Tag: Seoul

Fortunately this happened when no kids where in school:

A kindergarten building in southern Seoul has tilted after a retaining wall at a nearby construction site collapsed. No casualties were reported but the incident led to the evacuation of some 50 people at one point.
Our Bae Joo-yon has more.

Report: According to local authorities, the three-story Sangdo Kindergarten in the southern district of Dongjak tilted about ten degrees after the wall designed to prevent subsidence caved in at around 11:20 p.m. Thursday.

There were no casualties as the building was empty at the time but some 50 local residents had to evacuate and take shelter at a community center and hotel on Thursday night before returning home on Friday morning.   [KBS World Radio]

You can read more at the link.

There is so little green space around Seoul as it is and it appears there may soon be even less:

The Korean government is mulling the option of developing regions in Seoul designated as greenbelt areas to increase apartment supply in the city.

According to local media reports in Korea, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Infrastructure is looking into securing land in Seoul that could be developed into residential areas. Options on the table for the Land Ministry includes greenbelt areas with relatively less conservation value compared to other areas as well as abandoned land in the city.

Greenbelt zones are protected areas of land where building is not permitted to protect the environment.

Lawmakers and top officials, including ruling Democratic Party Chairman Lee Hae-chan and Blue House policy chief Jang Ha-sung, have said that the government wants to significantly increase the supply of apartments in Seoul. The stance indicates an about-face in the government’s real estate policy.

As recently as last week, top officials, including Land Minister Kim Hyun-mee, said that the supply of housing in Korea is sufficient. Up until now, government measures focused on tight control over speculation on existing apartments.  [Joong Ang Ilbo]

You can read more at the link, but does anyone still think that all of Yongsan Garrison once it is vacated will become a city park?

Police investigators carry boxes containing confiscated items out of Sookmyung Girls’ High School in Seoul on Sept. 5, 2018, as police launch a probe into allegations that a teacher leaked exam questions for his twin daughters attending the same school. (Yonhap)

A Halloween parade takes place at the Gwanghwamun plaza in downtown Seoul on Sept. 2, 2018. (Yonhap)

People cross the Han River during an event in Seoul on Aug. 10, 2018, in a boat made of corrugated cardboard, plastic wrap and adhesive tape. (Yonhap)

It is hot out there right now in South Korea:

Wednesday was the hottest day ever recorded in Seoul.

The temperature in the city peaked at 39.6 degrees Celsius (103.3 degrees Fahrenheit) at 3:36 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). It broke the record from the summer of 1994, when the mercury hit 38.4 degrees Celsius.

The temperature in Seoul Wednesday set the record for the highest temperature in the city since the KMA started to keep record of temperatures from 1907.

Wednesday was also the day Korea’s highest temperature ever was recorded: The temperature in Hongcheon, Gangwon, hit 41 degrees Celsius, breaking the record of highest temperature recorded in Korea, which was 40 degrees Celsius in Daegu in 1942.  [Joong Ang Ilbo]

You can read more at the link.

American actor Tom Cruise attends a publicity event in Seoul on July 16, 2018, to promote the 2018 American spy action film, “Mission: Impossible – Fallout.” The film will hit South Korean screens on July 25. (Yonhap)

Pedestrians walk past street artworks depicting fried eggs and melted rubber slippers in front of Hyundai Department Store in Daegu on July 13, 2018, fitting structures for the city some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul which often records some of the highest temperatures during summer. The mercury rose to 34 degrees C on the day but felt close to 38 degrees due to sun rays and humidity. (Yonhap)

Annual LGBT Fest Soon to Open Amid Strong Opposition https://t.co/rH5QxoPAxU

— JamesTurnbull (@JamesTurnbull) July 12, 2018

It appears someone’s pet monkey has gotten lose and is now threatening hikers on Mt. Bukhan just outside of Seoul:

A rogue monkey on Mt. Bukhan has attacked several hikers.

According to the Ministry of Environment Thursday, officials have been trying to capture the monkey since they received reports about it last week. The mountain is not a natural habit for the creatures.

A video clip, which has gone viral, shows the monkey wandering around the mountain. The person who posted it on YouTube on June 9 was almost attacked when he went near the animal.

He backed off and said: “This monkey is not afraid of humans at all.”  [Korea Times via a reader tip]

You can read more at the link or view the Youtube video below: