HALLYU PLANETARIUM
THE GREAT SEUNGRI IN SINGAPORE
RECORDS in paris
EXO’s LaY STARS IN THE GOLDEN EYES
RED VELVET REDMARE IN DALLAS
WHITE DAY SPECIAL Idols in white
must try white chocolate drinks
What is HALLYU? HALLYU Magazine is Korean Entertainment &Culture Magazine. All in English and Beautiful Quality Since 2011. We provide honest and respectful content to our readers with consideration of privacy to the Artists. We are run by dedicated members who are fellow fans of the industry.
www.hallyumagazine.com
HALLYU Editor-in-Chief Head Manager
FAMILY Nadezhda Hope Dina Piven
USA Representative June Saladino Photographers
Media Team
June Saladino Soizic Cistac(Europe) Theresia Sylvanny Yasmine Febrina Gazali Angela Pham Ryann Ellis Oktantri Putri Anindya (Indonesia Head) Frisanty Marissa Yasmine Febrina Julie Thai
Layout
Nadezhda Hope Lilian Calulot Tracy
SNS Admins
Youa Lauj Dina Piven
General
Asel Sadekova
Writer
Lee Shin-Yon
FOLLOW US! Facebook: www.facebook.com/HALLYUmagazine
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hallyumagazine @HALLYUmagazine
Twitter: www.twitter.com/hallyumagazine @HALLYUmagazine
Tumblr: www.hallyumagazine.tumblr.com
Join HALLYU! email us at hallyumagazine@gmail.com Tell us your name, location and why you want to join our cool team!
Special Thanks All images belong to original owners. Concert photography belongs to HALLYU. Thanks Indonesia Team! Thanks June &Dina & Korea Team!
Contents H A L L Y U Spring 2019 Issue Number 47
4
PLANETARIUM RECORDS in Paris Red Velvet in Dallas Seungri in SG
26
EXO’s LAY Stars in The Golden Eyes
30
WHITE DAY
40
HISTORICAL Destinations Yellow Dust Frenzy Safety Travel Tips
Idols in White White Chocolate Drinks
PLANETARIUM RECORDS
We Go Holic
IN PARIS Written by: Lucile Theffo Defaudais Photographed by: Soizic Cistac
F
or the first time ever, the Korean hiphop, rap and R&B crew held a tour throughout Europe, barely one year after their debut! Whereas the crew is actually promoting itself, especially Moti with the release of his first mini-album, the five artists came in Paris for an incredible show, highlighting their talents for their fans at Le Bataclan. Even though the show didn’t happen to be sold out, around 400 fans came to support them and they didn’t leave the gig disappointed! Arriving first, June bewitched the audience with his blues-inspired performance, including the beautiful « Sérénade », a great and easy-going opening for this first experience in Paris. He was followed by Gaho, the best singer of the crew, who was really mesmerising to watch as he sang, submerged in his very own ballad-themed universe. Gaho’s appearance and high notes were a complete success and left the crowd really moved. But PLT didn’t let their fans down and performed more upbeat songs, like Jung Jinwoo and his tune
« She’s got everything », just enough energy to continue the show on the right path and to offer plenty of music genres during the same night. Things definitely got more agitated with the last two boys of the crew, the rappers Villain & Moti, who delivered good rap performances and let their fans scream their hearts out in the crowd. But impressing fans by going solo was of course not the only surprise of the night, and the members definitely had real fun performing together on some songs, like « Days » or « Insomniac ». To end this first-ever date in Paris - and we hope not the last - PLT met all together on stage for three epic final songs, and it wouldn’t have ended better! The only regret is that the show was overall managed like a regular K-Pop show, a bit of a miss for people who expected a real hip-hop crew concert! They surely deserve the freedom they seek with their music on stage! Be sure to listen to Planetarium Records’ artists in the future and to support their new releases!
RED VELVET REDMARE IN DALLAS Written by: Ryann Ellis Photography Credits: SMTOWN Naver Blog Phillip Hoang
T
The lights go low and the fans screams become deafening. At a moments glance, you see five small figures rush onto the stage before the bass drops and Russian Roulette begins playing. Almost immediately fans are on their feet and the fan chants begin. If you haven’t quite figured out what I’m referring to then let me catch you up to speed. The Red Velvet Redmare U.S Tour stopped in Dallas, Texas on February 10th to a completely sold out venue. Fans lined up outside the venue for hours on the cold and wet day in hopes of grabbing limited availablity of merchandise and a few free stickers and photo cards from various fan sites prior to doors opening. With the addition of Red Velvet member Seulgi’s birthday, fans were ready to celebrate to the fullest extent. Waiting wasn’t all too bad. Cosplayers walked around happy to snap pictures with fans and a cover group performed to some of Red Velvet’s biggest hits with absolute precision. When the doors opened, thousands of fans swarmed the venue and the line that was non-existent outside began to wrap around the lobby as many secured their place in the merch line. With the number of people in the lobby all at once, it was quite cramped but manageable. Luckily, the wait time for the seating venue area to be prepared was short and fans were allowed to file in and find their assigned seats. Upon stepping into the stage venue, fans were greeted with three large screens which read Red Velvet Redmare in large letters.
This is where we circle back to the beginning. With a now full venue and fans beginning to cheer, the lights dropped and Russian Roulette filled the auditorium. The twinkle of thousands of lightsticks bouncing to the beat made the arena look like the night sky with the real stars lighting up the stage. To set the mood, Red Velvet followed up with Power Up before settling in and introducing themselves. The theme for this particular concert focused around a crazy theme park in which each section had a different adventure or ride. It also revealed during their introductions that their famous robot Reve was designed by Seulgi and named by Yeri who explained that “Reve” in French meant “A Dream.” Words can not describe how radiant and happy each of them looked as they greeted the many fans. To keep up the high mood, the girls shifted into My Second Date, but the song was cut short as each member prepared an intense dance break section which individually highlighted their dance talents. To finish out their opening set the girls wrapped up with Mosquito and Look. Before the fans even knew it, they were transported into the wild and embarked on a safari adventure where the girls were being hunted and had to escape from their captors. This set featured songs Mr. E, Zoo, Happiness, and Hit that Drum. Each member represented an animal: Seulgi the bear, Wendy the cat, Joy the bird, Irene the bunny, and Yeri as the magical unicorn. This set was extremely bouncy and drew the crowd into the whole adventure concept
with the addition of their backup dancers as the silly and definitely lost hunters trying to find their animals. Just beyond the halfway point fans prepared a special surprise for the group. When Moonlight Melody began to play, the entire auditorium held up banners. On the banner, it read, “슬기야, 태어나줘서 고마워” which means, “Seulgi, thank you for being born.” Again this was not just a concert, it was a birthday celebration and Reveluv’s wanted to make sure they all felt welcomed and loved. To a funny surprise, it was Yeri who became emotional while singing her part in the song.
The final act of the concert began with quick costume change then the English version of Bad Boy. As a gift back to their fans, Red Velvet prepared their song Really Bad Boy in English and performed it for the first time in the new language. The final song which earned a simoultaneous “NO!” from the fans was rookie. The vibe in the crowd was so high and there wasn’t a single person sitting down as the finished their final song. However, it’s not like the girls to just finish like that then walk off the stage without something special. As fans settled down ever so slightly a chant of “Red Velvet” spread across the audience. The lights came back up and
the girls came back out to perform Day 1. To their surprise, the fans prepared a second event for them! On the opposite side of the banner, another saying read, “레드벨벳 만이 담긴 세싱 속에 우리 온 맘이 녹아가,” which means, “Our hearts melt with seeing all of Red Velvet.” Finally, each member expressed their gratitude to the fans and individually expressed their thoughts on the concert. Seulgi was beyond thankful and even explained that fans had gone to the airport the day prior to the concert to sing happy birthday to her as they arrived in Dallas. As a final encore present, Red Velvet
performed Red Flavor. Everyone jumped and sang along and as the song ended the vibe continued even after. Fans buzzed as they headed out of the venue and back into the chilly night air. All in all the concert was extremely well put together and the girls put on a show that won’t be forgotten. To each state they visited, the fans brought something different, but at least for the Dallas concert, I can definitely say that I have blossomed into a full Reveluv! Personally, I’d like to include a huge thank you to Maleny, Simon, RJ, Linh, Andre, Amy and the rest of the Seuglieyes team for making my first female K-Pop concert a blast and one that I will never forget!
THE GREAT SEUNGRI TOUR 2019:
Still An Entertainer
by Darren Kwok
V
IPs in Singapore rejoiced as Seungri visited Singapore on the 23rd of February. Some, like me, may have only occasionally followed Seungri when he appeared on the radar, such as hits “1,2,3” and his appearances on various variety shows such as Running Man. Entering, I honestly had low expectations. After all, what can Seungri do on stage alone? I’ve seen G-Dragon in Singapore solo and
his hosting felt somewhat flat. However, Seungri changed all that. After all, he is still an entertainer. Seungri treated fans to a night of entertainment, belting out hit after hit from BIGBANG as well as his own. He was even speaking English and Mandarin fluently, though a recurring gag was for him to try and quieten down overzealous fans. Seungri would often speak up, only to be drowned by
fans screaming. He would then ask the fans why are Singaporeans such angry people? A particular moment that stood out to me was when he asked fans to sit down as he was going to do a monologue. However, fans screamed in response. Laughing, he asked why they were angry when he was only trying to be nice. Seungri, of course, cheekily poked YG Entertainment as well, saying that he got his own jobs and the tour was organized by him as YG has never provided him with gigs. Seungri’s performance did not feel lackluster, his vocals were stable and his moves are as good as ever. Seungri treated fans to a cover of Jay Chou’s song, The Longest Movie as well, while
pulling out photos that compared Big Bang members to various real life objects, amusing the audience. I felt that the most interesting thing about this performance was that it wasn’t just a concert. He was an entertainer, skilled in variety shows and he did what he did best, entertained, even making fun of his own weight, freely admitting that he was 70kg when GD was 49 kilograms. When a fan screamed back that she weighed the same, he laughed and thanked her. Overall, this writer will now be more sad that he shall soon enlist in the army. However, on the 23rd of February 2019, I know why he named the concert, The Great Seungri Tour.
Bang Bang Bang Let’s Talk About Love GG Be Gotta Talk to You Alone If You Where R U From Hotline We Like 2 Party Heaven
Setlist
Hands Up Lies Crooked Good Boy Bae Bae Eyes Nose Lips Flower Road 1,2,3! Strong Baby Fantastic Baby
EXO’s Lay (Zhang Yixing) STARS IN THE GOLDEN EYES T
he Golden Eyes is adapted from a popular online novel of the same name and produced by the team behind the hit drama “The Mystic Nine”. The drama tells the story of a pawn shop employee who encounters an antique from which he gains unexpected magical powers. With high quality production value and fast
paced storytelling, “The Golden Eyes” follows on the heels of other internationally successful titles including “Tientsin Mystic” and “Burning Ice.” Steeped in traditional Chinese culture, this new series is just one of several dramas to successfully integrate ancient Chinese motifs with Western-style fast-paced storytelling.
This Month’s
TOP ARTISTS 1. N.Flying
2. Itzy
3. TXT
IDOLS IN WHITE
SNSD YOONA
iu
momoland jane
red velvet irene
ong seongwu
bts v
got7 jinyoung
STRAY KIDS CHAN
seventeen mingyu
Must Try! WHITE CHOCOLATE DRINKS Starbucks - White Chocolate Mocha
A Twosome Place - Iced White Mocha
Ediya Coffee - White Chocolate Mocha
Tom N Toms -White Chooclate
HISTORICAL Destinations
Information from http://english.visitkorea.or.kr
HAEINSA TEMPLE Haeinsa Temple Janggyeongpanjeon Hall is an official archive built to safely store the 13thcentury Goryeo Palman Daejanggyeong (the Tripitaka Koreana), a priceless world treasure. The distinguishing story of Haeinsa Temple and that of Goryeo Daejanggyeong are well acknowledged, whereas less is known about Janggyeongpanjeon Hall in comparison. It is estimated that Janggyeongpanjeon Hall first opened in the 15th century (1401~1500). Palman Daejanggyeong have survived until now fairly unharmed, despite the shortcomings of the wood itself that is vulnerable to wear, tear, distortion, and fire. Considering these aspects, Janggyeongpanjeon Hall is often compared to the Egyptian Pyramids in terms of the mystery of the ancient technology used in the construction. The UNESCO highly acclaimed this and included Janggyeongpanjeon Hall into its World Heritage list in 1995. It is the existence of Haeinsa Temple Janggyeongpanjeon Hall that preserved and maintained the Goryeo Daejanggyeong printing blocks so that when viewed today, it is as if they were made yesterday!
JONGMYO SHRINE Jongmyo Shrine in Jongno-gu, Seoul is the royal shrine interred with the ancestral tablets of Joseon Dynasty’s royal family and the place where memorial services for the kings and queens are performed. The place itself has the greatest religious implications from a Confucian perspective and it is a sacred site that presented the legitimacy of the political principal of the time. It is also a great representation of the culture and legacy of the royal family. First built around the end of 14th century by King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, the current Jongmyo Shrine is a reconstruction built in the 17th century after the Imjin War (1592-1598). The main building is Jeongjeon Hall, an impressive 150 meters long by 100 meters wide wooden structure that stands in good harmony with the courtyard and auxiliary buildings. The unique atmosphere is considered to be a one-of-a-kind historical monument, found nowhere else in Asia, let alone Western nations. Following the Confucian culture of honoring one’s ancestors, a ceremony known as Jongmyo Jerye is held for the royal family of the Joseon Period within the site. The buildings along with intangible heritages of rituals, music, dancing and food are all protected at Jongmyo Shrine, making it a veritable cultural asset.
seokguram grotto
bulguksa TEMPLE Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple are ancient Buddhist temples of Korea, which were established in the mid-8th century during the golden era of the United Silla Dynasty. These two heritages represent the highly developed architectural skills and creative craftsmanship of the Silla people. In particular, the magnificent and sublime beauty of Seokguram’s carvings and Bulguksa Temple’s stylobate and its two stone pagodas are considered masterpieces of Buddhist architecture, unparalleled in all of Northeast Asia. Seokguram Grotto is an artificial cave made of granite. Inside the round-shaped main hall is the statue of Bonjon Buddha, surrounded by disciples on the walls. The majority of the stone statues, including the Bonjon figure, have high value in cultural heritage for having survived the passage of time with the original structure still intact since the 8th century. Bulguksa Temple, literally translating to Temple of the Land of Buddha, was built with the aspiration for Buddha’s utopia. The temple was damaged in 1592 during the Imjin War, when all the wooden structures of the temple completely burned down. The stone altars, bridges, pagodas, lanterns and bronze statues of Buddha escaped the fire, and have been well preserved up until now. A partial restoration was conducted from 1969 to 1973, which resulted in the current structure.
CHANGDEOKGUNG
PALACE
Changdeokgung Palace is a palace of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), built in harmony with the natural environment around it. The palace is famous for its rear garden, also called Huwon. The vast garden was a resting place for the royal family and is beautifully landscaped in a way that held on to the original nature of the space. Of all the royal palaces, Changdeokgung Palace is the most well-preserved to this day, showcasing the creativity of Korean palace construction through the combination of buildings and nature. In harmony with the trees, ponds, pavilions and flower gardens, the palaces main structures include Injeongmun Gate, Injeongjeon Hall, Huijeongdang Hall, Daejojeon Hall, Buyongji Pond, Nakseonjae Hall and Donhwamun Gate.
hwaseong fortress Hwaseong Fortress, located in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do is a living remnant of the nation’s proud history, representing the Joseon Dynasty of the 18th century. Built by King Jeongjo (Joseon’s 22nd king) in 1796 in an effort to make Suwon the second capital city and as an act of filial devotion to his father, Crown Prince Jangheon, he ordered the relocation of his father’s tomb, as well as many of the nation’s resources. Suwon Hwaseong Fortress was built with an entirely new method, making it unlike any other fortress in Korea. The construction methods used encompass the strong points of both Asian and Western elements together. In addition, the fortress was built in good harmony with the surrounding nature, implementing its geological advantage wisely for strategic defense rather than destroying it. The fortress is a symbol of both the ingenuity and technological advancements of the period. Thanks to this, in addition to the beautiful layout and dynamic defense facilities, UNESCO enlisted Hwaseong Fortress on the World’s Cultural Heritage List in 1997.
gochang, hwasun
and ganghwa
dolmen sites Dolmens are stone graves that were built in the prehistoric era. Gochang Dolmen Site, Hwasun Dolmen Site and Ganghwa Dolmen Site are unparalleled in the world, given the degree of concentration and diversity in the forms and scales of dolmens discovered in these three sites. Most of the dolmens were built in 1000 BC, providing modern people with a vital glimpse into the society and technological advancement of the period. Recognized by UNESCO in 2000, dolmens in Gochang, Ganghwa, and Hwasun are considered the finest artifacts for studying the social structure of Korea in the Bronze Age and cultural exchanges with people in Northeastern Asia during the Prehistoric Era. In particular, the dolmens exact construction process can be known from existing quarries, providing vital materials in studying the history of dolmens and how they have changed over time.
GYEONGJU HISTORIC AREAS Gyeongju Historic Area is a historical attraction where the achievements and culture of the Silla Dynasty (57BC – AD 935) have remained well-preserved. In the Gyeongju area, capital city of Silla, there are many sites and monuments important to the 1,000 years of development of Korean architecture and Buddhism. The area is divided into 5 zones based on their characteristics: the Namsan Mountain area, a center of Buddhist culture; the Wolseong Fortress area, the royal grounds of the Silla Dynasty; the Daereungwon Tomb area, the tombs of high-ranking officials including the kings of the Silla Dynasty; the Hwangnyongsa Temple area, showing the essence of Silla Buddhism; and the Sanseong Fortress area, focusing on the defensive mechanisms of the royal capital. The most representative heritages include Gyeongju Poseokjeongji, Sinseonam Hermitage Rock-carved Bodhisattva in Namsan Mountain of Gyeongju, Wolji Pond, Cheomseongdae Observatory, Ancient Tombs in Hwangnam-ri, Daereungwon Tomb Complex, Hwangnyongsaji (Hwangnyongsa Temple Site) and Bunhwangsa Temple
ROYAL TOMBS Royal tombs of Korea are well-maintained heritage sites from the fifth century that are invaluable to Korea’s history. Because Korea is a nation founded on the traditional values of Confucianism and harmony with nature, the royal tombs have been well preserved to this day. Therefore, UNESCO has appointed the areas and ancestral rites held on the sites to be World Cultural Heritages in order to be remembered and to cherish their unique beauty and cultural importance. Of all the royal tombs of Korea’s past dynasties, the tombs of the Joseon Dynasty are in the best condition, and their location were chosen based on geomantic traditions and Confucian beliefs. They could not be located on any mountain or in any field, but were carefully selected to be housed in a place considered a divine space, isolated from other areas that were already in use by surrounding mountains or other topographical features. Because of a law stating that royal tombs could not be located far from Seoul, called Hanyang at the time, most of the royal tombs from the Joseon Dynasty are located around the city. As a result, a number are found in the capital city of Seoul, including Seolleung / Jeongneung, Jeongneung and Uireung; Seooreung, Donggureung, Gwangneung, Yungneung / Geolleung and Yeongneung / Nyeongneung in Gyeonggi-do; and lastly Jangneung Royal Tomb is located in Gangwon-do.
HISTORIC VILLAGES Andong Hahoe Village and Gyeongju Yangdong Village are historical villages that were developed during the 14th to 15th century in Gyeongsangbuk-do. These two villages are well-preserved examples of typical Korean clan villages based on descents whose members carry the same family name derived from common ancestors. Even today, these families live in the village and continue their meaningful legacy, making the whole village a living and active cultural heritage. The villages clearly exhibit the typical Confucian culture of the Joseon period, where there was a distinct line between the aristocratic yangban class and commoners. The arrangement of the dwellings shows how village life was regulated and strictly enforced by Confucianism. The head of the clan in addition to the yangban class resided in wooden housing with their own pavilions, lecture halls and shrines while the commoners lived in houses made of soil with straw roofs.
namhansanseong
fortress
Namhansanseong Provincial Park is a unique fortress city built during the Joseon period with the purpose of functioning as an emergency capital. Built in the early 7th century, the well-preserved castellation techniques, which were influenced by the styles of China and Japan, greatly raise the historical and cultural value of the fortress. The fortress has four gates and munru (2-story houses built atop the gates) in the north, south, east, and west directions, and held soldier barracks and warehouses, as well as a temporary palace. Major cultural assets include Sueojangdae, Janggyeongsa Temple, Haenggung (temporary palace), Sungryeoljeon Shrine, and Cheongryangdang Shaman Shrine.
BAEKJE Tracing the relics of Baekje from Iksan-si in Jeollabuk-do, and Buyeo-gun and Gongjusi in Chungcheongnam-do, one can catch a glimpse of the ancient treasures of the Baekje history, one of Korea’s ancient kingdoms. The glamorous yet not too extravagant palaces and temple sites at Baekje Historic Areas bring to life the most flourishing times of Baekje and have become a fascinating tourist destination. Baekje Historic Areas have garnered international recognition for being central to trade and cultural exchange through areas of the East Asia countries including China and Japan. The area constitutes eight important cultural heritage sites that spread across the neighboring cities of Gongju, Buyeo and Iksan. They are made up of two sites in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do (Gongsanseong Fortress, Songsan-ri Tombs and Royal Tomb of King Muryeong), four sites in Buyeo, Chungcheongnam-do (Gwanbuk-ri Relics and Busosanseong Fortress of Buyeo, Buyeo Neungsan-ri Ancient Tombs, Jeongnimsaji Temple Site, Buyeo Naseong Fortress), and two sites in Iksan of Jeollabuk-do ( Iksan Wanggungni Historic Site, Mireuksaji Temple Site).
sansa Sansa are Buddhist mountain monasteries located throughout Korea. Seven temples – Tongdosa Temple, Buseoksa Temple, Bongjeonsa Temple, Beopjusa Temple, Magoksa Temple, Seonamsa Temple and Daeheungsa Temple - were recognized by UNESCO. In the past, Korean temples consisted of both flatland temple sites and mountain temple sites. However, during the Joseon Dynasty, most of the flatland temples were removed, with only the mountain monasteries remaining today. UNESCO rated the temples as having outstanding universal value thanks to their preservation of the traditional aspects of Korean Buddhist temples, serving as living centers of faith and daily practice. These seven temples include many individual characteristics as well as notable features that can only be seen in Korea’s monasteries. The temples are praised for their authentic value in aspects of durability, historical significance, location and setting, and purpose.
YELLOW DUST FRENZY
Article: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/frustration-grows-in-south-korea-over-hazardous-dust-pollution
Frustration and anger are growing in Korea as hazardous ultra-fine particulate pollution grips large parts of the country. On Wednesday (March 6), emergency measures to reduce ultra-fine PM2.5 dust - particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter - were enforced for the sixth consecutive day in Seoul and surrounding areas. President Moon Jae-in has also ordered his government to secure extra budget if necessary and consult with China to tackle the problem.
Checking the level of ultra-fine particles for the day, wearing a mask when going outside and avoiding outdoor activities have become part of the daily routine for many amid the worsening air pollution. “I feel like my life expectancy is declining every day,” said Ms Jin Cho, a banker in her 40s, who was on her way back to work with a colleague after lunch near City Hall. “My eyes and my throat are sore. I bought a large number of masks and I don’t even make dinner plans these days due to the fine dust,” she said.
“I am angry, annoyed and worried whether I am outdoors or indoors because of the pollution.” The average hourly ultra-fine dust level was measured at 180 micrograms per cubic meter in Seoul, 176 in Gyeonggi Province, 155 in Incheon and 147 in Gangwon Province as of 1pm on Wednesday. While emergency measures are in place in 14 cities, many people are questioning the effectiveness of government actions. “What did the government measures change? Nothing,” Ms Cho said. “The government should install air purifiers at bus stops, for example, if it wants to make a change we can feel in real life.” Under the emergency measures, city and provincial governments can ban old diesel cars from streets and restrict the operations
of coal power plants and other emissions facilities. They can also recommend temporary closures or the reduction of class hours and ask businesses to allow their employees to work flexible hours or from home. The toxic level of pollution has been even more frustrating for those whose jobs force them to work outdoors. “I am so depressed these days,” said a police officer based in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, who wished to remain anonymous. “When levels of fine dust are extremely high like in recent days, I am worried about my health. But it is my job to spend six to eight hours outside. “Isn’t China the biggest problem? What is the point of banning old diesel cars from the
streets? The government is only scratching the surface,” he said.
tion, Environment Minister Cho Myung-rae said on Wednesday in a meeting with media.
Foreign visitors have appeared to be more vulnerable to the thick air pollution, with many not wearing masks.
Seoul and Beijing have held a series of ministerial and working-level talks on a regular basis to boost cooperation in solving the fine dust problem in the region. The South Korea-China Environmental Cooperation Centre opened in Beijing in June.
“I received a fine dust alert in a text message, but that was all in Korean,” 32-year-old Fung Tze Shan, a visitor from Singapore, said near the Gwanghwamun Square. “I am not exactly worried because we don’t stay here for long. But it is bad for sightseeing because the city looks gloomy. It doesn’t look nice in pictures.” Amid mounting public concerns over alarming levels of air pollution, Mr Moon ordered his government on Wednesday to discuss dust-reducing measures - such as artificial rain aimed at clearing ultra-fine particles in the air - with China. “China claims our dust flies to China’s Shanghai region, so making artificial rain over the Yellow Sea would help the Chinese side as well,” Mr Moon said, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom. Mr Moon also called for the permanent shutdown of aged coal power plants and the installation of air purifiers in more daycare centres and schools, according to the spokesman. The government is closely working with China to fight particulate pollution and China has “strong willingness” to tackle air pollu
When the density of dust pollution is high on the Korean peninsula, a large portion of the fine dust - more than 70 per cent of ultra-fine pollutants over South Korea - is believed to be coming from China, a Seoulrun environmental institute said in a briefing on Wednesday. “High density of ultra-fine dust continued recently because the weather condition caused air over the Korean peninsula to be stagnant and delayed diffusion of pollutants stemming within the country and from abroad,” said Mr Shin Yong-seung of the Research Institute of Public Health and Environment. The lack of wind and warm temperature causes the air over the Korean peninsula to be stagnant, a result of “climate penalty”, Mr Shin said, adding that measures to fight fine dust must take into account how to mitigate climate change. The density of PM2.5 in all areas here was forecast to temporarily go down on Thursday before pollution again worsens over the weekend, according to the National Institute of Environmental Research.
SAFETY TRAVEL TIPS blend in with your surroundings
do your research before you travel
know how to communicate
manage your money
keep track of your health
have emergency information at hand
keep your belongings safe don't flash your wealth
stay safe in transport
HALLYU
HALLYU SPRING