Seoul City will raise the public transportation fare as part of its efforts to reduce its budget deficit and improve services, officials said Thursday. Seoul Metropolitan Government said it would increase the subway fare by 250 won ($0.20) to 1,300 won and bus fares by 150 won to 1,200 won. This is the first hike in 3 1/2 years.The new fares are expected to go into effect from late June after the city council reviews the proposal. As an alternative plan, the city has proposed a 200-won hike only

Despite the government’s efforts to improve water management through advanced technology, South Korea faces severe water shortage problems.The U.S.-based Population Action International lists Korea as a water-stressed country, with water availability per capita at 1,472 cubic meters in 1995, and projected to be 1,327 cubic meters by 2025. Countries with a yearly water supply of 1,000 to 2,000 cubic meters per person are considered water-stressed.Amid concerns over Korea’s water resources, the he

The world’s largest network of municipalities on Friday adopted an action plan aimed at taking prompt measures against climate change at a congress held in Seoul.The Seoul Action Plan was released by Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon to gather more global support at the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives World Congress.The plan, a follow-up to the Seoul Declaration adopted a day before, urged tight cooperation between cities through three major global municipality networks ― ICLEI

The world’s largest municipality network on Thursday pledged stronger efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for a sustainable future at a congress held in Seoul.More than 200 city representatives adopted the Seoul Declaration to outline the priorities for sustainable urban development at the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives World Congress. With two main principles ― cutting carbon emissions and pursuing sustainable urban development ― the cities vowed to make eco-fr

The capital of South Korea is getting greener amid the city government’s continuous efforts for a sustainable future with its three flagship projects. Seoul Metropolitan Government has run the campaign “One Less Nuclear Power Plant” since 2012 to reduce the energy dependence on nuclear power by developing renewable energy sources.Having few options for alternative sources, South Korea depends on nuclear power for 31 percent of its energy needs, according to government statistics. The capital’s e

The ICLEI World Congress 2015 kicked off at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in eastern Seoul on Wednesday, with 203 city representatives from 87 countries around the world gathering to discuss sustainable solutions to fight climate change. Themed “Sustainable Solutions for an Urban Future,” the triennial event will examine cities’ roles in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and promoting cooperation for tackling climate change.Earlier in the day, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was appointed president of the In

Representatives of more than 200 cities from around the world are gathering to pledge stronger efforts against climate change at a global environment assembly to be held in Seoul from Wednesday. Seoul City is hosting the five-day International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives World Congress 2015 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, eastern Seoul, in an aim to urge better cooperation for a sustainable future. It is the first time a Korean city has held the ICLEI’s flagship assembly.ICLEI, the w

Seoul City will host an environment assembly of the world’s largest municipality network this week in an aim to support inter-city ties and boost better cooperation for a sustainable future, officials said Sunday.The Seoul Metropolitan Government will hold the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives World Congress 2015 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, eastern Seoul, from Wednesday. It is the first time a Korean city will host the ICLEI’s flagship assembly. A total of 203 city repres

Seven pairs of fathers and children pile up colorful sand in glass bottles at a public child care center on a Saturday in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul. Laughter fills the room as the dads help the kids finish their masterpieces. Clutching the sand-filled bottle in one hand as a souvenir, and holding the father’s hand in the other, the children return home beaming.This simple activity class is a part of the district’s program designed to encourage bonding between fathers and children. It is a precio

The country’s first-ever upcycling center will be opened in Seoul in 2017 in an aim to boost green industries, officials said Thursday. Seoul Metropolitan Government broke ground for the Seoul Upcycling Plaza (tentative name) in Janganpyeong, eastern Seoul, as part of the project to stimulate the culture of reusing, recycling and upcycling. In contrast to reusing and recycling, upcycling uses waste materials to convert them into new products. It has been a rising global trend, especially in the

Seoul City announced Wednesday that it would customize tourist programs, such as renewing tour routes, to better cater to the needs of different nationals visiting the city.This year, existing tour routes will be regrouped into six categories ― history, arts, shopping, natural ecology, local neighborhood and “theme tour.” The city selected the six themes based on a survey with visitors to Seoul. A total of 41 sightseeing activities have been offered so far. The shopping-focused routes will be di

On a busy morning at Seongdong-gu’s community service center in eastern Seoul, a Chinese woman entered, looking confused. Cautiously peering around, the woman appeared lost until she heard a familiar language from the other side of the room.“May I help you?” said 44-year-old Chinese worker Chen Jhi-hong in her mother tongue. The woman rushed to Chen as though she had found a savior. Chen asked for help in changing her home address for her registration. After a smooth process carrying out the tas

Dankook University has been closely collaborating with the corporate sector by exchanging technology, equipment and facilities, thereby successfully expanding career opportunities for students, officials said.Through its project “Creative DASAN LINC,” the university has sought to partner with private companies to bring economic and academic synergy. It is part of the state-led scheme “Leaders in Industry-University Cooperation.” The Creative Collaborative Instrument Center. (Dankook University)D

The number of foreign students in Korea has hit a record high this year, data from the Justice Ministry showed Tuesday. As of February, the number of foreign students reached 92,076, up 8 percent on-year, the ministry said.The figure has gradually increased since 2008 but started to decline from 2012. The number dropped to 85,230 last year, the lowest figure since 2011, officials said. It picked up drastically last year, following various measures taken by the government and schools, including l

Centers for holding foreign nationals in Korea were found to have breached individuals’ privacy and human rights, a report by the national human rights watchdog said Monday. According to the National Human Rights Commission, all foreign nationals at the centers -- which include refugee applicants and people waiting to be deported -- were prevented from having personal time at fixed schedules, except for three times a week for a one-hour workout and religious service time. Under the law, centers

Acquittal rulings have been handed down in a series of adultery retrials across the country since the anticheating law was abolished late last month. A man in Gangwon province, whose information was withheld, was acquitted Saturday of adultery charges, court officials said. The man was sentenced to a six-month jail term with a stay of one year for cheating on his wife in 2013. “As the Constitutional Court ruled the adultery ban unconstitutional, the defendant’s charges are no longer a crime,” ju

Seoul City announced a temporary bus transportation plan as part of efforts to alleviate crowding on a newly extended subway line, officials said Sunday. Five new stops opened on Subway Line No. 9 from Sinnonhyeon Station to Sports Complex Station in southeastern Seoul on Saturday. The extended service is expected to attract about 3,000 additional daily passengers, the city said. In a bid to reduce rush-hour crowding, the city government said it would offer a number of free alternative buses on

An affluent southeastern district of Seoul was found to have the best food safety and nutritional level for children in the country, a report that surveyed food qualities at schools and other childcare facilities showed Wednesday. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Songpa district reached 78.95 out of 100 points in food safety, about 12 points higher than the national average of 67.54 points.The finding is part of the government’s first-ever inquiry conducted on food safety at el

Foreign tourists cited unfriendliness and price negotiation while shopping as the least pleasant experience in Korea last year, a state-run organization’s report showed Wednesday. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, inhospitality and price bargaining accounted for 333 of visitors’ complaints, or about 36 percent. The total number of complaints reached 888 cases last year, nearly the same as in 2013. The report said many of the visitors faced difficulties when demanding refunds for defec

Crossing the Hangang River in Seoul on the way to work every morning, 29-year-old office worker Kim Soo-hyun used to enjoy gazing at the vast waterway bordered by panoramic stripes of apartment buildings and skyscrapers. Although the view is often photo-worthy, the experience has become less and less pleasant in recent years, as a thick smog of ultrafine dust blurs out what otherwise had been an arresting contrast of blues.“I always carry a protective mask in my bag to wear whenever the ultrafin