Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
are some of the other things said to pose health risks. You might do all these things
without experiencing any ill effects, but some will argue that's just because you're
not Korean.
No vaccinations are required to enter South Korea, and the country has all but eliminated
diseases such as malaria and typhoid, but hepatitis is still prevalent, and hepatitis A and
B inoculations are recommended. There have been domestic outbreaks of avian influenza,
but as of yet no human cases or casualties. The official rate of HIV infection is relatively
low, with around 800 new cases reported each year. But some experts believe the real num-
ber is higher, and the standard precautions of avoiding unprotected sex or drug use should
be taken. Technically any foreigner found to be HIV-positive can be deported immediately,
though this practice has been challenged by South Korean courts.
Thanks to innovations such as natural-gas bus fleets, the designation of greenbelts, and
tighter restrictions on factories, South Korea's air quality has improved, especially in larger
cities such as notoriously smoggy Seoul. Concentrations of substances such as particulate
matter and carbon monoxide now remain within recommended limits most days of the year.
That said, with so much traffic and industrial activity concentrated in a relatively small area,
the Alps it's not. People used to more rural or pristine climes may experience some minor
throat or lung irritations after moving here.
By far the biggest air-quality issue is not one of South Korea's making; every spring
winds bring to the peninsula from neighboring China the dreaded
hwangsa,
or “yellow
dust.” This originates in China's expanding western deserts and picks up pollutants from
cities on the heavily populated coast before continuing east to the Korean peninsula and
Japan. The dust can cause respiratory problems, especially for the elderly and very young,
and at its peak authorities usually call on people to stay indoors. Multiple television and ra-
dio stations and government websites offer regularly updated air-quality data.
