With public concern mounting over fine dust and other forms of air pollution, imports of related items have skyrocketed. According to data released Thursday by the Korea Customs Service, the total value of imported masks hit $23 million last year, more than a threefold increase from $7.1 million in 2014. The agency explained that public concern has persisted since the outbreak of Middle East re...

Heavy rainfall pounded Seoul and the central regions of the peninsula Tuesday, forcing some 200 people from their homes. The heavy downpour also caused floods, traffic jams and the collapse of some facilities. The Korea Meteorological Administration said 119 millimeters of rain poured down in Seoul as of 2:20 p.m. Tuesday. A heavy rain warning has been issued for Seoul and the central regions wi...

Earlier this year, Beijing’s state-run media China Central Television aired a four-minute news report that showed the underbelly of cosmetic surgery in Seoul. The report exposed a case of a Chinese tourist allegedly being overcharged by a clinic in the cosmetic surgery mecca of Gangnam, Seoul. CCTV argued that Chinese patients are typically charged from two to 10 times higher than locals, leadin...

In a recent hackathon organized by Seoul City, 21-year-old Kim Do-kyoon, was one of those in charge of demonstrating how 3-D printers work. “I have never seen this many 3-D printers together in one place in my life. Maybe this could be an unprecedented scene in Seoul,” Kim told The Korea Herald as he participated in the event last weekend. “There are so many advantages of using 3-D printers esp...

The South Korean government said Tuesday that it will propose a revision bill to the current pharmaceutical law, in order to enhance the availability of medicine and first-aid medical supplies to citizens. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said they are preparing to propose the revision by Aug. 28. If the bill passes, pharmacists will be allowed to install medicine vending machines in front of ...

Household products company Oxy Reckitt Benckiser, which has been blamed for the largest number of victims from the use of toxic humidifier disinfectants, released an expanded compensation plan for victims over the weekend. The victims and their families, however, remain opposed to the plan, saying the additional compensation still neglects victims with relatively less damage and overlooks differ...

South Korea’s private kindergartens said Sunday that they will stage a strike and hold a rally this week in protest against the government’s funding program. According to the Education Ministry and the Korea Kindergarten Association, about 3,500 private kindergartens -- 83.3 percent of private kindergartens nationwide -- and some 30,000 industry workers and parents have agreed to participate in ...

State-run subway operator Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit said Sunday that it will remove subway turnstiles specially designed for children, in order to curb the increasing number of adult fare dodgers. SMRT has been operating the “child only” subway turnstiles since 2009, at about 10 subway stations around Seoul on subway lines 5 to 8. Hanging lower than regular turnstiles and decorated with ...

The South Korean public is more sensitive to air quality these days, in light of increasing news reports on the negative impacts of fine dust and with a slew of released apps that send almost real-time updates on the concentration of harmful particles. So how bad is fine dust to one’s health? Fine dust particles do not just cause respiratory problems such as bronchial and asthmatic diseases, th...

A latest report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has sent a solemn message to the world: If we do not effectively tackle air pollution, it could cause 6 to 9 million premature deaths and economic consequences of $2.6 trillion annually by 2060. South Korea was among countries singled out as those in greater danger. The report said that South Korea could see at least ...

Gary Cook, a senior IT analyst at Greenpeace, said that he has noticed a particular trend among the younger generation in the United States -- they delay getting their driver’s license after they turn 20. “It’s interesting. America, very much defined by car culture, is seeing lowering importance of getting a car. An interesting shift over the last five years,” Cook said in an interview with The ...

Two public parks in Jongno -- Jongmyo and Tapgol -- will turn into special zones for the elderly by offering a variety of welfare facilities and cultural activities, Seoul City said Monday. The two parks are frequented by senior citizens to rest, meet friends and have a meal at a soup kitchen in the neighborhood. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it would inject 60 million won ($51,000) ov...

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced its plan to gradually reduce the number of taxi stands in the city. The SMG said Sunday that it would cut 30 taxi stands each year over the next five years -- downsizing about one-third of the current 419 taxi stands installed throughout Seoul. A city official said the plan is intended to save on maintenance costs. The low level of income from adverti...