South Koreans get creative with Parents’ Day gifts

May is known as “Family Month” in South Korea, as it has several days to celebrate and show love for those held closest to people's hearts. One such commemorative day is Parents’ Day on May 8. A time-honored tradition in South Korea has children give carnations to their parents to express gratitude for their love and care. However, some Koreans have recently shown a shift in preferences for Parents' Day, as they search for gifts that are more meaningful and worthwhile. Kwon Young-june, a 53-year

May 4, 2025

South Korea sees extreme temperature fluctuations in April

Temperatures fluctuated drastically within short periods during April in South Korea, with unusually cold and hot temperatures being observed in the middle of the month, according to a monthly meteorological report issued by the Korea Meteorological Administration, Friday. According to the KMA, the average nationwide temperature for April reached up to 13.1 degrees Celsius in Korea, an increase of 1 C compared to the average previous temperatures. However, as cold and warm spells occurred one af

May 2, 2025

Will Cabinet work with just 14 members?

After the resignation of Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok late Thursday, the number of incumbent Cabinet members dropped to 14, raising concerns of the Cabinet being paralyzed. Earlier in the day on Thursday, acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo had already announced his resignation to launch his own presidential bid. His immediate successor, Choi, stepped down hours later as he faced possible impeachment by the National Assembly, ultimately handing the burden

May 2, 2025

Daegu fire calls for stronger urban fire prevention

Fire prevention experts are urging the government to establish specific measures for blazes near densely populated areas, following a recent wildfire in Daegu that took four days to fully extinguish. At around 2 p.m. on Monday, a large-scale fire broke out at Hamjisan, a mountain near central Daegu. Due to dry weather conditions and strong winds, the fire grew to burn up to 260 hectares in about 23 hours, until the main blaze was declared to have been extinguished Tuesday. However, as some remai

May 2, 2025

Seoul’s monthly transit pass to cover more of Seongnam

Seoul’s all-inclusive "Climate Card" monthly transit pass will be usable at subway stations on the Suin-Bundang Line and the Gyeonggang Line in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, starting Saturday, according to the municipal government on Thursday. The Climate Card is a rechargeable monthly transit pass that gives commuters access to public transport systems within the administrative boundaries of Seoul as well as select neighboring cities on the city's outskirts. From Saturday, the Climate Card can b

May 1, 2025

Intermittent heavy rain to fall nationwide from Labor Day

Following a few days of sunny, warm weather, the Korea Meteorological Administration announced during its press briefing Wednesday that South Korea will see heavy rain nationwide on Labor Day morning. According to the KMA, as warm air from the south and cold air from the north collide above the Korean Peninsula, heavy rain will fall nationwide from Thursday. The Greater Seoul region -- including Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province -- as well as the inland parts of Gangwon Province, the North an

April 30, 2025

Main blaze of Daegu wildfire extinguished after 23 hours

Fire authorities battling another wildfire in Daegu brought it under control around 1 p.m., Tuesday, 23 hours after the blaze was reported to have broken out. According to the Korea Forest Service, the fire, which began at 2:01 p.m. on Monday at Hamjisan, was declared to be largely extinguished on Tuesday, affecting 260 hectares of woodland -- equivalent to 364 soccer fields. Though no casualties have been reported so far, the blaze prompted the evacuation of some 2,000 residents in nearby areas

April 29, 2025

Fire agency aims for faster on-site dispatch times

The National Fire Agency announced a set of measures during a press briefing Tuesday to allow for quicker dispatch of fire authorities to sites needing urgent response nationwide, according to the “8-minute peak arrival theory.” Fire authorities in South Korea have referred to the 8-minute peak arrival theory for rapid response to sites where fires need to be exstinguished over the last five years. According to the theory, it takes about eight minutes after a fire breaks out for all objects at t

April 29, 2025

1,200 residents evacuated from Daegu wildfire

After South Korea battled the worst wildfire in its history in March, another wildfire in the southeastern city of Daegu spread fast Monday, forcing some 1,200 residents to evacuate. Authorities stated that the fire broke out at approximately 2 p.m. in Hamjisan, a mountain in the city’s central region. While the cause of the fire is still yet to be identified, the Daegu city government said the fire is suspected to have started in a restricted mountain access area. Investigations of the exact ca

April 28, 2025

How global warming makes spring allergies worse, and last longer

As spring brings sunlight and warmth to South Korea, more people can be spotted around the city, taking walks, going on runs or enjoying a picnic by the Han River. But for some, the season's arrival brings less joy than usual. Among them is 26-year-old Jeong Seo-yoon, who often struggles with spring allergies that trigger symptoms such as "constant sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and the occasional sore throat," she says. “For me, spring and allergies are like a package deal. You can’t have one

April 28, 2025