The Korea Herald

Korea Forest Service adds to urban greenery

Sept 3, 2015

The Korea Forest Service joined hands with citizens and entrepreneurs to bring green forests to hectic urban societies, spurring sustainable urban living in Korea. KFS, the state agency for afforestation and forest resources, has been seeking ways to secure more green spaces around the living spaces in urban areas, which fall far below the global standards. Korea’s minimum area of urban living forest per capita turned out to be approximately 8.5 square meters, lower than the World Health Organiz
Environmentalists to sue state over cable car plan

Sept 1, 2015

Environmentalists vowed Tuesday to launch a legal battle against the government over its recent decision to allow the construction of a cable car in one of the country’s most preserved national parks. Several environmental groups, including Green Korea United, said they would seek revocation against the government’s approval for the cable car project on Mount Seoraksan in Gangwon Province, claiming that the decision is invalid as it didn’t strictly follow the procedural rules.Last Friday, the mi
S. Korea pledges cooperation for fight against climate change

Sept 1, 2015

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se on Monday pledged that South Korea will work closely with the international community to curb climate change affecting the Arctic and to ensure the sustainable development of the polar region.Yun made the pledge during the Conference on Global Leadership in the Arctic that the United States hosted in Anchorage, Alaska, to focus world attention on climate change affecting the polar region and discuss ways to tackle the phenomenon."My government, for the first time ev
[Newsmaker] Cable car approval touches off dispute

Aug 30, 2015

The government’s decision to allow the construction of a second cable car route on Mount Seoraksan last week drew mixed reactions over the weekend, with civic groups blasting authorities for ignoring its potential environmental impact and local residents calling it a business opportunity.The Environment Ministry’s national park committee on Friday agreed to allow Yangyang County Office of Gangwon Province to construct a 3.5-kilometer cable car on Mount Seoraksan, one of the country’s best-preser
Environment ministry OKs controversial cable car on Mount Seorak

Aug 28, 2015

The Ministry of Environment on Friday gave its approval for a cable car to be set up on a popular mountain range near South Korea's eastern coast, a plan that has been criticized for its potential harm to the regional environment. The construction plan calls for a 3.5-kilometer long cable car system to be built at the southern region of Mount Seorak in Yangyang County, about 215 kilometers east of Seoul, setting up a means of convenient transportation all the way up to the peak of the Osaek area
Mountain cable car plan mired in controversy

Aug 26, 2015

Activists express environmental concerns while proponents emphasize economic benefits
[Photo News] Winners of SNUE-Korea Herald English Contest

Aug 5, 2015

ENGLISH CONTEST -- Winners of the sixth Seoul National University of Education-Korea Herald English Contest pose during the award ceremony at the British Embassy in Seoul on Wednesday, along with (from left, back row) Hong Sun-ho, English education professor at SNUE, British Ambassador Charles Hay, Herald Corp. CEO Lee Young-man, SNUE President Shin Hang-gyun and Yu Kun-ha, head of digital services at Herald Corp. The biannual event seeks to assess students’ ability to write in English and promp
White House cites Korea's carbon emission cut pledge as sign of growing international momentum

Aug 4, 2015

The White House on Monday cited South Korea's commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions as an example that shows international momentum is building on the cause, as President Barack Obama announced a deeper carbon emissions reduction pledge."We also saw significant commitment in just the last month or so from South Korea, and that's an indication that there is building momentum toward the climate talks in Paris," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said at a briefing, referring to a U.N. c
Typhoon Halola approaching Korean Peninsula

Jul 25, 2015

The Korean Peninsula will come under the direct influence of Typhoon Halola this weekend, bringing rain, wind gusts and rough surf, South Korea's state weather agency said Saturday.Halola, the 12th typhoon of this year, is marching toward Japan and Korea at the speed of 15 kilometers per hour, according to Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA)."It is a small typhoon with the strength of 'middle.' As of 9 a.m. today, it was moving toward Jeju Island from waters about 220km east of Okinawa," L
[Graphic News] New disposal system reduces household waste

Jul 8, 2015

The amount of Korean household waste has fallen sharply over the past 20 years thanks to the introduction of a new disposable system, a report showed Wednesday. Since 1995, the government has implemented a volume-rate disposal system which requires residents to purchase and use special trash bags. The price of the trash bag is proportional to its volume. As of 2013, Koreans threw out about 49,000 tons of waste each day, which is 16.2 percent lower than before the system was introduced. The dail
U.N. chief welcomes S. Korea's commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions

Jul 1, 2015

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes commitments by South Korea and China to curb greenhouse gas emissions, his spokesman said Tuesday. Earlier in the day, South Korea offered to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 37 percent by 2030 from 850.6 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, an amount Seoul says it would reach if it let business run as usual. China also committed to halting the rise in its greenhouse gas emissions within the next 15 years. Seoul and Beijing formally submitted
S. Korea offers to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 37 pct by 2030

Jun 30, 2015

South Korea offered to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 37 percent by 2030, officials said Tuesday, an ambitious commitment ahead of a crucial global climate conference. The contribution means that South Korea's overall emissions will stand at 535 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents by 2030. That represents a 37 percent cut from 850.6 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, an amount Seoul says it could reach without any measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions, or if it let business
S. Korea to begin preparation for disposal of spent nuclar fuel

Jun 29, 2015

South Korea will soon begin preparation for permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel, the government said Monday, a move that will include what will likely be an arduous process of selecting where the highly radioactive materials will be buried. The move comes as the Public Engagement Commission on Spent Nuclear Fuel Management submitted its official and final recommendations on how to manage the country's spent nuclear fuel that included building an underground research facility by 2030. The
Businesses urge gov't to cut greenhouse gas emission goal

Jun 16, 2015

South Korean businesses urged the government Tuesday to lower its reduction target of greenhouse gas emissions, saying the current goal will weaken their competitiveness.The government is in the process of finalizing its long-term commitments to climate change that will require Seoul to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 14 percent from its business-as-usual level by 2030. "Local firms are already struggling with the recent fluctuations in currency exchange rates and a slump in the glob
Energy panel urges shutdown of S. Korea's oldest nuclear reactor

Jun 12, 2015

The government recommended Friday the state nuclear power operator permanently shut down the nation's oldest reactor when its operational license expires two years later, apparently caving in to strong opposition from residents and environmental groups over its safety. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy advised the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power to close the Kori-1 reactor located in the southeastern port city of Busan, as it was deliberating whether to apply for extending the life of the