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Environmental Groups Blame Dredging for Algae Surge in Daejeon Rivers

Environmental Groups Blame Dredging for Algae Surge in Daejeon Rivers

DAEJEON, South Korea, June 12 (Korea Bizwire) — A surge of green algae in Daejeon’s three main rivers — the Gapcheon, Yudeungcheon, and Daejeoncheon — has sparked criticism from environmental groups, who argue the bloom is a direct result of large-scale dredging operations carried out in recent years. In a joint statement released Wednesday, the Green [...]

South Korea to Mandate Toy Recycling Under Expanded EPR Rules Starting 2026

South Korea to Mandate Toy Recycling Under Expanded EPR Rules Starting 2026

SEOUL, June 10 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea will require manufacturers and importers of plastic toys to recover and recycle a portion of their products starting in 2026, under a revised regulation aimed at curbing plastic waste. The Ministry of Environment announced Monday that it will begin a 40-day legislative notice period on an amendment [...]

Tens of Thousands of Trees Felled for Paper in 2025 Election Drive

Tens of Thousands of Trees Felled for Paper in 2025 Election Drive

SEOUL, June 9 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea concludes its 21st presidential election, the country is now contending with the environmental aftermath: a staggering amount of waste generated by campaign materials, including brochures, posters, and banners. According to the National Election Commission (NEC) on June 8, over 580 million sheets of election brochures were distributed [...]

UN Environment Chief Meets Jeju Haenyeo, Highlights Urgency of Marine Plastic Crisis

UN Environment Chief Meets Jeju Haenyeo, Highlights Urgency of Marine Plastic Crisis

JEJU, June 5 (Korea Bizwire) — As plastic pollution in oceans worsens, South Korea’s traditional sea women — or haenyeo — are finding their diving grounds increasingly choked with debris. On June 4, Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), met with a veteran haenyeo on Jeju Island to witness firsthand the frontlines of marine [...]

LG Electronics Marks World Environment Day with Global Awareness Campaign and Green Initiatives

LG Electronics Marks World Environment Day with Global Awareness Campaign and Green Initiatives

SEOUL, June 4 (Korea Bizwire) — In recognition of World Environment Day, LG Electronics is launching a series of global and local initiatives to spotlight the urgent need to combat plastic pollution and promote sustainable living, the company announced Wednesday. As part of its long-running “LG Hope Screen” program, LG is screening a campaign video [...]

South Korea Forms Apparel Council to Tackle Fashion Waste and Emissions

South Korea Forms Apparel Council to Tackle Fashion Waste and Emissions

SEOUL, May 29 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Ministry of Environment has launched a new industry-wide council aimed at addressing the mounting environmental damage caused by clothing production and disposal. The inaugural meeting of the “Apparel Environmental Council” was held on May 29, 2025, in Yongsan, Seoul, with 21 organizations in attendance, including five major [...]

AI Study Warns Seoul and Other Major Cities Face Highest Flood Risks

AI Study Warns Seoul and Other Major Cities Face Highest Flood Risks

SEOUL, May 29, 2025 (Korea Bizwire) — Despite having more flood infrastructure than rural areas, South Korea’s major cities such as Seoul, Incheon, and Busan are at higher risk of flooding, according to a new artificial intelligence-driven study. A joint research team from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and Kyungpook National University used [...]

Japan’s Mt. Fuji Eruption Would Have Limited Impact on South Korea, Officials Say

Japan’s Mt. Fuji Eruption Would Have Limited Impact on South Korea, Officials Say

SEOUL, May 28, 2025 — A potential eruption of Japan’s Mt. Fuji is unlikely to cause significant volcanic ash fallout in South Korea, according to South Korean disaster response authorities and experts. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety held a high-level meeting Tuesday with members of the Volcanic Disaster Preparedness Committee, the Korea Meteorological [...]

South Korea Leads OECD Plan to Safeguard Mongolia’s Water Future

South Korea Leads OECD Plan to Safeguard Mongolia’s Water Future

ULAN BATOR, May 28 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea, in partnership with the OECD, has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to help Mongolia confront its growing water crisis, as climate pressures and overreliance on groundwater threaten supplies across the country. The proposal, announced Wednesday at the Mongolian Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring in Ulan Bator, [...]

Asia Upcycle Forum to Convene in Jeju Amid Global Push Against Plastic Pollution

Asia Upcycle Forum to Convene in Jeju Amid Global Push Against Plastic Pollution

  JEJU, May 26 (Korea Bizwire) — As countries grapple with mounting plastic pollution, the 2025 Asia Upcycle Jeju Forum will bring together international experts, policymakers, and sustainability advocates on June 4 at the Jeju Booyoung Hotel to explore collaborative solutions through upcycling. Hosted by Jeju Province and organized by the Jeju Upcycle Association, the forum [...]