Fine dust is a type of air pollution from factories, cars and construction. Since South Korea is so small with a large population, the air quality can be worse than in other countries. Since Korea is surrounded by mountains, air can get trapped in the valleys, which is where most of the cities are located. People often wear masks or stay inside on bad days, which affects daily life and health.
Another challenge is the weather, especially during the summer. Summers are very hot and humid with a lot of rain. When combined with crowded cities, this fact can make getting around outside much more difficult and tiring.
People in South Korea have adapted very quickly over time. Just 50 years ago, the country looked very different, but today, it is modern and constantly changing. Cities grow every day, and construction happens very fast. It’s common to see construction everywhere, with new buildings appearing in just a few weeks. Many buildings use space efficiently having shops and businesses on multiple floors, including in basements. For example, there might be a restaurant in the basement, a shoe store on floor 1, a cafe on floor 2 and a bank on floor 3.
People have also found creative ways to make their environment more enjoyable. For example, rooftops are often used for beautiful restaurants or cafes. Since Korea has so many tall buildings, there are a lot of stairs. People will usually paint murals or pictures on the stairs to make them visually appealing. Modernity is also mixed in a lot with tradition.
