificial intelligence algorithm will analyze the footage to find patterns and predict future traffic conditions. To create a traffic management system that utilizes drones and AI, the Seoul Metropolitan Government conducted several tests in September and October. The city government tested
Social Affairs Dec. 26, 2023
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Seoul welcomes white Christmas for the first time in 8 years
A canopy of white covered the capital city of Seoul on Christmas morning, making it a white Christmas for the first time since 2015. In Gwanghwamun Square, central Seoul, while there were several pedestrians hurrying to get indoors to escape the snow, there were also some taking photos of the winter scenery. “It really feels like Christmas today,” said 25-year-old Baek Ji-yoon. “Christmas is one of my favorite holidays of the year because of its general atmosphere, but the sn
Social Affairs Dec. 25, 2023
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Freezing temperatures engulf S. Korea
Thursday’s temperatures were recorded to be the lowest so far this year, with morning lows reaching as low as minus 19 degrees Celsius and daytime highs expected to range between minus 10 C and 2 C. However, with winds traveling as fast as 55 kilometers per hour nationwide, the Korea Meteorological Administration stated that it would feel a lot colder than the actual temperature. In Seoul, morning low temperatures were minus 15 C, with high temperatures of minus 7 C and a wind chill of min
Social Affairs Dec. 21, 2023
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Extreme cold, heavy snow to hit S. Korea from Thursday
Temperatures are expected to drop significantly from Thursday as the cold weather continues to persist in the central region, with heavy snow forecast in southwestern parts of South Korea until Friday, according to the national weather agency on Wednesday. As the continental high pressure builds, cold air will begin to move toward the west, causing snow clouds that have formed along the west coast to move inland, it said. This will cause snow to fall near the west coast of South Chungcheong Prov
Social Affairs Dec. 20, 2023
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Seoul’s monthly transit pass to launch Jan. 27
Seoul’s monthly transit pass, known as the “Climate Card,” will be available for use starting Jan. 27, 2024, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday. The Climate Card is a rechargeable monthly transit pass that gives commuters access to public transport systems within the administrative boundaries of Seoul. It is intended to help relieve the increasing cost of living and encourage public transportation use to cut greenhouse gas emissions. “The card readers installe
Social Affairs Dec. 19, 2023
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Incheon to subsidize families with cumulative W100m won per child
The Incheon Metropolitan Government stated on Monday that it will provide up to a combined 100 million won ($76,969) in subsidies cumulatively over the life of a child up until age 18. Titled “100 million+i dream,” the policy proposes to provide cumulative monetary support for every child born in Incheon from 2023 from birth until they reach age 18. The total cumulative 100 million won figure comes from combining 28 million won in new funds and 72 million won that is already currentl
Social Affairs Dec. 18, 2023
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Seoul issues warning as extreme cold takes hold
A day after issuing a cold wave advisory, the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Sunday announced that the weather warning will remain in effect as temperatures continue to drop. “The lowest temperature on Saturday was recorded at minus 3.6 degrees Celsius and the lowest temperature from Sunday morning was minus 12 C, 8.4 degrees lower than the previous day,” said the Seoul Metropolitan Government in a press release. “The city government decided to keep the cold wave watch issued
Social Affairs Dec. 17, 2023
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Tuition subsidy plan for foreign toddlers insufficient: NHRCK
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea criticized the Ministry of Education on Thursday for insufficient subsidies and kindergarten programs for foreign children, urging the government to take action. “Initially, the Ministry of Education stated that it would investigate ways to expand its tuition program subsidies further than it is now. However, not only is their plan to do so insufficient, but no concrete data has been submitted to back up its plan,” said the NHRCK. “
Social Affairs Dec. 14, 2023
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