🌍 South Korea Receives the 'Fossil of the Day' Award at COP29

Let’s Visit Romantic Yeongjongdo! 🏝️🌅

North Korean Troops Affected by Ukrainian Strike 🛡️⚡

On November 20, Ukraine launched Storm Shadow missiles targeting the Kursk region in Russia. Reports suggest that North Korean troops stationed there were among the casualties. Sources claim two male officers and one female medic (possibly a translator) were injured, while unverified claims from foreign outlets allege up to 500 North Korean deaths.

The targeted site was reportedly a command center used by Russian and North Korean officers. Meanwhile, sightings of North Korean soldiers on Ukrainian battlefields like Mariupol and Kharkiv suggest an increasingly active role in the war.

Another Fire at POSCO Pohang Steelworks 🔥🏭

On the night of November 24, a fire broke out again at POSCO's 3rd FINEX plant in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, following a similar incident two weeks earlier. Loud explosions preceded the blaze, which took over an hour to contain.

Although no casualties were reported, the recurrence raises concerns about the plant's safety, especially as it resumed steel production just days before. Authorities suspect the fire originated in the smelting tower and are investigating the cause.

Seoul Subway Strike? No. 3 Union Joins the Fray🚇

There’s a growing chance that Seoul’s subway system might face a strike soon. This time, it’s the Seoul Metro Workers’ Union No. 3, also known as the "MZ Union," that’s making headlines. They recently held a strike vote, and a whopping 91.2% voted in favor!🫢

The MZ Union, formed in 2021, is a relatively new group, and this could be their first-ever strike. They’ve said they’ll reveal specific strike plans if ongoing talks with the Seoul Metropolitan Labor Relations Commission don’t work out.

Their main demands include:

• Securing funding to cover additional labor costs from policy-driven projects,
• Expanding new hires,
• Increasing safety staffing levels.

Union leader Song Si-young has pointed out some serious issues: entry-level employees earn just over 2 million KRW a month (around $1,500), despite the company being known as a "dream job" with an average salary of 70 million KRW ($52,000). This low starting pay has led to high turnover among younger workers.

The No. 1 Union has already announced a general strike starting December 6, and the No. 2 Union is currently preparing for its strike vote.

With all these unions moving towards potential strikes, there could be a big impact on subway operations. Here’s hoping they can reach an agreement soon—for the sake of everyone who relies on the subway every day! 🚇

🌍 South Korea Receives the 'Fossil of the Day' Award at COP29

Unfortunately, South Korea found itself at the center of international criticism after receiving the ‘Fossil of the Day’award at COP29. 🏭
This notorious award is given daily to the country that has shown the least progress—or even regression—in combating climate change. South Korea earned this title due to its reliance on fossil fuels and a lack of climate leadership.

At COP29, South Korea's inadequate approach to achieving its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) became a significant point of contention. The country’s coal- and gas-centric energy policies, its history of supporting overseas coal power plants, and its slow progress in transitioning to renewable energy were all heavily criticized. 🧐
Although South Korea pledged in 2021 to halt funding for overseas coal power projects, it has since faced global criticism for expanding investments in natural gas and delaying renewable energy deployment.

South Korea’s renewable energy share remains strikingly low compared to other advanced economies. While the government has committed to achieving carbon neutrality, the lack of a concrete roadmap or effective policy implementation has been a consistent concern among the international community. 🌱

Receiving the ‘Fossil of the Day’ award serves as more than just symbolic criticism—it highlights fundamental issues within South Korea’s industrial policies. With global measures like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) gaining momentum, a fossil fuel-dependent industrial structure could lead to significant economic losses on the international stage.

So, what should South Korea do now?
If the country fails to accelerate its transition to renewable energy and industrial transformation, it risks losing not only global trust but also long-term economic competitiveness. Moving past the dishonor of the 'Fossil of the Day' award, South Korea urgently needs bold changes to reclaim its leadership in addressing the climate crisis. 🌍

What do you think? Isn’t now the time for South Korea to step up and show true leadership in tackling the climate emergency? 🙌

Let’s Visit Romantic Yeongjongdo! 🏝️🌅

1. 우크라이나 공습으로 북한군 피해 주장 🛡️⚡

2. 포스코 포항제철소, 또다시 화재 발생 🔥🏭

3. 서울 지하철 파업: 3노조도 가세🚇

🌍 한국, COP29에서 ‘화석상’을 수상하다?

낭만 넘치는 영종도로 놀러가요! 🏝️🌅

안타깝게도, 이번 COP29에서 한국이 ‘Fossil of the Day(화석상)’을 수상하며 국제적인 비판의 중심에 섰습니다. 🏭
이 상은 매일 기후변화 대응에 가장 소극적이거나 역행하는 국가에 수여되는 불명예스러운 상인데요. 한국이 이 상을 받은 이유는 화석연료에 대한 의존과 기후 리더십 부족이 주요 원인으로 지적됐습니다.

COP29에서 특히 논란이 된 것은 한국의 온실가스 감축 목표(NDC) 이행에 대한 미흡한 태도였어요. 석탄과 가스를 중심으로 한 에너지 정책, 해외 석탄발전소 지원 이력, 그리고 여전히 미흡한 재생에너지 전환 계획 등이 문제로 꼽혔습니다. 🧐 한국은 2021년, 더 이상 해외 석탄발전소를 지원하지 않겠다고 선언했지만, 이후에도 천연가스 투자 확대와 재생에너지 보급 지연으로 전 세계적인 비판을 받아왔죠.

특히, 한국의 재생에너지 발전 비율은 주요 선진국 대비 여전히 낮은 수준에 머물러 있어요. 탄소중립을 달성하겠다는 약속은 있지만, 이를 위한 구체적인 로드맵과 정책 실행은 부족하다는 것이 국제사회의 공통된 평가입니다. 🌱

이러한 상황에서 ‘화석상’을 수상한 것은 단순히 상징적인 비판을 넘어, 한국의 산업 정책 전반에 대한 경고로 받아들여지고 있습니다. 글로벌 시장에서는 탄소국경조정제도(CBAM)와 같은 규제가 강화되며 화석연료 중심의 산업 구조가 경제적 손실로 이어질 가능성도 커지고 있어요.

그렇다면 이제 무엇을 해야 할까요?
한국은 재생에너지 확대와 산업 전환을 가속화하지 않는다면, 국제 사회의 신뢰를 잃는 것은 물론이고 장기적인 경제 경쟁력도 잃을 위험에 처할 수 있습니다. Fossil of the Day라는 불명예를 뒤로하고, 기후 리더로 거듭나기 위한 과감한 변화가 절실히 필요한 시점이에요. 🌍

여러분은 어떻게 생각하시나요? 지금이야말로 한국이 기후위기 대응의 리더십을 보여줄 때 아닐까요? 🙌

낭만 넘치는 영종도로 놀러가요!🏝️🌅

2024 IFEZ Video-Photo Contest 
https://www.ifezcontest.com/