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Foreign tourist arrivals in Korea reach 89 pct of pre-pandemic levels

foreign tourists-rebound

SEOUL, June 13 (Yonhap) -- The number of foreigners visiting South Korea rebounded to nearly 89 percent of pre-pandemic levels in the first four months of this year, with arrivals from certain countries, including the United States and Taiwan, surpassing those levels, the state-run tourism promotion agency said Thursday.

South Korea welcomed 4.866 million international tourists from January to April, marking an 86.9 percent increase from the same period a year ago and recovering to 88.8 percent of pre-COVID-19 levels, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.

Notably, Taiwan and the U.S. have exceeded their pre-pandemic tourist numbers by 7.5 percent and 19.5 percent, respectively. Tourists from Indonesia and Singapore also reached 110.4 percent and 157.4 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

The rebound in tourist arrivals from China and Japan, the top two countries in South Korea's inbound tourism rankings, is still relatively slow, having recovered to only 78.1 percent and 82.5 percent of pre-pandemic numbers, respectively.

However, these numbers are expected to rise with an expansion in international flight routes and a scheduled increase in flights in the second half of the year.

The annual number of arrivals had sharply declined from 17.5 million in 2019 to 2.52 million in 2020 and further to 970,000 in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as South Korea began to lift most of its COVID-19 restrictions in 2022, arrivals started to rebound, reaching 3.2 million that year and surpassing 10 million in 2023.

The Seoul government has set an ambitious target of attracting 20 million foreign tourists this year as the global popularity of Korean pop culture continues to drive interest in tourism to South Korea.

The tourism industry expects the goal could be attained if the current rebound trend picks up speed, although it is acknowledged as a challenging target.

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South Korea determined to become tourism powerhouse

SEOUL – South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is going all out to make the country another Asian tourism powerhouse and create a more enjoyable tourism environment for domestic holidaymakers.

In a press briefing in Seoul on Dec 8, Second Vice-Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Jang Mi-ran expressed high hopes to turn South Korea into an appealing destination for both foreigners and locals, and exceed pre-pandemic visitor levels in 2024.

“I engaged in various tourism-related meetings with local governments, agencies and firms to gather perspectives from industry professionals, but there were not a lot of unique or special tourism products or festivals,” Ms Jang said in a briefing at the Seoul Government Complex in Jongno-gu, central Seoul.

“It is important to create tourism products that are appealing to locals and approved by them. We are recommending or introducing things if we like them first. I personally feel this applies to tourism as well,” the Vice-Minister told The Korea Herald.

Ms Jang said tourism major students who share their individual travel experiences on various social media platforms can offer realistic suggestions and showcase the charms of their home towns, as well as areas of improvement. She added that she wanted to spend more time with such students to understand the local tourism landscape.

She also emphasised the importance of creating a safer tourism environment for global and domestic visitors.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is set to organise a public participatory inspection team to root out rip-offs and discriminatory pricing. A separate team will be launched to deal with such cases and assist visitors who file complaints.

The ministry has decided to increase the number of K-tourism roadshows – which are promotional events held overseas to showcase South Korea’s traditional and contemporary cultures – from 15 to 25 in 2024.

Chinese tourists will continue to be exempt from visa fees. This was temporarily applied to Chinese travellers from September to December, and will be extended to 2024. Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia will be included in the list of exempt countries.

According to Ms Jang, travel-friendly services – such as a foreigner-exclusive mobile app for train, bus and taxi services, and an English-language navigation app – will be made available in 2024.

To quench tourists’ thirst for Korean content-related events, beauty festivals, K-pop shows, food fairs, e-sports experiences and medical tourism packages, as well as meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions tourism packages, will be expanded as well.

“We hope to attract 20 million global visitors to Korea in 2024, and exceed the pre-pandemic number of foreign travellers from 2019. We will also make the utmost effort to collaborate with local governments and tourism-related firms to support mass tourism,” she said.

In 2022, South Korea welcomed approximately 3.2 million inbound visitors, according to the Korea Tourism Organisation. Just before the Covid-19 pandemic, the country had a record 17.5 million inbound tourists in 2019. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIAN NEWS NETWORK

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Korea welcomes 3.4M tourists in Q1, industry ‘nearly fully recovered’ from Covid

Foreign travelers in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, over the weekend. [YONHAP]

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South Korea travel guide: quarantine-free visits for vaccinated tourists from April 1

Coronavirus restrictions for fully inoculated travellers are easing next month with no more isolation on arrival.

Last year, South Korea recorded a huge drop in visitor numbers with less than a million tourists, according to the Korea Tourism Organisation. Unsplash

Despite experiencing its worst coronavirus surge, South Korea is getting set to ease border restrictions for travellers.

From April 1, fully vaccinated tourists will be able to fly to the country quarantine-free.

South Korea will also recognise more vaccinations, including those administered outside of the country, said the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. This will allow more people to apply for quarantine-free travel.

The easing of restrictions is set to increase the number of incoming tourists. Last year, the country recorded a huge drop in arriving visitor numbers with less than a million tourists, according to the Korea Tourism Organisation.

Exemptions to quarantine rules still apply to visitors from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Myanmar, who are required to isolate for seven days on arrival, regardless of vaccination status.

If you’re planning a trip to South Korea as it eases restrictions, here’s what you need to know.

Who can travel to South Korea?

Travel to South Korea will be quarantine free for most fully vaccinated tourists

To be considered fully vaccinated, travellers must have had their second dose of a Covid-19 jab more than 14 days ago but fewer than 180 days ago — or have taken a booster shot within the same time frame.

The view from this point is stunning!🤩 We can't wait for warmer weather! 📍Wando-gun, Cheongsando Island: https://t.co/ixFbpgFhQB pic.twitter.com/bqDFWJIIRl — VisitKorea (@KoreanTravel) March 17, 2022

Travellers who fit this criteria can travel to the country without quarantine from April 1, but must complete all their travel details on the Q-Code website before departure.

Passengers from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Myanmar cannot apply for entry under this exemption category, even if they are fully vaccinated and must continue to isolate on arrival.

Unvaccinated tourists can still travel to the country, but will have to quarantine in a government appointed isolation facility for seven days.

Do I need a PCR test to travel to South Korea?

All travellers need a PCR test result taken no more than 48 hours before departure.

Children aged 5 and under do not need to have a negative test result to enter, but all passengers regardless of nationality, vaccination status and length of stay will be tested on arrival, or within the first 24 hours of entering South Korea.

Tourists will be tested at the airport upon arrival and must remain there until they receive their negative test results.

Do I need to quarantine?

If you’re fully vaccinated and not coming from one of the countries banned from quarantine exemption then you won’t need to isolate when you arrive in South Korea.

Once an on-arrival negative test result has been issued at the airport testing facility, travellers are free to travel around the country.

What restrictions are in place in South Korea

Face masks remain compulsory in South Korea in all public places and on public transport, with fines for people who do not comply.

There are also local variations in Covid-19 restrictions in different parts of the country, so you should check the website of the relevant local authorities to find out more about social distancing and restrictions on groups and gatherings.

What’s the best time to visit South Korea?

Spring is almost here!🌸 Cherry blossoms are expected to bloom in April this year. 📍Geochang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do pic.twitter.com/WD1HYXqYY9 — VisitKorea (@KoreanTravel) March 15, 2022

Spring is the best time to visit South Korea if you want to get a glimpse of the country’s blooming cherry blossoms . Autumn is another popular time — with September to November typically having dry days and giving tourists a chance to see changing shades of orange and red throughout the country's National Parks such as Songnisan, Jirisan and Seoraksan.

August is the hottest and most humid month while winter is cold and snowy — and when winter sports enthusiasts flock to the Gyeonggi-do Province and Gangwon-do.

Which airlines are flying to South Korea?

Emirates flies direct to Seoul from Dubai and Etihad Airways operates the same route from Abu Dhabi. Flight times are a little more than eight hours to South Korea, and around 10 hours on the return trip. Korean Air also flies between South Korea and the UAE, with flights to both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

What can you see and do in South Korea?

South Korea fascinates with something for everyone including an intriguing history, fantastic food, a wonderful culture and first-rate tourism attractions. Visit grand palaces such as Seoul’s Changdeokgung Palace built by the Joseon Dynasty, explore ancient history in Jeonju or soak up the culture in the country’s Hanok villages,

Tourists can also hit the beach at Busan, South Korea’s second largest city or climb to the top of N Seoul Tower, the capital’s iconic observation tower. For those interested in history, a visit to no-mans land allows you to see part of a military border between two opposed countries.

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Latest news on events affecting travel in South Korea Updated: August 20th, 2022

Since the announcement of SARS-COV-2, many countries shut down travel and tourism. South Korea was one of the first to impose restrictions, enforce facemasks, and insist on getting vaccinated.

So, if you want to travel to South Korea, you need to stay up to date about their rules and restrictions along with the ones from your own home country.

Are there International Travel Restrictions?

South Korea’s Department of Foreign affairs is the best place to get the latest information about travel restrictions. This is true for both Korean nationals and international visitors alike.

They instruct citizens to be judicious and cautious when deciding to travel, especially in taking a journey outside the country. All travelers should consider the following prior to making travel plans:

• Account for your overall health
• Vaccine status
• Your chances of testing positive for SARS-COV-2

It’s important for potential travelers to consider the very real possibility that rules and conditions can change at a moment’s notice.

Therefore, it’s important you study with a fine-toothed comb all travel and flying rules for all destinations. Much of this will have a facemask requirement as well.

A Note about Compliance

If you cannot or will not submit to the conditions, you may have a difficult time traveling. However, you can get a doctor’s excuse or other official exemption for things like masks and vaccines.

But, unfortunately, it’s no guarantee that another country will let you in. When in doubt, put off any travel plans until later if possible.

Is It Safe to Visit South Korea?

Yes, but there are two aspects to safety in regards to visiting South Korea: SARS-COV-2 and tensions with North Korea . Both will necessitate devising a plan of action to cover as many bases as you can. This includes the ones you can foresee, but especially the ones you can’t.

Pandemic Policies

South Korea is on high alert for SARS-COV-2. So, they have several entry requirements for visitors to enter the country. It’s crucial to understand that these rules change at the drop of a dime too. So, you have to check the following sites daily:

• Your local Korean Embassy
• Ministry of Health & Welfare (MOHW)
• Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)

Relations with North Korea

In light of the tensions between North and South Korea, there is no reason for concern at this time. The chances of there being a fight are very slim.

However, it’s important to stay tuned to the news and other official government announcements on the subject.

As with SARS-COV-2 updates, relations between North and South Korea could change at a moment’s notice. Therefore, if you intend on being near the Demilitarized Zone, make sure you have a backup plan of action.

While it’s not likely you’ll use it, it’s better to have one and not need it than to need it and NOT have one.

Are Tourists Welcome to South Korea?

Tourists are welcome to South Korea. But, they must follow the guidelines and requirements. Along with checking the several websites mentioned above, you must have a negative test result . So, you will have to take one before you leave and then another one when you arrive.

Testing Requirements

This is because the test has to occur within 48 hours of your scheduled departure . They accept PCR tests and clinical antigen tests. But, in the case of antigen tests, you have to get this within 24 hours of leaving your current destination. If you do not have a test, Korean authorities will not let you enter.

When you arrive in South Korea, they will demand a PCR test. Visitors coming for a short visit will undergo testing at the airport.

Travelers coming for a long-term visit can go to a public health facility within three days after arriving. They also require an antigen test on the sixth or seventh day after entering the country.

Quarantine Regulations

There are no longer quarantine requirements for travelers, which includes those who have not taken the SARS-COV-2 shot.

Having said that, South Korean authorities recommend all arrivals employ the Q-Code System (Quarantine Information Advance Input System) to upload test results, health declarations, and other passport details.

However, those who test positive for SARS-COV-2 have a mandatory quarantine period. Short-term tourists must stay at a government facility with all expenses paid by the individual. Long-term visitors and Korean residents can quarantine where they live.

Pre-Authorization

The only way to bypass any of this is if you have an Electronic Travel Authorization. People can obtain this visa waiver prior to entering Korea.

There are some 66 countries where this is allowable, with 46 of them visa-free. So, check with your local embassy and foreign travel agency.

This will essentially help get into the country faster while mitigating issues for boarding and disembarking from the plane. You can get prior approval to enter the country, but your home nation must have this visa waiver program with South Korea.

Traveling to South Korea is okay at this time. But, there are several requirements before you can enter. It may be better to stay current with Korean travel news and plan to visit later. Many things are beginning to die down due to the exposure to certain truths.

Once these facts become worldwide knowledge, facemasks and vaccines should lift. But, if you prefer the restrictions, then traveling to South Korea will be fine.

© 2024 TheKoreanGuide.com | As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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South Korea Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 24, 2023, south korea - level 1: exercise normal precautions.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise normal precautions in South Korea.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to South Korea.

If you decide to travel to South Korea:

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.   
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .   
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South Korea’s New Tourism Campaign With 161 Million Views Online Already

Lebawit Lily Girma , Skift

October 4th, 2021 at 10:45 AM EDT

Show, don't preach — that's what other destinations can glean from Korea's viral campaign.

Lebawit Lily Girma

When Covid hit, South Korea stood out of the pack in its handling of the pandemic, thanks to its past experience in handling the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. Its rapid response with drive through testing, tracking and tracing helped to flatten the curve and keep businesses open until late 2020.

Like many countries, however, multiple surges of the virus eventually led to stricter restrictions , though South Korea has still managed to keep its death toll below 3,000. Remaining closed to tourism for over a year resulted in $33.3 billion in lost inbound revenue, or a 45.4 percent drop in contribution to gross domestic product, plus 84,000 jobs lost, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council . While devastating, the impact was lower compared to regional neighbors and at a global level, thanks to the government’s stimulus payments and support of businesses and workers.

But even as a fourth wave hit in recent weeks, the future looks brighter for South Korea’s tourism economy. The population’s full vaccination rate has reached 63 percent so far, and its reopening in September — to an initial 49 visa-free countries — brought 15,500 tourists , of whom 68 percent came from the U.S., followed by Europe.

If Visit Korea ’s newest campaign is any indication, then those tourist numbers are likely to keep rising and drawing more intrepid travelers in the coming months going into 2022. So far, “ Feel the Rhythm of Korea ” — a series of eight videos showcasing the traditional and modern facets of ten Korean destinations to an original soundtrack of K-pop and folk music — has reached 161 million views on Youtube, with numbers continuing to climb for what is possibly the most successful single global tourism recovery campaign to launch since the pandemic.

“Each clip not only shows the existence of tradition and modern, healing, and cultural heritages, but also sensationally shares the distinctive lifestyle of Koreans,” said a release from the Korean Tourism Organization , adding that the campaign is a sequel to last year’s campaign effort, and that the soundtrack was produced by Korea’s renowned hip hop label AOMG and Higher Music. The songs also released on Spotify.

In a clear departure from recent messaging focused on safety and preaching responsible travel, South Korea’s campaign is a clever, energy-packed message for travelers as to what makes the destination stand out from a cultural and outdoor standpoint, whether it’s Seoul’s vibrant fashion-clad streets and residents of all ages, or Korea’s surfing towns and islets contrasting against its rural daily life scenes.

The K-pop music that has become global and a driver of tourism only helps to further cement the campaign’s appeal — a sound that continues to rise in popularity in spite of heightened scrutiny on the genre coming out of the racial reckoning movement in 2020.

Korea might just be on to something when it comes to standing out of the pack as long-haul international travel returns, with messaging that shows rather than tells how to embrace all things local and return to the love of exploration. The kind of travel experience that even masks can’t take away from.

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Tags: coronavirus recovery , south korea , tourism campaigns

Photo credit: South Korea showcases rural and modern landscapes in its new campaign, to blended K-pop and folk music. Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization / KTO

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Seoul   Travel Guide

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Why Go To Seoul

The blue and red yin and yang emblazoned on South Korea's flag represent balance – an ideal that was thrown off-kilter during the Korean War. But after the 1953 armistice, a modern Seoul bloomed anew. Today, the city is characterized by stunning architecture, vibrant culture and a thriving economy – all testaments to Seoul's resilience.

Seoul may seem like its blazing into the future, but South Koreans still hold fast to their rich heritage. Tucked between vast shopping districts and lively nightlife zones are relics of Seoul's history, windows into an old Seoul before the towers of concrete and steel. Gyeongbok Palace  – the oldest and largest of five Joseon Dynasty palaces in the city – stands on manicured grounds just minutes from downtown. Nearby, Bukchon Village 's wooden, one-story homes sit in sharp contrast to the surrounding high-rises. Miraculously, Seoul's past and present do not clash; rather, they play off one another. This harmonious blend of old and new is the key to Seoul's allure and a central tenet of the city's identity.

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Seoul Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best times to visit Seoul are from March to May and from September to November, when the weather is mild (average daily high temperatures stay below the mid-70s) and travel expenses are low. If you're a powder hound, you'll want to visit between December and February, when average daytime temperatures stay around the freezing mark and snow can be frequent. It's best to avoid the summer months, also known as monsoon season. During these months, Seoul is uncomfortably humid and full of tourists. What's more, hotel room costs are at fever pitch.

Weather in Seoul

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

• Respect your elders Korean customs hold senior citizens in the highest regard. Do as the locals do and offer the priority seats on the subway to the elderly.
• Count your decimal places 1,000 South Korean won equate to almost one U.S. dollar (actually about 90 cents), so an easy way to calculate approximate dollar costs is to move the decimal place on Korean currency to the left three places (10,000 won equals about $10).
• If it's late, call a cab The subway is reliable during the day, but it's closed between midnight and 5:30 a.m. That means night owls will have to find alternate means of transportation in the wee hours (just remember that cabs hike up their prices 20 percent between midnight and 4 a.m.).

How to Save Money in Seoul

• Purchase a SEOUL CITYPASS This transportation card covers 20 trips per day on the subway or the bus.
• Eat on the street Food stalls and 24-hour Korean "fast-food" joints offer a wide array of food options that are as pleasing to your taste buds as they are to your wallet.
• Shop "Tax Free" Foreign visitors can be eligible for a tax refund for goods they take out of the country. Look for shops that display "Tax Free" signs. Before you leave Seoul, declare your items at airport customs and receive your refund. Find out more about tax refunds on the Korea Tourism Organization's official website .

Culture & Customs

South Korean culture is still deeply rooted in ancient Confucian principles, including a strong dedication to family and society. Because of Koreans' respect for the hierarchy system, family elders and ancestors are honored above all. To uphold Korean etiquette, bow to elders in greeting (younger people are expected to bow lower than the elders out of respect) and allow them priority seating on public transportation. A bow when meeting anyone else is customary. And don't get offended if someone asks your age. Since elders are held with such high regard in Korean culture, oftentimes people ask as a way to avoid disrespecting anyone in their company. This is the same among youth culture, as younger people perceive themselves to have different roles in the group dynamic than the older participants, even if the age difference is only a couple of years. But don't worry too much about whether or not you're performing the social norms properly. Koreans have become well attuned to Western culture and don't expect foreigners to know the ins and outs of Korean etiquette (there are many different types of bows). It is also worth noting that in writing, Korean given names come after family names (the opposite is true in the United States).

South Korea's official currency is the South Korean won (KRW). One United States dollar equals roughly 1,118 won, but don't let all those decimal places scare you – won only comes in increments of 10 (10 KRW equals about 1 cent), so figuring out costs isn't terribly difficult. You can exchange money at most banks, and withdraw bills in increments of 10,000 won from ATMs. ATMs, however, have been a faulty means of getting cash for international travelers. Generally, ATMs in Seoul cater to those with Korean cards and even though your card may be listed as accepted, it still may not work. If this happens, the Korea tourism board recommends seeking out ATMs in heavily populated areas, such as train stations, bus terminals or department stores. To be safe, order Korean currency  before you go to Korea or obtain your money at the airport. 

Combat and instability are in South Korea's past, but it's important to remember that this peaceful, modern democracy's armistice with its northern neighbor has been called into question a number of times since the Korean War ended in 1953. There have been a few isolated skirmishes between the two Koreas over the past 60 years, but the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South actually stands as a safe tourist attraction.

While South Korea's crime rates are low, you should still exercise caution when it comes to personal safety. Seoul plays host to the same crimes symptomatic of any densely populated metropolitan area: Pickpocketing and purse snatching are more common in crowded areas. Don't walk alone at night and if you're a woman, exercise caution when visiting nightlife districts, as sexual assaults against women have been reported to the State Department . Make sure you only use legitimate taxis like the ones described in our guide to Getting Around Seoul too. The State Department also recommends travelers not join in protests of any kind (demonstrations are common in Seoul). If you find yourself in an emergency, dial 119 for an ambulance and 112 for the police. There are no required vaccinations for visiting Korea. Tap water is considered safe to drink but most travelers don't as the difference in water may cause stomach problems for far-flung travelers. 

What to Eat

Chowing down on hansik (traditional Korean food) is a cultural experience you won't want to miss – but it's also not for the ultra-squeamish. Many Korean meals include pickled ingredients, like kimchi (spicy fermented cabbage or other vegetables) and gochujang (fermented soy bean and red pepper paste), among other Korean flavors. Don't let fear of the unknown dissuade you – you're going to want to taste some of this.

If cabbage kimchi doesn't appeal to you, then perhaps Seoul's never-ending plethora of grilled meats will. Gather around a tabletop grill at a barbecue house and savor the aromas of sizzling samgyupsal (pork belly) or galbi (beef ribs). Watching you calorie intake? Head to one of the many Bon Bibimbap franchise locations around Seoul: Its namesake, bibimbap , comprises a bowl of rice, vegetables, chili paste, fried egg and (sometimes) marinated beef that will fill you up without putting a strain on your waistband (or your budget).

Truly adventurous eaters will want to head to Gwangjang Market, the oldest market in Seoul, where you can sample everything from mandu (rice-paper dumplings filled with ground meat or vegetables) to jokbal (pigs' feet boiled in soy sauce, ginger, rice wine and garlic). And remember to save some room for bindaeduk , a fried pancake made from ground mung beans that is reminiscent of a savory funnel cake. For more information about how to follow your taste buds around Seoul, visit the Korea Tourism Organization's official website .

Getting Around Seoul

The best way to get around Seoul is via the subway. You can throw in a taxi ride here and there if you plan on staying out late, or a bus ride if your destination is too far to walk. Seoul is too massive to be explored solely on foot, but it does contain some neighborhoods that were made for walking ( Bukchon Village , for example). Because Seoul's public transportation is so cheap and extensive, we advise against renting a car (plus, traffic in the city is legendary). If need be, you can rent a car at either of Seoul's two airports, Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Gimpo International Airport (GMP). The vast majority of international flights come in via Incheon. You can take a taxi from Incheon or Gimpo into Seoul, or if you're looking to save a little coin, the AREX (Airport Railroad Express) train goes directly into the city too.

Entry & Exit Requirements

The Republic of Korea requires U.S. citizens to hold a valid passport for tourism and business trips lasting up to 90 days from when you enter the country. A trip lasting longer than 90 days or for another reason besides tourism or business requires a visa. For more information, visit the U.S. State Department's website .

Gyeongbokgung is the oldest and largest of Seoul's five Joseon Dynasty palaces.

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China's premier hails 'new beginning' with US-allied South Korea, Japan

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• Countries hold first trilateral summit since 2019
• Declaration calls for trade, environmental, cultural cooperation
• China urges economics be separate from politics
• Summit reduced frictions, did not reshape geopolitics - analyst

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South Korean troops fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers briefly crossed land border

South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops violated the land border earlier this week, South Korea’s military said Tuesday, amid soaring animosities between the rivals over the North’s recent trash-carrying balloon launches. (AP video: Yong Jun Chang)

Barricades are placed near the Unification Bridge, which leads to the Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Korea’s military said Tuesday, as the rivals are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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A visitor looks at the map of North Korean side from the unification observatory in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Korea’s military said Tuesday, as the rivals are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A sign of North Korea is seen at the unification observatory in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Korea’s military said Tuesday, as the rivals are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Visitors look at the North Korean side from the unification observatory in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Korea’s military said Tuesday, as the rivals are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Barricades are placed near the Unification Bridge, which leads to the Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Korea’s military said Tuesday, as the rivals are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A visitor takes a photo near a wire fences decorated with ribbons written with messages wishing for the reunification of the two Koreas at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Korea’s military said Tuesday, as the rivals are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Visitors stand near a wire fence decorated with ribbons written with messages wishing for the reunification of the two Koreas at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Korea’s military said Tuesday, as the rivals are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Visitors look at a map of two Koreas border area at the unification observatory in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Korea’s military said Tuesday, as the rivals are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

North Korean soldiers stand near their military guard post as a North Korean flag flutters in the wind, seen from Paju, South Korea, Sunday, June 9, 2024. South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Korea’s military said Tuesday, as the rivals are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

FILE - South Korean army soldiers patrol along the barbed-wire fence in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, on April 23, 2024. South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops violated the land border earlier this week, South Korea’s military said Tuesday, June 11. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Korea’s military said Tuesday, as the rivals are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts .

Bloodshed and violent confrontations have occasionally occurred at the Koreas’ heavily fortified border, called the Demilitarized Zone. While Sunday’s incident happened amid simmering tensions between the two Koreas, observers say it won’t likely develop into another source of animosity as South Korea believes the North Koreans didn’t deliberately commit the border intrusion and North Korea also didn’t return fire.

At 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, some North Korean soldiers who were engaged in unspecified work on the northern side of the border crossed the military demarcation line that bisects the two countries, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Those North Korean soldiers carrying construction tools — some of them armed — immediately returned to their territory after South Korea’s military fired warning shots and issued warning broadcasts, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. It said North Korea had not conducted any other suspicious activities.

South Korea’s military has assessed that the North Korean soldiers didn’t appear to have intentionally crossed the border because the site is a wooded area and MDL signs there weren’t clearly visible, Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon told reporters.

Lee gave no further details. But South Korean media reports said that about 20-30 North Korean soldiers had entered South Korean territory about 50 meters (165 feet) after they likely lost their way. The reports said most of the North Korean soldiers were carrying pickaxes and other construction tools.

The 248-kilometer (155-mile) -long, 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) -wide DMZ is the world’s most heavily armed border. An estimated 2 million mines are peppered inside and near the border, which is also guarded by barbed wire fences, tank traps and combat troops on both sides. It’s a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

On Sunday, South Korea resumed anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts from its border loudspeakers in response to the North’s recent launches of balloons carrying manure and rubbish across the border. South Korea said North Korea has installed its own border loudspeakers in response but hasn’t turned them on yet.

North Korea has said its balloon campaign was in response to South Korean activists’ launches of their own balloons to drop propaganda leaflets critical of leader Kim Jong Un’s authoritarian rule, USB sticks with K-pop songs and South Korean drama shows, and other items in North Korea.

North Korea is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its political system as most of its 26 million people have no official access to foreign news. On Sunday night, Kim’s sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, warned of “a new response” if South Korea continued its loudspeaker broadcasts and refused to stop civilian leafletting campaigns.

The tit-for-tat over speakers and balloons — both Cold War-style psychological warfare — have deepened tensions between the Koreas as talks over the North’s nuclear ambitions have remained stalled for years.

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Unconventional Sex Let Anglerfish Conquer the Deep Ocean

During a chaotic period some 50 million years ago, the strange deep-sea creatures left the ocean bottom and thrived by clamping onto their mates.

A female anglerfish, with a bioluminescent lure, in waters off Hawaii. Credit... Doug Perrine/Alamy

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By William J. Broad

• May 30, 2024

How did the ghoulish creatures known as anglerfish pull off the evolutionary feat that let them essentially take over the ocean’s sunless depths?

It took peculiar sex — extremely peculiar sex.

Scientists at Yale University have discovered that a burst of anglerfish diversification began some 50 million years ago as the ancestral line developed a bizarre strategy to ensure successful reproduction in the dark wilderness.

To mate, tiny males would clamp with sharp teeth onto the bellies of much larger females. Some males would let go after mating while others would permanently fuse into the females. The males that stayed attached became permanent organs for sperm production.

“We found that a cascade of traits, including those required for sexual parasitism, allowed anglerfishes to invade the deep sea,” Chase D. Brownstein , a graduate student in the ecology and evolutionary biology department at Yale who was the study’s lead author, said in a news release.

Today, there are more than 300 species of anglerfish, which makes them the most varied family of vertebrates in the ocean’s lightless zone. The region starts about 1,000 feet down — just beneath the photic zone, which gets enough sunlight to support photosynthesis and most of the sea’s plants — and descends for miles. The team’s study was published last week in the journal Current Biology.

Finding a mate in the deep sea can be extremely difficult because of the environment’s incomprehensibly vast size. By some estimates, the dark zone amounts to more than 97 percent of the planetary space inhabited by living things, mainly because the ocean plunges to a maximum depth of nearly seven miles. In contrast, land habitats make up less than 1 percent of the planet’s biosphere because the band of life is so narrow, making its volume quite small.

The anglerfish’s bizarre mating routine is seen as counteracting the otherwise slim chances of finding a mate in the world’s largest ecosystem. It is the only known vertebrate that employs sexual parasitism, and that gave it an evolutionary edge.

Over time, the male can physically fuse with the female, connecting to her skin and bloodstream. Eventually, he loses his eyes and all internal organs except for his testes. A female can carry several males on her body.

The Yale team documented how immune systems that attack foreign threats changed over time so the female hosts would not reject the parasitic males.

Anglerfish get their name from how females use rodlike appendages with glowing tips to lure prey into their needlelike teeth. They’re fish that fish . Their mouths are so large and their bodies so flexible that they can swallow prey up to twice their size.

The Yale team used fossils and genetic data from more than 100 living anglerfish species to determine that the burst of diversification came during a major global heat spike between 50 million and 35 million years ago. The world’s oceans were thrown into turmoil, and the bottom-walking ancestors of the anglerfish began to explore the wider oceanic world.

“It happened in the blink of an evolutionary eye about 50 million years ago,” Mr. Brownstein said in an interview. “It was like whales going back into the ocean. It was amazing.”

The team found that, simultaneously, the fish developed their unusual reproductive skills. It was unable to determine which came first — temporary or permanent attachment.

Some female anglerfish can grow quite large, reaching more than three feet in length, but most are smaller. The free-swimming males typically are a few inches long.

How do they find the females in the perpetual darkness of the deep sea?

Mr. Brownstein said the males have enlarged nasal organs that are thought to let them follow faint trails of female pheromones through the darkness in order to find their partner.

“You sniff out your mate, literally,” he said.

William J. Broad has reported on science at The Times since 1983. He is based in New York. More about William J. Broad

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An analysis of elephant calls using an A.I. tool suggests that the animals may use and respond to individualized rumbles .

How did the ghoulish creatures known as anglerfish pull off the evolutionary feat that let them essentially take over the ocean’s sunless depths? It took extremely peculiar sex .

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